That isn't how it worked. Many teachers worked jobs that paid into SS during their college years and summers, but until now have been prevented from claiming SS when they retire - even if they'd earned enough credits. I believe that will change with this bill, as it should.

My spouse and I both worked in SS jobs after leaving the public sector specifically in order to allow us to collect what little SS we had earned. I think we collectively get about enough to pay for our Medicare with perhaps enough left over to go out for pizza once a month. It's not a lot, but we earned it - at least we get it. If we hadn't worked in SS jobs AFTER leaving the public sector, we wouldn't have. It was a dumb, unfair law.