My wife only worked 12 quarters in the US. She is a UK and US citizen. We met and married in London. She became a US citizen after she moved to the US with me. She is currently drawing 1/2 my benefit as a spouse. She is 71 and I am 73. Last year she filed for a UK Government pension (She worked in the UK from 1974 to 1988) and also a private pension benefit from her UK employer. The UK Government Pension she receives is about $4,500/year and the Private Employer pension about $3,000/ year. I understand that by definition the UK Government Pension is not subject to GPO but does it reduce her US Spousal Benefits under WEP? Same question for the UK Private Pension benefit. She started drawing US Benefits in 2016 and the two UK pensions in 2019. Many thanks,

Hi,

No. The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) only applies to U.S. Social Security retirement or disability benefits that are based on a person's own Social Security work credits. WEP does not apply to auxiliary or survivor benefits payable based on the work record of another person, such as spousal or widow's benefits.

Best, Jerry