Maine Retirees Rally in Washington DC for Retirement Fairness

Members of MSEA-SEIU Local 1989 and other retirees converged on the nation’s capital Wednesday to demand Congress repeal the Social Security Offsets, formally known as the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offsets. MSEA-SEIU Retiree Director Penny Whitney-Asdourian joined a delegation of workers thanking Senator Angus King for supporting repeal. MSEA-SEIU members Lisa Morgan,  JB Whipple and Robyn Egan also joined in the nationwide day of advocacy to repeal the Offsets.

There are many laws that rig the economy against workers, active and retired, yet the Social Security Offsets are among the most pernicious on the books. They rob retired public workers and their families of Social Security benefits they earned and paid for throughout their careers. Congress must repeal these unfair laws NOW:

• The Windfall Elimination Provision substantially reduces the Social Security benefit of workers who participate in public employee pension systems such as the Maine Public Employees Retirement System (MainePERS) and who work in jobs that aren’t covered by Social Security.

• The Government Pension Offset substantially reduces or eliminates any Social Security benefits for spouses, widows and widowers.

Repealing the Social Security Offsets is a crucial and necessary step in creating an economy that works for all of us.

Are you a retired public employee?  Join the Repeal the WEP/GPO Facebook group!