Lima Reporter

The Ohio House has unanimously voted in favor of legislation urging Congress to repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO). State Representative Angie King (R-Celina) brought forth the legislation, which aims to provide public servants who contribute to Social Security with their full benefits upon retirement.

The WEP was established in 1983 as a modified benefits program for public employees who receive a pension for their service. Under the WEP, public employees may have their Social Security earnings reduced by up to 50% due to their public pension. This reduction in benefits has been a cause for concern among public servants in Ohio.

Representative Angie King expressed her support for the repeal, stating, "These public servants are paying into social security at the same rate as someone that isn't working for the state. To take away their social security because of their public service diminishes their rightfully earned benefits and penalizes them for their service to Ohio. The WEP program is flawed and must be repealed so we do not hurt the retirement capability of Ohioans."

The impact of the WEP is significant, as more than 1.7 million people in the Ohio Public Retirement System are currently affected by this provision. By repealing the WEP, these individuals would be able to receive their full Social Security benefits, providing them with a more secure retirement.

The legislation will now proceed to the Ohio Senate for further consideration. If passed, it will serve as a powerful message to Congress, urging them to address the concerns of public servants in Ohio and ensure that they receive the benefits they deserve.

The efforts by the Ohio House to repeal the WEP and GPO demonstrate the importance of supporting public servants and recognizing their contributions to the state. By advocating for the repeal of these provisions, Ohio is taking a step towards fairer treatment of its public employees and ensuring that their retirement is not compromised.

To learn more, click on this link: https://ohiohouse.gov/members/angela-n-king/news/ohio-house-agrees-wep-gpo-needs-to-be-repealed-117670