1. United States
2. Nev.
3. Letter

I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to you as a teacher and a proud member of both the National Education Association (NEA) and the Washoe Education Association (WEA). As an educator and a public servant, I urge your support for the full repeal of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) penalties on Social Security benefits. These provisions, which were originally intended to prevent overpayment of benefits, have instead unfairly penalized public servants like educators, firefighters, police officers, and other state and local government employees. The WEP and GPO reduce the Social Security benefits earned by these workers, often severely impacting their financial stability during retirement. For many of us, these reductions in benefits are not only unexpected but detrimental, disproportionately affecting those who have devoted their lives to serving their communities. The Government Pension Offset reduces or even eliminates the Social Security benefits of surviving spouses, which can cause undue financial hardship at an already difficult time. Likewise, the Windfall Elimination Provision unfairly reduces the earned benefits of individuals who have paid into Social Security for part of their careers, simply because they also receive a pension from non-Social Security-covered employment. As a teacher, I have seen firsthand the sacrifices made by educators, many of whom already face financial challenges due to the profession’s historically low pay. The WEP and GPO only exacerbate these difficulties by penalizing us in retirement, making it harder to retire with dignity. These penalties also send a discouraging message to future generations of educators and public servants. The full repeal of these provisions is long overdue. I ask that you support efforts such as H.R. 82, the Social Security Fairness Act, which aims to fully repeal these penalties. This is an issue of fairness and equity, and by supporting the repeal, you will be standing up for Nevada’s educators, public employees, and their families. Thank you for your time and consideration of this important issue. I look forward to your response and hope that you will advocate for the fair treatment of public servants by supporting the full repeal of these unjust Social Security penalties.