GPO and WEP are provisions that negatively affect the Social Security benefits of millions of Americans who worked as public employees. GPO and WEP reduce and/or eliminate Social Security benefits that were paid for by themselves or their deceased spouses. GPO and WEP affect public employees in the following states: California, Colorado, Illinois, Louisiana, Ohio, Texas, Florida, New York, Nevada, Connecticut, Kentucky, Minnesota, Georgia, Missouri, Michigan, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Washington, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Alaska, Maine, Hawaii, Montana, New Mexico and New Hampshire.
Why is this important?
I am a retired public school teacher. I worked for 27 years in a public school district Ohio. I am also a widow. My late husband paid into Social Security and was fully vested. Because Ohio is one of the states affected by the Government Pension Offset (GPO), I cannot receive widow's benefits. If I had worked in a state not affected by GPO, I would be eligible to receive widow's benefits. Many retired public employees in the states listed above cannot receive Social Security benefits that were paid for by themselves or their deceased spouses. We are asking the 115th United States Congress to repeal GPO and WEP.
