Duval Times

Senator Rick Scott has endorsed bipartisan legislation aimed at ensuring public sector workers and their families receive full Social Security benefits. The bill, spearheaded by Senators Susan Collins and Sherrod Brown, seeks to repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) from the Social Security Act.

The proposed Social Security Fairness Act aims to address reductions in benefits caused by these two provisions. Senator Rick Scott emphasized the importance of this legislation for public sector employees such as teachers, firefighters, and law enforcement officers. "Folks preparing for retirement shouldn’t be caught in a game of ‘gotcha’ with the federal government. If you pay into Social Security, you ought to receive full Social Security benefits in retirement," said Scott. He further added that he is proud to support this bipartisan effort to ensure public sector employees are not penalized for their service and receive the benefits they have earned.

The WEP, established in 1983, reduces Social Security benefits for individuals who have earned both Social Security and a pension from employment not covered by Social Security. The GPO, enacted in 1977, reduces spousal benefits for those receiving pensions from non-Social Security-covered government jobs. These provisions affect nearly three million Americans, including many teachers, police officers, and firefighters.