WHEREAS:

The Social Security Government Pension Offset provision of the Social Security law penalizes public sector retirees who receive a pension from work not covered by Social Security; and

WHEREAS:

It requires public sector retirees to offset two-thirds of their public pension against any Social Security spousal benefit that they would normally be entitled to receive; and

WHEREAS:

The offset has had a particularly harsh impact on moderate and low income retirees, especially women; and

WHEREAS:

When the pension offset provision was first enacted, the goal was to limit benefits for people receiving multiple government pensions and was not intended to target moderate and low income pensioners; and

WHEREAS:

Women tend to have smaller pensions due to lower pay scales and fewer years in the work force.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That AFSCME supports legislation to repeal or modify the harsh impact of the public pension offset.

SUBMITTED BY:

JoAnn Johntony, Delegate
Lynda L. Mobley, Delegate
Kathryn G. Wilkinson, Delegate
OAPSE/AFSCME Local 4
Ohio