California Retired Teachers Association - Area 4             Unfortunate Surprise for Teachers on Retirement

Your Partner in Pension Protection!

The following article is by Mark Reischling.            It appeared in the Santa Rosa Press                   Democrat in April, 2010.                             A recent letter to the editor titled "Disrepect as reform"  included a chilling fact that most Sonoma County educators - active and retired - are not aware of. Since 1983, public service employees in 15 states (Caifornia  is one  of the affected states) have been punitively affected by the "Windfall Elimination Provisions" (WEP) and the "Government Pension  Offset" (GPO) enacted in 1977. Under these, earned Social Security benefits are reduced at the time of distribution due to having a public service pension. Unfortunately, most educators and other public service employees learn about WEP/GPO at the end of their careers when there is no time left to create Plan B for the financial shortfall they will face. As the outreach chairman for Social Security Fairness (www.ssfairness.com), I have talked with teachers across California and the country who are hurt by the punitive effects of these laws. They suffer due to the inability to receive their earned Social Security distribution from work outside education and other public service. Some who are spouses of Social Security contributors lose death benefits because they receive a public service pension.  Worse, some are affected by both WEP and GPO. The public service job pension and the private sector Social Security pension are earned separately and should have no relation to each other.  That is what backers of House Resolution 235 by Rep. Howard Berman, D-Los Angeles and Senate Bill 484  believes.  These bills would repeal both the "Windfall Elimination Provision" and the "Government Pension Offset" of the Social Security Act.  They deserve the support of all fair-minded people and their representatives in Washington.

A grass-roots organization of affected public service employees started in the greater Bay Area in the spring of 2009.  Since that time we have built a coalition of state teacher retirement organizations in the affected states, held three rallies and built the most comprehensive Web site on the topic in the country. If you are a teacher or other public service employee (active or retired) go to the web site www.ssfairness.com and share what you learn with your colleagues.  Sign up for our free monthly action alert and let your voice be heard by following our step by stelp outline to address this injustice in Congress. Momentum is growing as people learn about the injustice of WEP and GPO.  Ours Web Site has received more than 10,000 hits since it was placed online in September of 09.  Sonoma County Superintendent of Education Carl Wong has agreed to publlish our web site address in the Office of Education newsletter to educate affected Sonoma county educators about these laws.  As a retired high school teacher affected by WEP, I am happy that Wong feels an ethical obligation to inform Sonoma County  educators about this injustice. I hope his support sets the bar for all other county school superintendents and professional organizations throughout California and the United States  to follow. We are resolute in our goal to educate those who may not know about WEP/GPO and motivate them to let Congress and the  President know how we feel.   If you are in a public service organization other than education, take up the fight with us and educate your colleagues about WEP/GPO.  Together we can win in 2010.

Core Purpose: To enhance and protect the benefits of retired Educators.