FRANKFORT - In a news release issued Monday, Senator Johnny Ray Turner, D-Drift, filed a Senate Resolution Friday urging the United States Congress to amend Title II of the Social Security Act to repeal the Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination provisions.

The Senator's office released the following statment regarding the Congressman's recent actions:

"The Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination provisions have inequitable effects on many teachers, firefighters, police, postal workers, and others who have struggled their entire working careers to supplement family budgets and retirement savings with part-time and summer jobs where they paid into Social Security," said Turner, a former educator.

The Government Pension Offset provision reduces public employees' Social Security spousal or survival benefits by up to two-thirds of their
public pension.

The Windfall Elimination provision greatly reduces the earned Social Security benefits of an individual who also receives a public pension
from a job not covered by Social Security.

Kentucky is one of the 15 states most impacted by these provisions.

The National Education Association estimates that 300,000 individuals are losing an average of $3,600 a year due to the Government Pension
Offset provision.

Turner said the Windfall Elimination provision impacts the teaching profession because people are less likely to leave other careers in which they earn Social Security benefits to become educators.

The Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination provisions have the severest effect on widowed lower-income women who have worked hard for years and can least afford reduced benefits.

"The amount lost due to such provisions can make the difference between self-sufficiency and poverty," Turner said.

Turner, who has served in the State Senate since 2001, represents the
29th District which includes Floyd, Breathitt, Knott and Letcher counties.