Non-Covered Pension - WEP / GPO

I am trying to find out two things regarding the Government Pension Offset provision: I currently work in higher education that does not pay into SS. I hope to retire soon...I have a 401A pension plan through the university.

My question is twofold:

1. Once I retire, can I delay by 401a pension payouts until 70 in order to get the full Survivor Benefit that is available due to the death of my husband (he paid into SS his whole life)?

I’m currently receiving a survivors annuity from my wife who was a post office employee under the CRSR programMeaning she did not pay into Social Security she paid into a retirement pension will I be able to receive my full Social Security benefits even
Even though I’m Receiving survivors benefits

Hi,

Yes, receipt of a federal CSRS survivor pension would have no effect on any type of Social Security benefits for which you may be eligible.

Best, Jerry

If non covered pension was reported several years after the fact, and WEP was not applied, how to back-date the guarantee WEP, calculate the debt and a new value of SS benefits?

Thank you for answering

Hi,

The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) guarantee is based on 50% of the amount (in U.S. dollars) of your non-covered pension in your first month of concurrent entitlement to the non-covered pension and Social Security benefits. How will SSA calculate a new pension amount, to subtract 50% of the amount of non-covered pension or introduce some adjustments to this amount like COLA or others.
Thank you

Hi,

I'll be subject to WEP and am wondering if I can contribute past age of 62 (not yet receiving benefits) to have a few more years of substantial income counted toward the calculation.

Also, I would qualify at age 62 if all years were averaged until that point. Do you think that the bill is going to pass? S. 3401: Equal Treatment of Public Servants Act of 2020

Hi,

Hi Larry,
I have a question on behalf of my mother. She worked 30 years in the US and about 10 years in Germany. She is 85 and receives social security from the US and Government retirement funds from Germany. However, although she paid quite a bit into SS they reduced her benefits significantly because of her Germany pension. Is this correct? Shouldn't she be able to receive her maximum SS benefits regardless of her Germany pension? She only receives about $600 per month from Germany.

Thanks in advance for your help!
Sierra

I have your MaxSS software but am confused why it returns a $0 spousal benefit for my wife.

I turn 70 this April and will be starting my SS benefit that month. Wife turns 63 this October and is retiring from public school teaching this May with a school pension. She also has ten years significant prior SS earnings.

I'm having difficulty calculating my wife's SS benefit at her FRA. I will be 70 this April and will begin my SS benefit at $3581/mo. Wife has 10 years significant earnings and her FRA benefit is estimated on her SS statement will be $827/mo. However she has 16yrs teaching and will have a monthly pension of $1807/mo. We plan for her to claim spousal benefit on my claim. But when I calculate the GPO and WEP reductions, her benefit is less than $0. It seems that the combo of GPO and WEP eliminates her SS benefit whether she claims spousal or not. Am I missing something?

Larry,
Is there a simple way to figure pension offset when it comes to receiving social security benefits? My first career provided a pension and I fell under a social security exemption. Since then, I’ve successfully continued a second career in which I’ve met my social security quarters but I’m curious how much my estimated benefits will be reduced? Social securities site is difficult to understand in regards to this question. Thank you! Jim

Hi Jim,

When ths SS law was change by Reagan. We were told that the people who started prior to a certain date would be "GRANDFATHERED IN". Meaning the new SS law would not affect us. (The city of Los Angeles Dept of Water and Power) workers if we should chose to work after retiring from the city. I retired in 1999, worked long enough to qualify for SS benefits. When applying I was told that my monthly allotment of approximant benefit $900 would be lowered to $200. Due to my working for the LADWP.