NORFOLK, Va. — Congress passed the Social Security Fairness Act, repealing two provisions of the law that caused some government retirees to face reductions in their Social Security benefits.
One is called a government pension offset and the other is called a windfall elimination clause.
“This is a huge victory,” said Chuck Brewer, a former Norfolk police officer who has long advocated for repealing these provisions. “I was happy. I was relieved.”
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Brewer served as a Norfolk police officer for 33 years, retiring in 2005 and receiving a pension. He continued to work after retirement and contributed to Social Security during his post-law enforcement career.
When I started collecting benefits, I realized that my Social Security payments were much lower than I expected.
“Based on my contributions, I'm entitled to about $500 a month, but I'm receiving less than $200. After Medicare, I'm left with just $66,” Brewer said in July. ” he said.
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Unlike private sector employees, many public employees earn their retirement benefits from public pensions rather than Social Security.
Decades ago, Congress enacted government pension offset and windfall provisions to address concerns that certain retirees were benefiting too much by collecting both pensions and Social Security.
Mr. Brewer has long argued that the penalties imposed by these provisions are too harsh.
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“If I wasn't a police officer and had a different job, I would have received all of my self-earned Social Security benefits,” Brewer said.
Congress has sent the Social Security Fairness Act to President Biden's desk, where he is expected to sign it into law in the new year.
“That's a car payment, two months' worth of gas payments to heat the house, three months' worth of electric bills,” Brewer said.
The new law finally marks the end of Brewer's years of advocacy work. “I don't have to do that anymore. I can rest, relax and enjoy my retirement,” he said.
