Evelyn Paternostro, an 84-year-old retired teacher, is working part-time at Dollar Tree because she can't collect her late husband's Social Security benefits due to federal policies that reduce or eliminate benefits for those with public pensions. These policies, known as the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO), impact millions of Americans, particularly retired teachers, firefighters, and other public servants.
At 84 years old, Evelyn Paternostro spends her days working part time as a cashier at Dollar Tree. For decades, she dedicated her life to education, serving as a teacher and principal in Louisiana. But despite years of her public service, she now struggles to make ends meet. 'People at the store ask me all the time, 'Are you doing this for fun? Why aren't you retired?'' she said. 'Because I need to eat.
' After her husband died, Paternostro discovered she couldn't collect his Social Security benefits due to a pair of federal policies called the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset. These provisions reduce or eliminate Social Security benefits for millions of Americans if they receive a public pension that didn't withhold Social Security tax. Retired teachers, firefighters and other public servants are some of the most impacted. 'I was really blindsided,' she said. 'I knew I was going to have a teacher's retirement. I was going to be part of the Louisiana Teachers Retirement System. And I never really thought about my husband's income and what that would mean to me.' Nearly 2.8 million individuals across the United States are impacted by WEP and GPO. Its effects extend to all employees of state, county, municipal and special districts in 26 states. Teachers in 13 of those states, including specific districts in Kentucky and Georgia, also feel its impact. In Massachusetts and certain districts in Rhode Island, not all municipal employees, but only teachers are impacted. The purpose of these two 1980s-era programs was 'so that there was no way you could 'double dip' into both a federal pension and Social Security,' explains Jill Schlesinger, CBS News business analyst. The Windfall Elimination Provision affects people who qualify for Social Security benefits through their job but also receive a pension from another job where they didn't pay into Social Security
Social Security Retirement Government Pension Offset Windfall Elimination Provision Public Pensions
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Here's why Dollar Tree and Dollar General stocks have plummetedDollar stores are dealing with a mix of both economic and self-inflicted problems.
Read more »
Shoppers hunt for deals, but Dollar General and Dollar Tree aren't reaping the benefitsSlowing sales and company-specific struggles have put pressure on Dollar General and Dollar Tree, which will report quarterly earnings this week.
Read more »
Bitcoin ATM Security Breach Compromised Social Security Numbers and Government IDsByte Federal operates 1,200 Bitcoin ATMs in the U.S. A data breach comprised 58,000 customer's information.
Read more »
Decades of tradition: Families hunt for perfect tree at Wilbert's Christmas Tree FarmRochesterians are wasting no time getting out to those tree farms and finding their perfect Christmas tree.
Read more »
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, which is more sustainable: real or plasticky?It's time to discuss one of the perennial debates of the holiday season. Are real Christmas trees or their fake counterparts more eco-friendly?
Read more »
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree, which is more sustainable: real or plasticky?It's time to discuss one of the perennial debates of the holiday season. Are real Christmas trees or their fake counterparts more eco-friendly?
Read more »