Social Security Issues

An estimated 75 percent of all fire fighters are covered by pension plans that are independent of Social Security.  These individuals participate in specialized fire fighter pension plans that have been designed to reflect the unique circumstances of their profession, including early retirement ages and high rates of disability. 

Additionally, many fire fighters who do not pay Social Security payroll taxes but qualify for Social Security benefits by paying into the program at a second job or through a spousal benefit may see their benefits reduced by two offsets, the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP).  The GPO reduces public employees' Social Security spousal or survivor benefits by two-thirds of their public pension while the WEP reduces the Social Security benefits of an individual who also receives a public pension from a job not covered by Social Security.

Many proposals have been put forward in Congress in recent years to mandate Social Security coverage of all public employees, including fire fighters.  Other bills, some of which have generated broad support, have sought to repeal or reform the GPO and WEP.

The IAFF opposes mandatory Social Security coverage as an attack on fire fighter retirement security, and supports efforts to repeal or reform the WEP and GPO, so long as such actions would not result in mandatory Social Security coverage for fire fighters.

For more information about mandatory social security and offsets to fire fighters' social security benefits, click here:  Fact Sheet

Learn more about how mandatory social security coverage would harm fire fighters:  Key Points