Articles about Social Security that may be useful to Massachusetts retirees
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.
Mass Retirees Plays Central Role
MARCH 16, 2016: In a major step toward resolving a complex problem we have fought to resolve for more than thirty years, the US House of Representatives will hold a hearing on H.R. 711, known as the Equal Treatment of Public Servants Act. H.R. 711 reforms the Social Security Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) to create a more accurate and fair accounting of credit earned under Social Security.
Major Step Toward Congressional Action
MARCH 12, 2015: In a major step toward reforming the Social Security Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) has endorsed HR711 and urged Congress to take action during the 2016 Session.
The support comes on the heels of a meeting with the 38 million-member strong AARP that was led by the Retired Texas Teachers and Mass Retirees. AARP’s policy committee then put their stamp of approval on the proposal early this week.
Obama Reignites GPO Debate
MARCH 1, 2016: Association officials joined our Texas counterparts on Monday for a series of meetings in Washington DC aimed at consolidating support for the passage legislation reforming the Social Security Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP).
As we continue our lobbying in Washington, D.C. to reform the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), reports indicate that the national public employee unions are now analyzing HR 711. Support of these organizations could prove essential to a bill passing during the current Congressional session.
Congressmen Kevin Brady (R-TX) and Richard Neal (D-MA) filed HR711. The bill now has 40 cosponsors – 23 Republicans and 17 Democrats, including all 9 Massachusetts Congressmen.
Medicare Rates May Increase for Some Retirees
OCTOBER 9, 2015: A flat Consumer Price Index (CPI) means there will be no COLA increase under Social Security for 2016. The CPI-W is the federal standard used to calculate inflation.
Since 1987, a national debate has raged as to whether or not the CPI-W is an accurate gauge for retirees. Many, including our Association, feel a more accurate measure is the CPI-E (Elderly), which looks to inflationary pressures such as healthcare costs that impact retirees on a larger scale.
HR711 Now Pending Before House Subcommittee on Social Security
July 2015 Voice: A milestone in our efforts to reform the Social Security Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) was reached in late May, when all nine members of the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation had officially signed on as cosponsors of HR711 – known as the Social Security Fairness Act.
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.
