You can receive both a pension and Social Security, but your pension may reduce your Social Security payment
Yes, you can collect both a pension and Social Security benefits. However, two federal rules — the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) — may lower the amount of Social Security you receive if your pension comes from work where you did not pay Social Security taxes.
The reduction is not automatic. It depends on whether your pension is from government employment (like teaching or police work) or private employment, and whether you are claiming on your own work record or as a spouse or survivor. Understanding which rule applies to you requires knowing the source of your pension and when you were born.
Key Takeaways
- The Windfall Elimination Provision reduces your own Social Security benefit if you have a pension from work where you did not pay Social Security taxes, and the reduction can be as much as half your pension amount.
- The Government Pension Offset reduces spousal or survivor benefits by two-thirds of your pension amount if that pension is from government work without Social Security contributions.
- Private pensions do not trigger WEP or GPO, so you can receive your full Social Security benefit alongside a private pension with no reduction.
- The rules apply differently based on your birth date, so someone born in 1945 may face a different reduction than someone born in 1960.
- Social Security can tell you the exact reduction amount before you claim; you do not have to wait until you start receiving payments to know the impact.
When the Windfall Elimination Provision reduces your own Social Security
The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) applies if you have a pension from work where you did not pay into Social Security — typically government jobs like teaching, police work, or civil service positions. When you claim Social Security on your own work record, WEP reduces your benefit amount.
The reduction is calculated using a modified formula that can lower your benefit by up to half of your pension amount, though the exact reduction depends on your birth year and how much you earned in covered Social Security work. Someone born in 1945 faces a different calculation than someone born in 1960. The maximum reduction in 2024 is $895 per month, but this figure changes yearly.
WEP does not apply if your pension is from private employment where you paid Social Security taxes, even if you also worked for the government at other times. It also does not apply if you were born before 1917 or if you have 30 or more years of substantial earnings in Social Security-covered work.
When the Government Pension Offset affects spousal and survivor benefits
The Government Pension Offset (GPO) is different from WEP. It applies if you are claiming Social Security as a spouse or widow or widower, and you have a pension from government work without Social Security contributions. GPO reduces your spousal or survivor benefit by two-thirds of your pension amount.
For example, if your government pension is $900 per month, GPO reduces your spousal benefit by $600 (two-thirds of $900). If your spousal benefit would have been $400, GPO eliminates it entirely because $600 exceeds $400. You would receive only your pension.
GPO applies to spouses, ex-spouses (if married 10 years or longer), and surviving spouses or ex-spouses. It does not apply to children's benefits or to your own retirement benefit based on your work record. Like WEP, GPO does not apply to pensions from private employment.
How to learn about WEP or GPO will affect your benefits
The most direct way is to contact Social Security directly at 1-800-772-1213 or visit your local Social Security office. Tell them you have a government pension and ask them to estimate your benefit under both WEP and GPO rules. They can provide a written estimate showing the reduction amount before you claim.
You can also create a my Social Security account online at ssa.gov. The account shows your earnings record and lets you see a benefit estimate, though it may not account for WEP or GPO until you contact Social Security directly to update your record with your pension information.
Bring documentation of your pension to the conversation — a pension statement, a letter from your employer, or a pay stub showing the pension amount. Social Security needs to verify that your pension is from work without Social Security contributions before they can calculate the reduction.
Private pensions do not trigger WEP or GPO
If your pension is from a private employer — a company, nonprofit, or union — you can receive your full Social Security benefit with no reduction, even if you also receive the private pension. WEP and GPO apply only to government pensions from work where you did not pay Social Security taxes.
Some people have both: a government pension from one job and a private pension from another. In that case, WEP or GPO applies only to the government pension portion. Social Security will calculate the reduction based on the government pension amount only.
How birth year affects the reduction amount
WEP and GPO reductions are smaller for people born later. Someone born in 1945 faces a steeper reduction than someone born in 1960. The rules phase in gradually based on birth year, so the reduction you face depends on when you were born.
For WEP specifically, the reduction formula changes for each birth year cohort. For GPO, the two-thirds reduction applies to everyone, but the way it interacts with your spousal benefit depends on your birth year and when you claim.
Social Security's website has a detailed table showing how WEP affects different birth year groups. Asking Social Security for your specific estimate is the only way to know the exact dollar amount you will lose.
What happens if you claim early or delay
WEP and GPO reductions apply regardless of when you claim — at 62, at full retirement age, or at 70. Claiming early does not make the reduction larger, and delaying does not make it smaller. The reduction is based on your pension amount and birth year, not on your claiming age.
However, delaying your Social Security claim does increase your monthly benefit amount through delayed retirement credits. That larger benefit is then reduced by WEP or GPO. So while the percentage reduction stays the same, the dollar amount you receive may be higher if you delay, because you are starting from a higher base benefit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I avoid WEP or GPO by not claiming Social Security?
No. WEP and GPO apply only when you claim Social Security. If you do not claim, you receive only your pension. But if you do claim Social Security, the reduction applies regardless of when you claim or how much you earned in other work.
Does my spouse's government pension affect my Social Security?
Your spouse's pension does not directly reduce your benefit. However, if you are claiming spousal benefits and your spouse has a government pension, their GPO may reduce the spousal benefit they receive, which can affect household income. Your own benefits are not reduced by their pension.
What if I worked for the government but paid Social Security taxes?
If your government employer withheld Social Security taxes from your pay, WEP and GPO do not apply to that pension. Some government jobs do participate in Social Security. Check your pay stubs or ask your former employer whether Social Security taxes were deducted.
Can I get the reduction reversed if I think it is wrong?
You can request that Social Security recalculate your benefit if you believe the reduction was applied incorrectly. Bring documentation of your work history and pension to Social Security. They will review your record, but the reduction itself is not reversible — it is a federal law, not an error.
What if I have a pension from another country?
WEP and GPO apply to pensions from any source, including foreign government pensions. If you receive a pension from work where you did not pay U.S. Social Security taxes, the reduction applies. Report all pensions to Social Security when you claim.