The following was circulated Feb. 7 from the office of Senator Susan Collins, R-Maine.

I am sending this bulletin to folks throughout Maine to share some important news: The Social Security Fairness Act has been signed into law, completing two decades of work to secure fairness for public servants across our state and nation. More than 26,000 Mainers—teachers, firefighters, law enforcement officers, and other dedicated public servants—will now receive the full Social Security benefits they or their spouses earned. 

This effort began in 2003, when I held the first-ever Senate hearing on the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). These provisions were particularly unfair because Social Security operates on a clear rule: individuals must contribute for 40 quarters (10 years) to earn their benefits.  

Despite following these guidelines, many public employees were shocked to discover late in life that these provisions reduced or eliminated the benefits they or their spouses had earned. This system penalized individuals for their public service instead of honoring their contributions. And while it is crucial for Congress to bring Social Security to long-term financial solvency, doing so in a way that is patently unfair to millions of Americans who followed the rules is wrong. 

I introduced the first version of the Social Security Fairness Act in 2005 with the late Senator Dianne Feinstein. Over the years, bipartisan support steadily grew, and last year, we achieved a critical milestone: 62 Senators cosponsored the bill. This strong, ideologically diverse support—including from the likes of Senator Bernie Sanders and now-Vice President J.D. Vance—sent a clear message that we had built a coalition broad enough to get this legislation across the finish line.  

When the bill was finally brought to the floor for votes, it passed overwhelmingly in both the House (327-75) and the Senate (76-20). With the President signing the bill into law on January 5th, 2025, the WEP and GPO have now been repealed, and those impacted will see their earned benefits restored.  

I was proud to participate in the White House signing ceremony alongside advocates and public servants who had fought for this change for decades.  

For first responders, the impact is clear. Mike Scott, President of the Professional Firefighters of Maine, shared:

“The Social Security Fairness Act will provide our members and their families the full benefit of Social Security, helping to make a major difference in their quality of life.”  

The law is also a victory for educators. Jesse Hargrove, President of the Maine Education Association, said:

“The repeal of GPO and WEP is a historic win for public employees, including thousands of retired educators in Maine. We know that these unfair provisions make it more difficult to recruit and retain educators.”  

Already, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has assured me that those filing for benefits for the first time will not be subject to the WEP or GPO. Those looking for updates on the SSA’s implementation of this law can find them here, where there is also a link to subscribe to be notified when future updates are released.

By restoring the benefits that public employees earned through years of hard work and contributions, this law ensures that those who dedicate their careers to serving their communities are treated fairly and receive what they are owed. 

Thank You for Your Time 

In my role as your senior United States Senator, I consider it both my responsibility and privilege to help ensure that Mainers are kept up-to-date on my efforts in Washington to advocate for the interests of our state. I’d like to thank you for taking the time out of your busy day to read this bulletin. 

Please know that my office is open and accessible to you. If you have specific concerns, questions, or require assistance navigating federal agencies, do not hesitate to reach out to one of my six state offices. To find which office serves your county and how to contact them, click here. 

If you would like a broader update on the work I am doing for the State of Maine, please subscribe to my weekly newsletter here. 

Thank you for entrusting me with the privilege of serving you. I remain dedicated to working diligently on behalf of the people of Maine.