Social Security Fairness Rally

Rally to support Social Security Fairness Act of 2009 now in 111th Congress. Senate Bill 484 (Feinstein) and H.R. 235 (Berman, McKeon) repeal the WEP and the GPO which prevent teachers in 15 states and many other public service workers from receiving the retirement benefits they have earned. Rally speakers include Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D) Oakland, CA Assembly Member Tom Torlakson, California Teachers Assn. Secretary/Treasurer Gail Mendes, and CalRTA Legislative Chair Ken Hewitt. The Angry, Tired Teachers Band sings,"Where's My Social Security?"
Rally organized by Karin Alexander; M.C. Doug Cembellin--
-More info at socialsecurityfairness.com

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Social
• Security
• Fairness
• Teachers
• Legislation
• Pension
• Retirement
• WEP
• GPO
• CTA
• NEA
• CalRTA
• Public
• Service
• Employees

[bonncedj]

Jaime,

You are among the many public servants who will lose a large portion of what you should get from Social Security because of the WEP. People who are not citizens of this country collect Social Security only if they have paid into it for the required number of years. Many of them, undocumented workers included, are required to pay into it and get nothing back because they don't use their own SS# or they work for a few years and then leave the country. Non-citizens are not the problem.

[videospert]

I worked and paid into SS for 30 years, before teaching. AFTER I had been teaching for several years, this WEP went into effect, costing me retirement funds I had already paid for. What a rip off. This is the thanks I get for sacrificing a great income and employer provided pensionto try to make a difference to our nation's young! What a slap in the face and show of disrespect for teachers! And, since my husband is a teacher, we are doubly penalized. Change it.

[JaimeTrahern]

I worked from age17-38, paying into SS &then spent my life savings to become a teacher (actually, I spent it 3X 'cause I got 3 teaching credentials).Now I find out that I will not get that SS. Other teachers are retiring at my age 'cause they began teaching at age 21. My 1st 21 years of working will not count toward retirement as I will not get that SS which I paid for. Yet, I see people who are not citizens collecting my income, which I paid for & for which they did not contribute--thievery!

[kjgp25171]

Imagine if you and a friend open interest bearing accounts at the same bank. You open another account at a second bank and continue adding money to it. You stop contributing at the first bank. Imagine when you both go to close your accounts at the first bank you receive less interest than your friend because you have a second account and stopped putting money into the first account you will receive less benefits. This is what happens with WEP/GPO. Call your congressmen/women.