I'm eligible to start drawing on my government pension at age 65. I fall under WEP. I will be 64 in June of 2023. I started drawing my SS at age 62 1/2. I understand that I will keep receiving my current SS benefit payment until I actually start receiving my pension. I have 22 years of substantial earnings. I understand that my SS benefit will be reduced at the time I start drawing on my government pension.

I make a good salary at a county organization with a governmental pension. Because of pension reform in Illinois it won't be an amazing pension like in the past. I also have 19 "qualified" years of social security (from previous jobs). I believe I'm subject to WEP and understand that I need to get to 30 qualified years in SS to maximize benefits. Should I take a part time job to earn the minimum qualifying salary to accrue 30 year in SS? Is this a waste of effort or am I even understanding the rules correctly? Btw, I love your maxifi software.

I am 67 years old, I have been in TRS for 33 years, I receive half of my first husbands SS. My question, if I retire from TRS I would loose the SS, my question is if I take a lump sum from TRS would I still get SS from my first husband? My second question is, if my first husband passes, does the SS increase?

Thanks,
Debbie

I was born and raised in Ireland. I worked there until 1985. At that time, I did not have enough prsi ( credits) contributions to qualify for the minimum Irish pension when I reach 66 in the year 2025

I have now 23 years of substantial earnings in the USA. I am planning on taking early retirement this year. I only recently learned of the windfall elimination, and how it can affect a foreign pension.

Thanks for the below Jerry

Does that mean that my wife’s UK state Pension will not be used in any WEP calculations. Only my State pension and my PIA will affect her benefit?

Hello Larry

Both my wife and I worked in the US for a while. My wife did not pay enough SS contributions to be eligible for SS benefits. I however paid full contributions and am currently receiving SS benefits and my wife is also receiving SS benefits as a spouse based on my contributions. We are both coming up to UK State pension age and I understand this will trigger the WEP and will reduce my SS benefits. Our question is will my wife's UK pension affect her spousal SS benefits due to WEP

Thanks

I was awarded 47% of my ex husbands pension in our divorce. Will my social security be reduced by wep?

Hi. No. Only pensions that are based on your OWN work and earnings can cause your Social Security benefits to be reduced due to the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP).

Best, Jerry

Hello Larry
I am a UK citizen who worked in the US for a number of years. I presently receive SS benefits. I am very shortly eligible for my UK state pension. I am aware the WEP will probably affect may affect my US benefits. I am classed as a Non Resident Alien in the US. SS benefits are my only US income and tax is withheld at source so I do not have to submit US tax returns.

I am unclear if it is worth claiming my UK state pension ( it is significantly lower than full benefit).

Hi Larry:
I am 68 and started receiving my SSA benefit this year. My wife is 66 and was denied SSA spousal benefits. The reason for denial provided by SSA is she cashed out a Colorado PERA retirement account in 1993 (she rolled it into an IRA and has not touched it since). After 1993 when we were married she worked at various jobs, but her SSA benefit alone is well below the spousal benefit amount. We are about to appeal the SSA denial decision, but wanted your insights first. Thank you. Regards, Bill

My PIA was $971 before WEP was applied. My non-covered pension is $778. SSA says my WEP PIA is $431 (i.e. SSA reduced my benefit by $540). I thought my reduction could not exceed 50% of my non-covered pension (i.e. $788/2=$389) based on the WEP guarantee.

RS 00605 says: Calculate the WEP PIA and round to the lower dime. Calculate a regular PIA and reduce by 50 percent of the applicable pension amount. (See RS 00605.370 for WEP Guarantee). Select the larger of RS 00605.369A.1.c. & d.