Ask Larry

Non-Covered Pension - WEP / GPO

How Much Will My Social Security Benefit Be Reduced By WEP?

How much will my SS be reduced by WEP? My birthday is 9/29/1952. I qualified for full retirement in 2018 at age 66. I am currently still working. I have 22 qualifying years of paid ss as of 2020. For a few years I taught school and didn't pay into SS. Then I worked for a university and paid into SS. As best as I can figure, my WEP might be a reduction of $358 per month?

Hi,

Posted: 
Friday, February 19, 2021 - 12:41

Is The Reduction In My Wife's Benefit Due To GPO Correct?

My wife collects social security. A little from her w2 earnings and more from her half of my social security. When her payments started, they were reduced by about $30 per month due to GPO. She worked for about 10 years for the local school district in s part time job. They had a savings plan and my wife contributed about $4000 to it and the school district contributed about $1000. So in less than 3 years, the GPO will eat up all the school districts contribution and in less than 14 years, it would eat up both the schools contribution and my wife’s contribution.

Posted: 
Friday, February 5, 2021 - 11:55

Will My Benefit Be Reduced Due To My Husband's Pension?

Hi Larry,
I receive my deceased spouses firefighter pension. I work full time as a teacher and my pay is subject to social security tax. Will my benefit be reduced due to my husbands pension?

Hi,

No. Receiving a pension that's based on a spouse's work and earnings could never cause your own Social Security benefits to be reduced.

Best, Jerry

Posted: 
Sunday, January 24, 2021 - 09:53

Why Wasn't The Recent Congressional Bill To Repeal WEP Called For A Vote?

The Social Security Act had 264 cosponsors in the last House of Representatives. Why wasn't it called for a vote? It had bipartisan support to repeal Wep.

Hi,

I assume you are referring to "H.R. 141 (116th): Social Security Fairness Act of 2019" (https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/116/hr141/summary), which would amend the Social Security Act to eliminate the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) provision.

Posted: 
Saturday, January 23, 2021 - 16:06

Is It True That Moving Funds From A 414h2 Plan To An IRA Could Reduce A Person's Social Security Benefit?

I have a client with a 414h2 plan from a county hospital where she didn't pay into social security. Someone told her that if she moved that plan to an IRA, it would qualify as WEP and reduce her social security benefit. She has asked social security and has been given different answers. Any help you can provide is appreciated.

Hi,

Posted: 
Wednesday, January 20, 2021 - 17:43

Will It Affect The Calculation Of My U.S. Social Security Benefits If I Receive A Canadian Pension?

I'm a Canadian citizen, born in Canada in 1957. I moved to the U.S. in 1983 to go to graduate school, and have been here ever since (and am now a U.S. citizen). I worked for several years (1975-83) in Canada prior to moving, mainly summer jobs, so I made contributions to the Canada Pension Plan, but not a lot. I am currently eligible for a little over $100/month from the CPP.

Posted: 
Tuesday, December 29, 2020 - 17:24

Is It True That My Wife Won't Be Able To Collect Spousal Benefits Because I Took Disability Benefits?

My wife had only about 10 years of full time work in which SS taxes applied prior to her age 48. At 48, she took a job as a teacher which no longer has any SS taxes being paid. She is now 60 and has 12 years into the state’s retirement system and it seems that every year she continues to work only reduces what little SS benefit she had accrued. Given some health issues, and her age, it is highly unlikely she will be able to accrue any meaningful retirement benefit from her teaching.

Posted: 
Friday, December 25, 2020 - 09:47

Will My Social Security Benefit Be Reduced If I Receive My Husband's Pension When He Dies?

My husband receives a pension and we have chosen the option where if he dies i receive his pension. If my husband dies and I am receiving social security will my benefit be reduced because I am receiving his pension. Because WEP definitely reduced his social security benefit and Iḿ wondering whether that transfers to the widow if she begins to receive the pension. Thank you for your help.

Hi,

Posted: 
Wednesday, December 23, 2020 - 11:10
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