Senate Moves to Discuss Law Boosting Social Security for Retirees

Chamber
senate

about 1 month ago - Politics

Yesterday, in a big step for retired workers across the country, the Senate agreed to move forward with discussing a new law designed to make things fairer for them when it comes to their Social Security benefits. With a vote of 73 in favor and only 23 against, it looks like many senators are ready to change the rules that currently cut the Social Security money for some retirees who also get government pensions.

The law they're talking about wants to fix two big problems with the current Social Security system. The first problem is something called the Government Pension Offset. Right now, if you're someone who worked a government job and earned a pension, the money you get from Social Security might be less because of that pension. This new law wants to stop that from happening.

The second issue is called the Windfall Elimination Provisions. These rules can also make your Social Security benefits smaller if you have other income, like a private pension. The new law aims to get rid of these rules, so your Social Security money doesn't get cut just because you have other income.

If the Senate decides to pass this law, starting in January 2024, lots of retirees could see their Social Security payments go up. This is because their payments won't be reduced by these old rules anymore. The goal here is to make sure retired workers have more money in their pockets each month, honoring the hard work they've done over their careers.

So, what just happened is pretty important – the Senate agreed to talk more about and possibly pass a law that could help retirees get more money from Social Security. With so many senators on board, it's a hopeful sign for many people looking forward to a more comfortable retirement.

This is a law that changes how Social Security benefits are calculated for people who get government pensions. The main point is that it stops two rules that could reduce the Social Security payments to these individuals.

  1. Government Pension Offset Repeal: Usually, if someone gets a government pension and did not pay Social Security taxes, their Social Security spousal or survivor benefits might be reduced. This law removes that reduction, ensuring people can receive more from Social Security.

  2. Windfall Elimination Provision Repeal: This rule reduced the Social Security retirement or disability benefits for those who worked in jobs that did not pay into Social Security but also had other jobs that did. With this law, the reduction is removed, potentially increasing their Social Security benefits.

The law applies to Social Security payments starting January 2024, meaning changes in payments will be seen from this date. The Social Security Administration will make necessary adjustments to ensure these calculations are reflected in benefits paid out.

96 votes

Yes

73

No

23

Not Voting

4

  1. Signed by President.
  2. Presented to President.
  3. Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate, under the order of 12/20/2024, having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, without amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 76 - 20. Record Vote Number: 338.
    Learn more
  4. Point of order that the measure violates section 311(a)(3) of the Congressional Budget Act raised in Senate.
  5. Motion to waive all applicable budgetary discipline with respect to the measure agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 66 - 30. Record Vote Number: 337.
    Learn more
  6. Message on Senate action sent to the House.
  7. Cloture motion on the measure rendered moot in Senate.
  8. Passed Senate, under the order of 12/20/2024, having achieved 60 votes in the affirmative, without amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 76 - 20. Record Vote Number: 338.
    Learn more
  9. Motion by Senator Schumer to commit to Senate Committee on Finance with instructions to report back forthwith with the following amendment (SA 3357) withdrawn in Senate.
  10. Motion by Senator Schumer to commit to Senate Committee on Finance with instructions to report back forthwith with the following amendment (SA 3357) made in Senate.
  11. Cloture motion on the measure presented in Senate. (CR S7286)
  12. Considered by Senate. (consideration: CR S7285-7287, S7303-7304)
  13. Measure laid before Senate by motion.
  14. Motion to proceed to consideration of measure agreed to in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 73 - 23. Record Vote Number: 328.
    Learn more
  15. Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (CR S7217)
  16. Cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 73 - 27. Record Vote Number: 326.
    Learn more
  17. Motion to proceed to measure considered in Senate. (CR S7131)
  18. Referred to the Subcommittee on Social Security.
  19. Placed on Calendar Senate

    This is a law that changes how Social Security benefits are calculated for people who get government pensions. The main point is that it stops two rules that could reduce the Social Security payments to these individuals.

    1. Government Pension Offset Repeal: Usually, if someone gets a government pension and did not pay Social Security taxes, their Social Security spousal or survivor benefits might be reduced. This law removes that reduction, ensuring people can receive more from Social Security.

    2. Windfall Elimination Provision Repeal: This rule reduced the Social Security retirement or disability benefits for those who worked in jobs that did not pay into Social Security but also had other jobs that did. With this law, the reduction is removed, potentially increasing their Social Security benefits.

    The law applies to Social Security payments starting January 2024, meaning changes in payments will be seen from this date. The Social Security Administration will make necessary adjustments to ensure these calculations are reflected in benefits paid out.

  20. Engrossed in House

    This is about changing rules for some people who get Social Security payments. The goal is to make sure people who get these payments because they worked at jobs that don’t pay into the Social Security system are treated more fairly.

    First, the bill removes a rule that cuts Social Security benefits for people who also get a government pension. This means if someone worked in a government job that didn't pay into Social Security, their Social Security payments won't be reduced just because they get a government pension.

    Second, it gets rid of the "windfall elimination provision." This provision reduces the Social Security benefits for people who didn’t pay Social Security taxes at some of their jobs and also have other pensions. Now, their Social Security benefits won’t be reduced due to this rule.

    Lastly, these changes will start in December 2023. This means people who get Social Security payments will see changes or might get more money starting then. The Social Security office will adjust the amount of money people get to make sure everything is fair based on the new rules.

  21. Introduced in House

    This bill removes two parts from the Social Security laws that affected how much money people could get. The first part removed is the Government Pension Offset. This change means if you receive a government pension and Social Security from your spouse's work, now your Social Security benefit will not be reduced. The second part removed is called the Windfall Elimination Provision which affected how the Social Security benefit was calculated for people who have pensions from jobs where they did not pay into the Social Security system. These changes will start affecting payments in January 2024.