Social Security Information

For information on your Social Security benefits, go to the Social Security Administration website, or call 1 (800) 772-1213.

Windfall Elimination Provision

Some federal employees and employees of state or local government agencies may be eligible for a pension based on earnings not covered by Social Security.

If you didn't pay Social Security taxes on your government earnings and you are eligible for Social Security benefits, the formula used to figure your Social Security benefit amount may be reduced.

If you are eligible for Social Security benefits on your own record and a pension not covered by Social Security, the Windfall Elimination provision, or WEP may affect your benefits.

Windfall Elimination Provision - How it works

Government Pension Offset

BACKGROUND: The Government Pension Offset (GPO) adjusts Social Security spousal or widow(er) benefits for people who receive “non-covered pensions.” A non-covered pension is a pension paid by an employer that does not withhold Social Security taxes from your salary, typically, state and local governments or non-U.S. employers.

Congress created the GPO in 1977 to help ensure that spousal and widow(er) benefits of those with covered or non-covered lifetime earnings would be roughly equal. a Under Social Security's dual-entitlement rule, spouses with their own covered earnings have their spousal benefits offset dollar-for-dollar by their own earned benefit. The GPO has a similar intention; the offset originally was dollar-for-dollar for non-covered pensions, but Congress reduced it to two-thirds in 1983.

Government Pension Offset - How it works