Colin Bushnell, who teaches English at Sanford High School, became a teacher in his early 30s. He didn’t realize at the time that his career change would mean losing a large portion of the money he had previously paid into Social Security.

The reason for this is a provision in federal law that severely limits the amount of Social Security benefits that public employees receiving a pension can receive. Millions of public employees across the country are losing hundreds of dollars in Social Security benefits every month, and Maine is one of the states disproportionately affected by this law, called the Windfall Elimination Provision.

“To be honest, I couldn’t even believe it was a real thing. It seems so ridiculous and unfair,” Bushnell said.

“Firefighters, teachers, police officers; Many of us could probably do much better in the private sector, but have chosen to dedicate our lives to these careers. We should be the last to be punished for this.”

But at the end of December Congress passed Social Security reforms that if enacted, it will reverse provisions that have stifled retirement benefits for thousands of Mainers.

The Social Security Fairness Act, co-authored by U.S. Senator Susan Collins, received bipartisan support in the U.S. House and Senate last year. It proposes to eliminate two separate provisions that severely limit Social Security benefits for retired teachers and public employees receiving pensions, as well as the benefits their spouses can receive.

On Thursday, Collins sent a letter to Acting Social Security Administration Commissioner Carolyn Colvin urging the agency to quickly implement the law after President Joe Biden is expected to sign the bill into law on Jan. 6.

Maine teachers want more connections, mentoring and financial support

The Windfall Elimination Provision was cited in a 2024 Educate Maine Report seen as a significant hurdle for entering the teaching profession. A Knox County teacher said “teachers are moving away because of this,” according to the report.

From 2023, more than 21,000 Maine residents, most of whom are retired, were affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision.

Another 8,200 Mainers were also affected by the federal pension equalization, which cuts Social Security benefits for spouses and widows or widowers of people who receive pensions not covered by Social Security.

The law could double the amount of pensions teachers and other public sector retirees receive, depending on how much Social Security money they miss out on.

For example, Tony Gonzales of Milo worked in the private sector for 20 years, contributing to Social Security during that time. He then worked for the Maine Department of Transportation for 25 years.

When he retired in 2018, his Social Security statement said he would receive $1,000 per month. But due to the windfall elimination commission, he could only get 40% of it.

“I have now paid a $600 monthly fine for seven years,” he said. “The $600 a month I was paying but not currently receiving would make my life easier.”

Several unions, including the Maine Education Association, the Maine Service Employees Association and the Maine School Boards Association, praised Congress for supporting the reform, which some unions in Maine have lobbied for decades.

“We’ve been trying to fight this for over 30 years,” Steven Bailey, president of the Maine School Boards Association, said of the two provisions.

“The (Social Security Fairness Act) is a very positive thing for both educators and government employees in the state.”