The US Senate passed a bipartisan bill early Saturday to increase Social Security benefits for close to 3 million federal, state and local public sector workers, which includes firemen, policemen and teachers.

The U.S. Congress early on Saturday passed a measure to boost Social Security retirement payments to some retirees who draw public pensions - such as former police and firefighters - which critics warned will further weaken the program's finances.

WASHINGTON – Congress on early Saturday passed a bill that would increase Social Security benefits for public sector workers. The Social S ecurity Fairness Act, would eliminate the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO),