AK HJR18

Alaska Legislature urges the United States Congress to repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) of the Social Security Act

The WEP can reduce Social Security benefits by up to $558 per month for public employees and teachers who do not participate in Social Security

The GPO reduces Social Security spousal and survivor benefits by up to two-thirds of the amount a public employee or teacher receives from their retirement system each month

Alaska has the highest percentage of beneficiaries affected by the WEP of any state or territory, with 11.7 percent of all beneficiaries and 15.2 percent of all retired workers affected

These provisions disproportionately harm low-earning public employees and teachers, and impair recruitment and retention of teachers, police officers, firefighters, and other public employees