Senate Democrats Reject Delay of Social Security Reform Bill

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senate

about 2 months ago - Politics

Senate Democrats blocked an amendment that targeted delaying two big changes to Social Security. These changes were part of a new law that wants to make Social Security fairer for retired Americans. The law, already passed by the House and now being discussed in the Senate, is about stopping two things that can lower how much money retirees get from Social Security.

Firstly, the law wants to get rid of something called the Government Pension Offset. Right now, if someone is getting a government pension, their Social Security money might be less. The law wants to stop this from happening.

Secondly, it aims to remove the Windfall Elimination Provisions. These rules can also reduce Social Security money for retirees who have other income, like a private pension. The law says that shouldn't happen.

The amendment Senate Democrats rejected was trying to say, "Let's wait to do these changes until we're sure they won't hurt the Social Security system financially." However, with a vote of 34 in favor and 62 against, the Senate decided not to delay these changes. So, if this new law goes all the way through, starting January 2024, retirees might see more money in their Social Security checks, helping them financially in their retirement years.

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

34

No

62

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.
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  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.
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  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.
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  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.
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  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.
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  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.