I have received a spousal death benefit in the form of a monthly pension from the UK for the last 20 or so years which augments my income and upon which I pay US taxes. I am a US citizen and I am now about to qualify for my own Social Security benefit which I have qualified for (10 years/40 quarters minimum) based on my own work record here in the USA since 1976. I am told that as a recipient of a foreign pension (even perhaps as a survivor benefit), I may be subject to a REDUCTION in my SS benefit under WEP or GPO. Is this accurate. Please help. Thank you.

Hi. No. Only pensions that are based on your own work and earnings can cause a Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) or Government Pension Offset (GPO) reduction. If you receive a survivor pension from the U.K., it won't have any effect on your U.S. Social Security benefit rate.

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Best, Jerry