Congress Passes Bill to Boost Social Security Benefits for Public Workers

The bipartisan legislation, which repeals longstanding benefit reduction provisions, now awaits President Biden's signature.

The Social Security Fairness Act repeals the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), addressing benefit reductions for over 3 million public workers including teachers, firefighters, and police officers.
The bill passed with overwhelming bipartisan support in both the House (327-75) and Senate (76-20), signaling strong legislative backing.
The Congressional Budget Office estimates the bill will cost $196 billion over 10 years, potentially moving up Social Security insolvency by six months to fiscal year 2033.
Critics, including some Republican lawmakers, argue the legislation lacks funding offsets and could exacerbate Social Security's financial challenges without broader reform.
If signed into law, the bill would mark a significant policy change after decades of advocacy from public service organizations and bipartisan lawmakers.