Ask Larry

Can My Social Security Pension Be Reduced If I Receive Pensions From Work That I Did Before Coming To The U.S.?

Larry,
I came to the US 25 years ago after marrying an American woman.
I receive pensions from employment before I was either a Green Card holder or a US citizen. Can my Social security pension be reduced because of this?
Thanks

Hi,

Yes, if you receive a pension based on your work and earnings that were exempt from U.S. Social Security taxes, then your Social Security retirement benefit rate could be reduced because of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP). For more information about WEP, refer to the following Social Security publication: https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10045.pdf.

Our software (https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/purchase) is programmed to handle WEP computations, so you may want to strongly consider using the software to fully analyze your options in order to determine the best strategy for maximizing your benefits.

Best, Jerry

Posted: 
Aug 8 2020 - 5:30pm
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