Currently there are about 500,000 Social Security recipients affected by the WEP and the numbers grow by about 60,000 annually. There are approximately 305,000 Social Security recipients affected by the GPO and that number is climbing by about 15,000 annually. Moreover, a significant number of public retirees are affected by both the WEP and GPO.

The figures quoted above were provided by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) at the GPO hearing before the House Subcommittee on Social Security of the Committee on Ways and Means on June 27, 2000.

Chairman E. Clay Shaw (R-FL) convened this hearing to discuss the GPO. The Florida lawmaker mentioned during the June hearing that he hoped to address the GPO and the WEP in the context of Social Security reform in the next Congress.

The GPO impacts on retirees or survivors who are collecting Social Security based on their spouse's earnings. It became effective for Massachusetts public retirees who had not retired or were not eligible to retire on June 1, 1983. The WEP affects retirees who are collecting Social Security on their own earnings and were not retired or eligible to retire on January 1, 1986.

WEP Cost Is Negligible

One of the primary concerns of some members of Congress has been the cost of reducing (H.R. 860) or eliminating (H.R.742) the Windfall Elimination Provision. But, Social Security Administration actuaries have determined that enactment of H.R. 742 or H.R.860 would "increase the OASDI long-range actuarial deficit by an amount that is estimated to be negligible." As a result, this legislation would have had an insignificant impact on the SS Trust Fund.

CARE's long-standing position is that the WEP is just as unfair as the GPO. That is why CARE has worked so diligently on this issue.

As shown, the number of people affected by the WEP is even greater than the number of people affected by the GPO.

Despite that fact, the WEP-affected retirees have tended to be more reticent about the issue than those affected by the GPO.

Founded in 1991 by NARFE, CARE's original mission was to eliminate the inequities of the GPO. At NARFE's insistence, the repeal or mitigation of the WEP was added to CARE's mandate. NARFE says it will continue to work with its coalition partners on both the WEP and GPO, but needs the ongoing support of the entire coalition.

"NARFE is the key," pointed out Association President Ralph White. "They have a nationwide presence and headquarters in Washington with top flight lobbyists. Without NARFE the chance of success would be dim."

H.R.742 was introduced by Rep. Max Sandlin (D-TX) and H.R.860 introduced by Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA). They were referred to the Subcommittee on Social Security, of the Committee on Ways and Means, where they remained at adjournment. H.R.742 had 62 cosponsors and H.R.860 had 140 cosponsors.

Thanks to the work of CARE members across the country, this legislation received more support from the 106th Congress than either bill had garnered in any previous session. This has laid the groundwork for a possible breakthrough in the new 107th Congress where earlier bills have been reintroduced.