EDITOR:
Social Security isn’t an entitlement—it’s something you earn. Americans work their whole lives, so Social Security will be there for them when they retire.
Yet, since 1983, firefighters, police officers, teachers, railroad workers, and their families have unfairly had their Social Security benefits cut by the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP). Some have even had their benefits taken away completely. That’s no way to treat some of the hardest-working Americans in the country. These aren’t handouts. This is their money, that they earned and paid dearly for with years of blood, sweat, and tears.
I’ve fought for years to right this wrong and make sure these everyday heroes get all the Social Security benefits they’ve earned by championing the Social Security Fairness Act. Finally, it passed the Senate in December last year and was signed into law in early January. After years of injustice, President Trump has made righting this wrong and fully implementing the Social Security Fairness Act a top priority.
This week, the Social Security Administration began making payments retroactive to January of last year. Most people impacted by WEP and GPO should receive a retroactive payment by the end of March and fully restored benefits starting in April. That’s great news for folks all across North Missouri.
Notices will be mailed out to recipients, but in some cases, the payments could arrive sooner. These payments won’t be fully rolled out until April. If summer comes around, and you have an issue with this or any federal agency, my office is here to help. Please don’t hesitate to reach out.
After years of work, it’s great to see the more than 3.2 million seniors who have had their benefits cut under WEP and GPO finally getting what they’ve earned.
Like I said at the beginning, these aren’t entitlements or handouts. Social Security—and Medicare, for that matter too—are something that Americans earn, and I will always work to protect and strengthen these promises we’ve made to the American people.
--Sam Graves
Congressman
Sixth District
