Comfortable retirement prevented by provision

I retired from Mare Island Naval Shipyard in 1994 with more than 20 years service. I paid into the Social Security system for over 20 years. I believed I would have a comfortable retirement, but that has not been true.

After 10 years of civil service, the Windfall Elimination Provision was passed. It has taken away two-thirds of my Social Security benefit. So much for a comfortable retirement. Ironically, I qualify for subsidized housing. I urge our elected officials to push to eliminate this very unfair law.

As a retired federal employee I am writing to raise awareness of the devastating impacts of the WEP experienced by nearly 2 million people. This policy reduces the earned Social Security benefits of local, state and federal retirees who worked in Social Security-covered private-sector employment, and who also earned an annuity from their non-Social Security covered government employment. The WEP can result in a monthly Social Security benefit that is $498 lower than deserved, causing undue financial distress.

Why should we be penalized for working hard for our country?

Additionally, spouses are feeling the burden of the Government Pension Offset, a similar penalty, which prevents them from collecting the Social Security benefits their spouses earned from privatesector jobs due to their public service. The GPO impacts 716,662 beneficiaries, 47% of which are widows or widowers, 83% are women.

We rightfully earned these benefits in exchange for our dedication and hard work to the nation. As such, I am inviting other retirees impacted by the WEP and GPO to join me in calling on Congress to repeal these unfair provisions. It’s past time to stop punishing us for our public service and allow for us to collect what we rightfully earned.

— Norma Buckley, Vacaville