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Washington, D.C.—The National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) has called for Senate approval of legislation that would provide timely economic relief of $250 to Social Security recipients and millions of public sector retirees.

In a letter to the sponsor of S. 3985, Sen. Bernard Sanders (I-Vt.), NTEU President Colleen M. Kelley said that NTEU is particularly grateful for the inclusion in his bill of federal, state and local government retirees who are not eligible to receive Social Security benefits.

“Many of these public sector retirees, including federal annuitants under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), do not receive any Social Security benefits, and also have trouble making ends meet,” she wrote.

“These seniors spent their lives in public service, diligently working at agencies throughout the country, helping to administer our government programs, defend our homeland and protect the health and safety of our country,” Kelley added. “NTEU strongly believes that including public sector retirees, including those under CSRS, to the pool of those eligible to receive the $250 benefit enhances the legislation’s intent.”

The legislation is in response to the announcement that there will be no cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security recipients in 2011. “NTEU believes it is imperative the Senate approve this essential legislation,” Kelley wrote. The Senate is expected to take up the bill tomorrow.

In further support of this measure, NTEU joined in a letter in support of the same legislation to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) from a coalition of federal, postal, state and local government employee groups.

The House is expected to consider its version of the measure later this week but it does not currently include the $250 in relief for public sector retirees. President Kelley said that the coalition will send a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), asking that public sector retirees be included in pending House legislation, H.R. 5987.

NTEU is the largest independent federal union, representing more than 150,000 employees in 31 agencies and departments.