JEFFERSON RENEWS EFFORTS FOR
GOVERNMENT PENSION OFFSET REFORM, 117 CO-SPONSORS JOIN FIGHT March 24,
1999
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- On Wednesday, March 24, Congressman William
Jefferson, D-LA, and 117 bipartisan original co-sponsors renewed efforts
to modify government pension offset provisions that currently ravage
benefits for retired public employees and widows who are eligible for both
civil service pensions and Social Security spousal benefits.
Jefferson's legislation (HR 1217)
would allow pensioners and widows affected by government pension offset
provisions to receive a minimum $1,200 per month before offset provisions
could be imposed.
"This is a question of fundamental fairness, and now is the time, as
we address the future of Social Security, that Congress should resolve
this unfair treatment of government employees," said Jefferson, who has
championed the cause of government pension offset reform since his first
term in 1991.
"Pension offset is punitive and hurts most public servants who worked
as secretaries, school cafeteria workers, teacher's aides and others who
generally receive lower pension benefits," Jefferson said.
The New Orleans congressman explained that the government's pension
offset provisions can affect any retiree who receives a civil service
pension and Social Security but primarily affects widows or widowers
eligible for spousal benefits. Jefferson stressed that offset provisions
do not affect retirees who receive private pensions and Social Security.
"If retirees on private pensions do not have Social Security benefits
subject to offset, why should retirees who worked in the public service,"
Jefferson asked rhetorically.
Jefferson, a five-term congressman from New Orleans, praised the
grassroots lobbying effort of the Coalition to Assure Retirement Equity
(C.A.R.E.), which during the 105th Congress drove the number of
co-sponsors to an all-time high of 183 and led to the 106th Congress'
record high of 114 original co-sponsors.
"We're in a great position now to reach the magic number of 218
co-sponsors and finally pass the legislation," Jefferson predicted.
Here's how the current offset provisions affect a widow eligible for
civil service pension benefits of $600 per month and Social Security
spousal benefits of $600 per month, or $1,200 per month.
Under government pension offset provisions, the Social Security
spousal benefit is reduced by two-thirds of the civil service pension
benefit. In this case the original $600 Social Security benefit is reduced
to $200, so that, coupled with the civil service pension benefits of $600,
monthly income is reduced to $800.
If Jefferson's legislation is passed, the widow's $1,200 per month
combined benefit meets the $1,200 threshold and no government pension
offset would apply. As a result, the widow could receive the entire
combined benefit of $1,200 per month.
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