NAPE/AFSCME members have lobbied our federal representatives in congress for decades to repeal and eliminate the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) from Social Security. GPO/WEP denied some NAPE/AFSCME members and their spouses, who worked in the private sector prior to their state service, from receiving their full social security benefits.
In late December, our efforts finally paid off as the bill to eliminate GPO/WEP passed the US Senate 76-20 after clearing the House of Representatives 327-75. Nebraska representatives Mike Flood (NE-1) and Don Bacon (NE-2) voted in favor, while Adrian Smith (NE-3) voted against the bill. Both Senators Deb Fischer and Pete Ricketts supported the bill. President Biden signed the bill into law January 5, 2025.
For 40 years, GPO/WEP left almost 3 million public sector retirees open to cuts in their social security benefits because they gave up private sector jobs to serve their communities. NAPE/AFSCME members and Nebraska AFSCME Retirees lobbied our representatives to change this unjust and outdated law. Thank you to our elected officials who supported this important legislation.
Photo credit: Kalina Newman/AFSCME
