Yes, you can collect both a pension and Social Security, but two federal rules may reduce what you receive

You can receive a pension from your employer or former employer and also collect Social Security retirement benefits. The two programs operate independently — your pension does not automatically disqualify you from Social Security, and vice versa. However, two specific rules can lower your Social Security payment if you also have a pension: the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). Which rule affects you depends on whether your pension came from work where you paid Social Security taxes.

The key distinction is this: if you paid Social Security taxes on the job that gave you the pension, neither rule applies and you collect both at full rates. If you did not pay Social Security taxes on that job — typically because you worked for a government employer like a school district, city, or state agency — one of these rules will likely reduce your Social Security benefit.

Key Takeaways

  • You can collect both a pension and Social Security retirement benefits at the same time, regardless of the pension source.
  • 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.
  • The Government Pension Offset reduces your spousal or survivor Social Security benefit if you have a pension from government work where you did not pay Social Security taxes.
  • If you paid Social Security taxes on the job that gave you the pension, neither rule applies and you receive both benefits without reduction.
  • Social Security can tell you whether WEP or GPO applies to your specific situation before you claim.

The Windfall Elimination Provision and your own benefit

The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) reduces your Social Security retirement benefit if you receive a pension from work where you did not pay Social Security taxes. This rule most commonly affects people who worked for a government employer — such as a public school, city government, state agency, or police department — and did not contribute to Social Security during that employment.

WEP does not eliminate your benefit entirely. Instead, it changes how Social Security calculates your payment. The reduction is largest for people who claim before their full retirement age and smallest for those who delay claiming. The maximum reduction is roughly 50 percent of your pension amount, though most people see a smaller cut. For example, if your pension is $2,000 per month and your calculated Social Security benefit would be $1,500, WEP might reduce your Social Security to $1,200 — not a 50 percent cut of the benefit itself, but a reduction based on your pension.

WEP does not apply if you paid Social Security taxes for at least 30 years on jobs covered by Social Security. It also does not apply if your pension is from military service, railroad work, or certain other federal employment.

The Government Pension Offset and spousal or survivor benefits

The Government Pension Offset (GPO) is a separate rule that affects spousal benefits and survivor benefits, not your own retirement benefit. If you receive a pension from government work where you did not pay Social Security taxes, GPO reduces any Social Security benefit you would receive as a spouse, ex-spouse, or surviving spouse or child.

GPO typically reduces your spousal or survivor benefit by two-thirds of your pension amount. For example, if your government pension is $1,500 per month, GPO would reduce your spousal benefit by roughly $1,000. If your spousal benefit would have been $800, GPO would reduce it to zero — you would receive only your pension. If your spousal benefit would have been $1,200, GPO would reduce it to $200.

GPO applies whether you are claiming on your own work record or on a spouse's record. It does not apply if you paid Social Security taxes on the job that gave you the pension, and it does not apply to your own retirement benefit — only to family benefits based on someone else's work record.

How to learn about WEP or GPO affects your situation

Social Security maintains a record of your work history and knows which employers did and did not participate in Social Security. You can contact Social Security directly to learn whether WEP or GPO will reduce your benefit. Call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or visit your local Social Security office in person. Have your Social Security number and information about your pension ready.

Social Security can provide an estimate of your benefit with and without the reduction, so you can see the actual dollar impact before you claim. This estimate is more accurate than a general calculation, because it accounts for your specific work history and pension amount.

You can also create a my Social Security account at ssa.gov to view your earnings record and see a benefit estimate. The online estimate does not always show WEP or GPO reductions clearly, so a phone call or office visit is often more useful if you have a government pension.

When you can claim and how it affects the reduction

The size of the WEP reduction depends partly on your age when you claim. If you claim at your full retirement age, the reduction is smaller than if you claim at 62. If you delay claiming past your full retirement age, the reduction does not grow — it stays the same. This is different from regular Social Security benefits, which increase if you delay.

Because of this, some people with WEP find it makes sense to delay claiming Social Security past full retirement age, since the reduction does not increase but your benefit does. Others find that claiming earlier and accepting the reduction makes more sense given their personal situation. A Social Security representative can walk through the numbers for your specific case.

GPO does not change based on when you claim. The reduction is applied the same way whether you claim at 62 or at 70.

Pensions from work covered by Social Security

If your pension came from an employer who participated in Social Security — meaning you paid Social Security taxes on that job — neither WEP nor GPO applies. You receive your full pension and your full Social Security benefit with no reduction. This is true even if you also worked for a government employer at a different time in your career.

Many private employers, nonprofits, and some government agencies do participate in Social Security. If you are unsure whether your former employer paid Social Security taxes on your wages, Social Security can check your earnings record. Your W-2 forms from that job will also show Social Security tax withheld (labeled as "Social Security wages").

Frequently Asked Questions

If I have a government pension, do I automatically lose my Social Security?

No. You still receive Social Security, but WEP or GPO may reduce it. The reduction depends on your pension amount and which type of benefit you are claiming. You receive both payments, though one or both may be lower than they would be without the other.

Can I avoid WEP or GPO by delaying my Social Security claim?

Delaying past your full retirement age reduces the WEP reduction slightly, but does not eliminate it. GPO does not change based on when you claim. Delaying does increase your regular Social Security benefit, which may offset some of the reduction — but it does not make WEP or GPO go away.

What if I worked for both a government employer and a private employer?

Social Security looks at your entire work history. If you have 30 years of work covered by Social Security (including private employment), WEP does not apply. If you have fewer than 30 years covered, WEP may still reduce your benefit based on your government pension.

Does my spouse's pension affect my Social Security?

Your spouse's pension does not directly affect your Social Security retirement benefit. However, if your spouse receives a government pension and you are claiming a spousal benefit on their record, GPO may reduce your spousal benefit. Your own pension does not affect your spouse's benefits.

How do I know if my employer participated in Social Security?

Check your W-2 forms from that job — if "Social Security wages" appear and Social Security tax was withheld, your employer participated. You can also ask Social Security to review your earnings record, which shows which employers reported your wages to Social Security.