- Former Canton firefighter Karl Jordan has been working for nearly a decade to eliminate two federal provisions that cut Social Security benefits for public employees.
- Jordan was invited to President Joe Biden's signing of the Social Security Fairness Act at the White House on Sunday.
- The new federal law repeals two provisions that reduced pension benefits for public servants who hold jobs in the private sector.
Former Canton firefighter Karl Jordan spent 20 years working as a phlebotomist during his days off from the fire department to earn extra income to support his family.
When Jordan, then a captain, decided to retire from the Canton Fire Department in 2015 after 33 years of service, two federal provisions reduced Social Security payments to public employees and their spouses or widows. , I learned that I would not be able to receive my full pension. .
“I thought I would lose about 25% of my Social Security benefits,” Jordan said. “As a result, our ability to repay our mortgages has been extended by two and a half years, which will ensure that all firefighters working on the sideline are able to retire with respect.”
Jordan, who served two terms as president of the Canton Professional Firefighters Association Local 249, has joined efforts by state and international firefighter associations to eliminate two provisions known as the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and government pensions. Offset (GPO). In June, Jackson Township residents testified at a Congressional subcommittee field hearing in Columbus held by then-Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, who co-sponsored the Social Security Fairness Act.
On Sunday, Jordan visited the White House to witness President Joe Biden sign the Social Security Fairness Act into law. The new law, which received bipartisan support in Congress, repeals the windfall elimination and government pension offset provisions enacted more than 40 years ago.
“Once it was officially announced, I was probably the happiest person in America,” Jordan said. Jordan also used the trip to educate U.S. lawmakers about other firefighter concerns, including cancer-related issues.
More than 100,000 Ohioans should receive more Social Security payments
Across Ohio, more than 100,000 retirees and public employees such as firefighters, police officers, teachers and postal workers will receive more money from Social Security thanks to the adoption of a new federal law.
largely civil servant People in Ohio do not participate in Social Security, but instead participate in one of five public pension systems. However, many of them have worked or will work in other jobs that contribute to social security.
The windfall exclusion clause includes: reduction in social security This applies to people who have received 'non-applicable' pension income from public sector jobs that do not contribute to social security. The reduction is significant and could be up to half of the pension amount.
The government's pension offset system has reduced survivor and spousal benefits in cases where a pension is not applicable. Few people were affected, but Social Security benefits were cut by two-thirds of pension amounts. If two-thirds of your government pension exceeded your Social Security benefits, your benefits could have been cut to zero.
These two provisions were originally intended to prevent state or local pension recipients from receiving “double” retirement benefits. Critics of the Social Security Fairness Act say the law unfairly benefits certain workers while increasing social security hardship for others, and critics say the law is 10 years away from bankruptcy. They argued that it could jeopardize Social Security funds, which they estimate will last for less than a year. Congressional Budget Office We estimate that the new law will cost $196 billion over the next 10 years.
Mr. Jordan said he did not know how much additional money he would receive as a result of the repeal of the two provisions. He said he was told by representatives of the Social Security Administration who attended the bill signing that it would take several weeks to determine each individual's adjustment amount.
Formerly the Congressional Budget Office Estimation Recipients affected by the windfall elimination provision can expect their monthly benefits to increase by an average of $360.
“Any increase would be a benefit,” Jordan said, praising former Sen. Brown for defending the bill despite the failures of previous bills.
Brown lost the November election to businessman Bernie Moreno. US Senator Susan CollinsR-Maine began working in 2003 to pass this bill.
“Throughout my time in the Senate, I have cast more than 13,000 votes. Just after midnight on December 20th, the penultimate vote of my term will ensure that public servants receive full social security.” I'm proud that it was about making it accessible.'They've earned it and they've paid it,'' Brown said. “Social Security is the foundation of the middle class, and thanks to our legislation, millions more American workers will be able to retire with dignity.”
This report includes information from USA TODAY and USA TODAY Network Ohio bureau staff writer Haley BeMiller.
