More than 40 years of retirement inequity for many educators and public employees ended in January when President Joe Biden signed the Social Security Fairness Act into law, affecting about 2.8 million people nationwide.

President Joe Biden with CTA President David Goldberg at the White House.

The new law repeals the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination
Provision (WEP), which slashed Social Security, pension and other retirement benefits for educators and other public workers in 26 states, including California. Impacted individuals will see an average increase of $360 per month in Social Security benefits, depending on their employment history, and according to NEA will restore retirement benefits for millions of educators.

“When I hear about this astonishing victory over entrenched economic injustice, I feel both pride and gratitude for our union and the fierce teachers and allies who have been advocating to overturn this injustice for decades,” said Heather Zunguze, a member of Pacific Grove Teachers Association.

“Though I may not have many years to benefit, I’m thankful that younger educators and those still teaching will benefit into the future. I thank every one of those out there who helped pass the repeal.”

—83-year-old Susan Hanes, CTA/NEA-Retired

For four decades, public employees in many states have been subject to punitive and discriminatory measures that reduced their Social Security benefits. The GPO and WEP robbed educators of the retirement income they earned since 1977 and 1983, respectively. In December, Congress finally voted to fully repeal the laws, ending a marathon of activism by union educators across the country.

CTA President David Goldberg joined NEA Vice President Princess Moss and a number of other union leaders at the White House for the bill signing. NEA President Becky Pringle said this fight was about fairness.

“These unjust Social Security penalties have robbed public service workers of their hard-earned benefits for far too long,” Pringle said. “They have hurt educators and their families — and damaged the education profession, making it harder to attract and retain educators. And that means students are impacted, too.”

This struggle has long been a priority for NEA and the victory only happened through the tireless advocacy of educators and other public service workers. NEA members made nearly half a million calls and sent emails to members of Congress, demanding they repeal these unjust laws. NEA and CTA members also lobbied lawmakers in Washington and in offices here in California, sharing their personal stories of how these laws have unjustly penalized them and their families.

“I’m 83 and have sent so many emails and letters and made phone calls to my representatives in Congress and the Senate. I had almost given up hope that a repeal could be achieved,” said Susan Hanes, a CTA/NEA-Retired member. “Though I may not have many years to benefit, I’m thankful that younger educators and those still teaching — along with so many other public employees — will benefit into the future. I thank every one of those out there who helped pass the repeal.”