Jan 06, 2025
CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) - In Washington D.C., the Social Security Fairness Act has been signed into law. The legislation was passed on a bi-partisan vote and will eliminate policies that restrict social security payouts for nearly three million Americans. Congressman Richard Neal told 22News he has worked for a solution to this issue for the past two decades. Millions to get higher Social Security payments from bill Biden is signing “After years of hard work, more than 2 million retired public servants will sleep easier knowing relief from the negative impact of the WEP and GPO is on the way,” said Congressman Neal. “I proudly supported this legislation in the House, and I did so because teachers, firefighters, police officers, and all affected public servants deserve a dignified retirement. It’s an overdue step in guaranteeing peace of mind for these retirees, including the more than 100,000 affected in Massachusetts. “While this moment is something we’ve fought so hard for, our work is not done. Just yesterday, Republicans put the nation on notice that major cuts to their health care are on the line in exchange for their billionaire handouts and three Senators voted to make major cuts to Social Security,” continued Neal. “Democrats will always stand up for the American worker and their retirement security. After a lifetime of work, our retirees deserve protection of their hard-earned benefits, and soon President Biden will sign H.R. 82 into law, and we will have delivered.” The legislation expands benefits for Americans who were previously denied or had reduced social security checks because they or their spouses were entitled to public pensions. It clears the way for teachers, firefighters, policemen, and other public sector workers, to receive increases in their social security benefits. The change is to payments from January 2024 and beyond, meaning the Social Security Administration would owe back-dated payments. The measure as passed by Congress says the Social Security commissioner “shall adjust primary insurance amounts to the extent necessary to take into account” changes in the law. It’s not immediately clear how this will happen or whether people affected will have to take any action. Senator Edward Markey, Chair of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security, released the following statement: “Last night, Congress passed the Social Security Fairness Act. Once signed by the president, we will finally repeal the Draconian laws that robbed an entire generation of teachers, firefighters, postal workers, and public servants of all stripes of the benefits they earned. By passing the Social Security Fairness Act, we will right this historic wrong; restore Social Security benefits to millions of Americans, including 130,000 in Massachusetts, and finally deliver for the workers who have delivered for their communities.  “To the nearly 3 million public servants and their families who will finally receive the retirement benefits they deserve: thank you for your service to your communities and your unwavering advocacy. I will always fight for public servants and retirees.” Local News Headlines Audit faults state on hospital monitoring DEEP identifies body found in Connecticut River Son accused of killing father in Hartford motel stabbing The Big E ranks in largest U.S. carnivals for attendance WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.
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