Sherrill-Supported Social Security Fairness Act Begins Delivering Relief to NJ Families

23,000 New Jerseyans — including firefighters, police officers, and teachers — will see benefits 

BLOOMFIELD — This week, the Social Security Administration announced that it has paid benefits to over one million Americans through the Social Security Fairness Act, legislation that prevents seniors and their families from unfairly losing some of their Social Security benefits and that will help approximately 23,000 New Jerseyans, including firefighters, police officers, and teachers. Mikie Sherrill led efforts to enact the Social Security Fairness Act, hosting roundtable discussions with police officers and firefighters affected by Social Security cuts, advocating to congressional leadership for the bill’s passage, and voting for the legislation last year.

“Our first responders and public servants should be able to afford to retire in the communities they have spent their careers serving — but for too many of New Jersey’s police officers, firefighters, and teachers, that’s not reality. After hearing from public servants across the state, I fought hard to pass the Social Security Fairness Act — which is now beginning to put money back into the pockets of over 23,000 New Jerseyans. But we've got more work to do, especially as Donald Trump and Elon Musk move to gut Social Security and fire the workers who make sure New Jersey seniors get the benefits they're entitled to. As governor, I am committed to standing up to these attacks and to fully funding New Jersey's pension system alongside our public sector unions,” said Mikie Sherrill. 

“We had been working for decades to fix this issue and we are so grateful to Mikie for her efforts to get this done. This is a huge accomplishment that will bring relief to first responders, working families, and retirees in New Jersey. This is exactly why Mikie is the best candidate to be New Jersey’s next governor — she will protect our hard-earned pensions and benefits, and is laser focused on delivering and making life easier for members,” said Eddie Donnelly, President of the New Jersey Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association (NJFMBA).

Sherrill helped lead efforts in Congress to pass the Social Security Fairness Act, which was signed into law in January 2025. The legislation repealed the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset, which reduced or eliminated Social Security benefits for public sector employees who also receive pensions. About 23,000 retirees, workers with disabilities, and their family members in New Jersey will see an increase in their hard-earned benefits because of the Social Security Fairness Act.