OPINION: Make Social Security benefits fair for all

There is a nasty surprise hidden in the Social Security system that could be awaiting many of our most valuable public servants. Imagine the firefighter about to retire after, say, 15 years of service to an Alaska community. He spent the first part of his career in the U.S. Navy, watching as Social Security was taken out of each paycheck. As he prepares for retirement, he discovers that because his 15-year career as a firefighter has earned him an Alaska pension, his Social Security benefits will be reduced by up to 50%! To add further insult, if he dies, his spouse’s survivor benefits would be similarly reduced. There are few issues that unite all 60 Alaska legislators around a single cause, but treating a first responder and their family unfairly on the eve of retirement is one of those. Quick action by the U.S. Senate before the end of the year could fix this injustice.

Earlier this year, the Alaska Legislature made a strong statement by unanimously passing my resolution, HJR 18, which calls for immediate congressional action to correct these unfair Social Security penalties. Our 60-0 vote demonstrated the overwhelming bipartisan support within Alaska for the repeal of the outdated Windfall Elimination Provision, or WEP, and Government Pension Offset, or GPO, contained in the Social Security Act.

Fortunately, the U.S. House recently passed HR 82, the Social Security Fairness Act, aka SSFA, repealing the WEP-GPO that disproportionately affects our teachers, nurses, first responders, military personnel, and numerous other public servants and their families. The WEP-GPO reduces the standard Social Security benefits of those who have earned Social Security but also paid into a separate public pension fund, such as PERS or TRS.

Congressional support mirrors Alaska’s bipartisan alignment. The U.S. House passed HR 82 by a decisive 327-75 vote, and the Senate’s companion bill, S. 597, boasts 62 co-sponsors, including our esteemed Sen. Lisa Murkowski.

A typical career path among Alaska’s diverse workforce, marked by shifts between public and private sector jobs, accentuates our distinct challenge in this area. According to the Congressional Research Service, 15.2% of Alaska’s workers are adversely affected by these penalties — the highest percentage nationwide. This situation underscores the urgent need for the SSFA’s passage in the Senate.

I urge the U.S. Senate to prioritize and expedite the SSFA, ensuring fair retirement treatment for all those who have dedicated themselves selflessly to public service.

Rep. Alyse Galvin is the State House representative for District 14 in Midtown Anchorage, Spenard and Rogers Park.

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