Pensioned LEOs and Social Security

[3S16]

I've ranted here in the past about losing two thirds of my Social Security benefits due a clause called "Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination" provision. In a nutshell, If you have a pension from a Govt. entity , but you also have put in your 40 quarters paying into Social Security from other jobs, you lose around 2/3 of the SSI you are entitled to when you reach 62/65. (mine went from $900 to $310), because, as the lady behind the bullet proof glass at the social security office told me, "There are other people who need it more!" This was just before the security guard escorted me out.
Now there is a glimmer of hope on the horizon. This past February, Rep. Rodney Davis (Ill.) introduced H.R. 1205, "Social Security Fairness act of 2017", a bill to do away with the above. It is co-sponsored by 120 others in the house, including 34 from Calif. The vast majority of these co-sponsors are Democrats, but there is bi-partisan support. The bill was sent to the sub committee on Social Security in March.
I'm encouraged by the fact that it was introduced so early in the year.
So, If you envision yourself in a similar situation, call or write your Congress person.

[micro911]

Why can I not get what I put in for and what I am entitled? That is absurd...

I received the statement that said I will get maybe $365 per month when I reach 67.

[edgerly779]

My uncle retired from Inglewood pd after 25 years and has an army pension and they take most of his social security

[NATEWA]

I've heard this from friends that work for the govt. Complete b.s.! The govt collects your money, holds on to it for 40-50 years and gives a fraction of what you've paid in return.

Complete scam.

[tnlrat37]

Not Leo here but understand the frustration, I paid in nearly 20 years into SS and now that I'm in a gov position they tell me I'll only get around 40% unless I work at least 30 years paying SS which then makes you exempt from the Windfall elimination plan. Especially with PEPRA a lot of gov workers are going to have to work until 67 to get enough to live on.

Yes I understand that 3% at 50 is highly unsustainable but not every gov worker is on that. My work is 1.6 at 62 now for new hires.

[BadKitty]

This is encouraging news. The windfall elimination plan applies to me and I always thought it was unfair. I paid into social security for many years and now I don't get to have that money back? Why? Because I motivated myself to get a better job? I'm not getting a federal pension anyway. So why are the feds so worried about my state pension? It's not fair for federal pension employees either; but, at least I might be able to understand the feds' position about federal pension employees getting the [federal] social security benefits. Dumb. It's not like I had to ability to opt-out of social security back then. If I could have, I would have invested that money for my retirement and kept it all for myself!

[pacrat]

I've heard this from friends that work for the govt. Complete b.s.! The govt collects your money, holds on to it for 40-50 years and gives a fraction of what you've paid in return.

Complete scam.

That's because Leftist Politicos need YOUR money to buy votes with from people who never contributed to start with.

[M1NM]

I'll be contacting my reps to hopefully get this passed. I took my SS last July when I turned 66 just so I'd get a couple years at max before I retire on my city pension and they screw me. I haven't paid in for 35 years but what's mine is mine. I don't consider it an entitlement or that "others" need it more than I do/will.

[Spaffo]

I'm in the same boat. I get about $400, instead of the $1000 or so if I had retired from another line of work.

[SonofWWIIDI]

A bill needs to be introduced to cease paying S/S to those who didn't pay into it.

Frankly, it (SSI) is just another form of welfare for illegal immigrants and slackers. Those that have been paying into are being left out in the cold.



BTW, I've been paying into the S/S system since I was 13...close to 40 years. And I honestly don't expect S/S to be around when I finally retire. And no, I don't have a 401k or govt pension to fall back on. Just the house I live in (which will eventually be sold, when I move to a free state...hopefully for a lot of money).

[TrailerparkTrash]

This is indeed great news. I've reached my 40 quarters or whatever the "40" is called, several years ago with a side business I used to have. I was made aware long ago that the government steals around 3/4ths of SS benefits when I retire. I paid into it, why don't I get my entitled return on it???

[bobbybutler.rb]

I've ranted here in the past about losing two thirds of my Social Security benefits due a clause called "Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination" provision. In a nutshell, If you have a pension from a Govt. entity , but you also have put in your 40 quarters paying into Social Security from other jobs, you lose around 2/3 of the SSI you are entitled to when you reach 62/65. (mine went from $900 to $310), because, as the lady behind the bullet proof glass at the social security office told me, "There are other people who need it more!" This was just before the security guard escorted me out.
Now there is a glimmer of hope on the horizon. This past February, Rep. Rodney Davis (Ill.) introduced H.R. 1205, "Social Security Fairness act of 2017", a bill to do away with the above. It is co-sponsored by 120 others in the house, including 34 from Calif. The vast majority of these co-sponsors are Democrats, but there is bi-partisan support. The bill was sent to the sub committee on Social Security in March.
I'm encouraged by the fact that it was introduced so early in the year.
So, If you envision yourself in a similar situation, call or write your Congress person.

I have a Gov annuity. SS sent letter before turning 62 saying my monthly would be $1,800. When I took SS at 65 they reduced it to $310. I was furious and talked to many people but of course I lost the battle. I wonder if anything comes of this bill.

Sent from my HTC6535LVW using Tapatalk

[71MUSTY]

Interestingly, that was the trade-off you all made when you agreed to be Exempt from Social Security in exchange for that great Government pension. Now you want to have your cake and eat it too. Don't get me wrong I do understand but Social Security was never intended to support people who already have a great Government Pension.

Now consider this. Those of us who did not/don't work for the Government have to pay Social Security Tax on every dime of wages we make every day of our lives.

Why should you be entitled to the same Social Security benefit I am when you were able to exclude most of your income from Social Security Tax.

I will agree to give you the same social security benefit as me when you agree I get the same pension as you.

[P5Ret]

Interestingly, that was the trade-off you all made when you agreed to be Exempt from Social Security in exchange for that great Government pension. Now you want to have your cake and eat it too. Don't get me wrong I do understand but Social Security was never intended to support people who already have a great Government Pension.

Now consider this. Those of us who did not/don't work for the Government have to pay Social Security Tax on every dime of wages we make every day of our lives.

Why should you be entitled to the same Social Security benefit I am when you were able to exclude most of your income from Social Security Tax.

I will agree to give you the same social security benefit as me when you agree I get the same pension as you.

You have completely missed the point. It's not about getting the same as you but getting back what was put in? I don't want the same as people who paid in for their entire working career, but I should be allowed to get the benefit's of what I paid in.

Many of us paid into social security just like you did, and some of us are still paying in, but because we have a separate government pension system we should not be allowed to get the full benefit we paid into?

It's about fairness since private sector pension holder's still qualify for full social security benefit's why shouldn't government pensions? If someone paid into the system shouldn't they be allowed the benefit's for the time they paid in? I guess if social security was reduced for IRA or 401k holder's it would be a different matter entirely.

[M1NM]

Interestingly, that was the trade-off you all made when you agreed to be Exempt from Social Security in exchange for that great Government pension..

Not true the law that takes away from what should be paid was enacted years after I left SS. Also our SS payments are based on having at least 40 quarters and what we paid in so it's not a give away program. Like 90% of all those who paid in I'll never get all my money back (orig payments and interest it's earned). Also my .gov retirement pays better because its deduction is a lot higher than what my SS deduction was.