Hundreds of thousands of current and former K-12 educators nationwide would be newly eligible for full Social Security benefits when they retire, under a bill that has passed Congress and is now waiting President Joe Biden’s signature.
The Social Security Fairness Act eliminates two components of federal retirement policy designed to help low-income retirees that have long drawn the ire of educators and their advocates: the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset.
The House voted 327-75 to approve the bill on Nov. 12. On Dec. 20, 76 U.S. Senators—46 Democrats, 27 Republicans, and 3 Independents—voted to send the bill to Biden’s desk.