Windfall Provision

I worked for the Federal Government as a secretary for 25 years. During most of those years federal employees could not participate in Social Security. I then went to work in the private sector. I have worked approximately 13 years under Social Security.

I am now drawing $638 a month as a pension from the Federal Government. I earned $600+ in Social Security. However, since I am getting $638 a month in retirement from the Federal Government, I am receiving on $280 a month from Social Security. My question is how is this amount of money considered to be a"windfall"? If I received my total Social Security which I earned my total monthly would be only $1238 a month. This is below the poverty level. The House Ways and Means committee will not bring up the bill which is sponsored by over 100 congressional leaders to amend this so-called "windfall" act.

If the privatization of Social Security involves cutting into my Social Security benefits, I will quite likely have nothing left after working 13 years. I will have to continue working for years to come. I asked the Social Security representative if my benefits would go up by continuing to work and I was told that it was unlikely because I fall under the "windfall" provision.

Please write to your Congressman and tell them to fight privatization of Social Security. Also, please write to your Congressman and ask them to pressure the Ways and Means Committee to allow the bill amending the "Windfall Act" to be presented and voted on. There are thousands of others in my situation and we are in poverty, not because we didn't work or do our fair share, but because an unfair law is depriving us of our just benefits which we earned.