Articles about Social Security that may be useful to Massachusetts retirees
Bipartisan Support in Congress Remains Strong
JULY 7, 2017: Retirees who have fallen victim to Social Security’s dreaded offset laws remain anxious for news of progress on federal reform legislation now pending before Congress.
By Victoria McGrane Globe Staff
WASHINGTON — He’s known as the insider’s insider, a veteran relationship-builder on Capitol Hill, a quiet dealmaker.
Now the low-key, pragmatic Massachusetts lawmaker, Representative Richard Neal, is facing a challenge that could win him a new title: Miracle-worker.
Make No Mistake Time For WEP Reform Is Now
SEPTEMBER 2016 VOICE: Throughout the ages, philosophers have cautioned not to allow perfection to become the enemy of the good. In other words, inaction is often the worse option.
Such is the place where proponents of reforming the Social Security Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) law now find ourselves.
Our Association is part of a national coalition working to reform both the WEP and Government Pension Offset (GPO) laws.
Disagreement Among Advocates Raise Concern
SEPTEMBER 2016 VOICE: A week in July that began with the promise of legislation reforming the Social Security Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) advancing in Congress, has instead ended with the bill suffering a setback.
Association officials spent significant time in Washington, DC, working side-by-side with coalition partners from Texas in an effort to advance WEP reform through Congress this year.
SEPTEMBER 2016 VOICE: Under the proposal, the current WEP law would be repealed for future retirees, replaced with a new Social Security formula that would calculate benefits based on employment covered by Social Security vs. employment under a pension plan not covered by Social Security. This would impact anyone eligible for Social Security beginning January 1, 2018.
Disagreement Among Advocates Raises Concern
JULY 18, 2016: A week that began with the promise of legislation reforming the Social Security Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) advancing in Congress, has instead ended with the bill suffering a setback.
Association officials spent two days last week in Washington, DC, working side-by-side with coalition partners from Texas in an effort to advance WEP reform through Congress this year.
Let's Fix The WEP Law Now
By Reps. Kevin Brady (R-Texas) and Richard Neal (D-Mass.)
Association Officials Visit Capitol Hill
JUNE 27, 2016: With just three weeks to go before the US Congress breaks for its summer recess prior to the national Republican and Democratic Conventions in July, work on a potential fix for Social Security’s dreaded Windfall Elimination Provision continues at a feverish pace on Capitol Hill.
Over the years, millions of retired state and local workers — including teachers, police officers and firefighters — have received sharply reduced Social Security benefits, simply because they have had multiple jobs during their careers and weren’t allowed to pay into Social Security at all of them.
Brady/Neal Credit Mass Retirees For Advocacy
MARCH 25, 2016: On Tuesday of this week the House Subcommittee on Social Security held a special hearing on H.R. 711: Equal Treatment of Public Servants Act.
Association President Frank Valeri and Legislative Director Shawn Duhamel were present at the hearing and also met with key Congressional leaders from both parties, as well as Ways and Means Committee staff.
Since 1968 the Retired State, County and Municipal Employees Association has been the leading voice for Massachusetts public retirees and their families. Join with our 52,000 members as we continue the fight.
