Biden Signs Social Security Fairness Act, Restoring Benefits for Public Sector Workers

President Joe Biden signed the Social Security Fairness Act into law on Sunday, repealing two controversial statutes that for decades reduced retirement benefits for public sector workers, including firefighters, teachers, and other government employees.

Speaking before the signing, Biden underscored the importance of fairness and dignity for retirees. “The bill I’m signing today is about a simple proposition: Americans who have worked hard all their lives to earn an honest living should be able to retire with economic security and dignity,” Biden stated.

He also highlighted the core mission of the Social Security system, established by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt nearly 90 years ago, as a means to ensure retirement security for all.

The passage of the Social Security Fairness Act marks a significant bipartisan achievement. In late December, the Senate overwhelmingly approved the bill with a 76-20 vote.

The House had passed it earlier by a wide margin of 327-75. These decisive votes reflect strong agreement across party lines to address long-standing inequalities in the Social Security system that have unfairly impacted millions of public sector retirees.

The legislation repeals two statutes: the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). Enacted in 1983, the WEP reduced Social Security benefits for workers who also received government pensions not covered by Social Security.

The GPO, passed in 1977, diminished spousal, widow, and widower benefits for those whose spouses received public sector pensions. Together, these provisions have collectively cost retirees thousands of dollars annually, often leaving public sector workers with significantly reduced financial security in their later years.

Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine), the primary sponsor of the Social Security Fairness Act, celebrated the law’s enactment. “I was honored to be in attendance for the signing of the Social Security Fairness Act into law,” she shared on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Collins reflected on her long-term advocacy for the repeal, stating, “I have fought for this change since 2003, when I held the first-ever Senate hearing on repealing the WEP and GPO. I am proud that this law will ensure public service no longer comes at the expense of the retirement benefits earned by an individual or their spouse.”

President Biden echoed these sentiments, highlighting how the repealed laws denied millions of Americans access to the full Social Security benefits they earned through their hard work.

He noted that the previous system unfairly penalized retirees, reducing their benefits by thousands of dollars each year, often creating financial hardships for those who had dedicated their lives to public service. The new law restores fairness and dignity to the Social Security system, aligning it with the original vision of providing reliable retirement income to all workers.

With the Social Security Fairness Act now signed into law, millions of retired public sector workers and their families can look forward to receiving the full benefits they deserve, ensuring greater economic security and peace of mind in their retirement years.