President Biden Signs Social Security Fairness Act into Law, Expanding Benefits for Millions
On Sunday afternoon, President Joe Biden signed the Social Security Fairness Act into law, marking a significant legislative achievement in his presidency. The law is expected to be one of the final major pieces of legislation during his time in office.
During the signing ceremony, President Biden emphasized the importance of Social Security benefits for working-class Americans, expressing pride in playing a role in the fight for this cause. He explained, “The bill I’m signing today is about a simple proposition: Americans who have worked hard all their lives to earn an honest living should be able to retire with economic security and dignity.”
The Social Security Fairness Act repeals provisions that previously limited the ability of some retirees, particularly those who also receive pensions, from fully claiming their Social Security benefits. This includes retirees who had worked in public sector jobs such as firefighters, teachers, postal workers, and police officers. Additionally, the bill removes provisions that limited Social Security benefits for the surviving spouses of these workers.
Passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, the bill was approved by the Senate in December after clearing the House in November. White House officials highlighted that President Biden is the first president in more than two decades to expand Social Security benefits, with the new law set to increase monthly benefits for over 2.5 million Americans.
As Biden approaches the final weeks of his presidency, this signing stands as part of his efforts to strengthen Social Security and other programs amid challenges from Republican lawmakers, who have advocated for cuts to such benefits. The legislation has received praise from lawmakers across the political spectrum for its positive impact on retirees.
Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.) praised the bill, stating it fulfilled the government’s promise to ensure earned benefits are returned to public service workers. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) also celebrated the bill, particularly for helping over 250,000 workers in his state and promoting equity and dignity for workers across the nation.
