Getting Social Security While You Receive a Pension

You can receive both Social Security and a pension, but the amount you get from Social Security may be reduced

Most people can collect both Social Security and a pension at the same time. However, two federal 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 comes from work where you paid Social Security taxes, and whether you're claiming on your own record or as a spouse or survivor.

The reduction is not automatic. It only applies if your pension is from government employment where you did not pay Social Security taxes — typically federal, state, or local government jobs. If your pension is from private-sector work or from government work where you did pay Social Security taxes, you can receive both payments at their full amounts.

Key Takeaways

You can collect a pension and Social Security together unless your pension came from government work where you paid no Social Security taxes.
The Windfall Elimination Provision reduces your own Social Security benefit by up to 50 percent of your pension amount if you worked for a government employer that did not withhold Social Security.
The Government Pension Offset reduces spousal or survivor benefits by two-thirds of your government pension amount, and can eliminate those benefits entirely.
Private pensions and pensions from government jobs where you paid Social Security taxes do not trigger either reduction.
You should contact Social Security directly to learn which rule applies to your specific pension and what your reduced benefit will be.

How the Windfall Elimination Provision works

The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) reduces your own Social Security benefit if you receive a pension from government work where you did not pay Social Security taxes. The reduction is calculated as up to 50 percent of your monthly pension amount, though the actual reduction depends on how many years you worked in jobs covered by Social Security.

The reduction is not dollar-for-dollar. Social Security uses a formula that looks at your total work history. If you worked 30 or more years in jobs where you did pay Social Security taxes, the WEP reduction is smaller or may not apply at all. If you worked fewer than 20 years in covered employment, the maximum reduction applies. Between 20 and 30 years, the reduction phases in gradually.

For example, if your government pension is $2,000 per month and you have fewer than 20 years of covered work history, Social Security might reduce your benefit by up to $1,000 (50 percent of the pension). If you have 25 years of covered work, the reduction would be smaller — perhaps $600 or $700. The exact amount depends on your individual earnings record.

How the Government Pension Offset affects spouses and survivors

The Government Pension Offset (GPO) applies if you are claiming Social Security as a spouse or widow/widower and you also receive a government pension from work where you did not pay Social Security taxes. This rule reduces your spousal or survivor benefit by two-thirds of your government pension amount.

Unlike the WEP, the GPO reduction does not phase in based on work history. It is a flat two-thirds reduction. If your government pension is $1,500 per month, your spousal or survivor benefit is reduced by $1,000 (two-thirds of $1,500). If your government pension is large enough, this reduction can eliminate your spousal or survivor benefit entirely, leaving you with only your pension.

The GPO applies only to spousal and survivor benefits, not to your own retirement benefit. If you are claiming on your own Social Security record, the WEP applies instead. If you are claiming as a spouse or survivor, the GPO applies instead of the WEP.

Pensions that do not trigger a reduction

If your pension comes from private-sector work — a company pension, union pension, or 401(k) withdrawal — neither the WEP nor the GPO applies. You receive your full Social Security benefit and your full pension payment with no reduction.

If your pension comes from government employment but you paid Social Security taxes on that job, the WEP and GPO do not apply. Some government employers, particularly in recent decades, have required employees to pay Social Security taxes. If your government pension is from such a job, you are treated the same as someone with a private pension.

To know whether you paid Social Security taxes on your government job, check your Social Security Statement (available at ssa.gov). Your earnings record will show the years and amounts you paid into Social Security. If those years include your government employment, no reduction applies.

How to find out what your reduced benefit will be

Social Security does not calculate your reduced benefit until you file for benefits. You can contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or visit your local Social Security office to ask what your benefit would be under the WEP or GPO. Bring your pension statement and your Social Security Statement so the representative can review your work history.

You can also create a my Social Security account at ssa.gov to view your earnings record and see an estimate of your future benefit. The online estimate does not always account for the WEP or GPO, so calling Social Security is more reliable if you know you have a government pension.

The reduction is applied automatically once you file. Social Security will send you a notice explaining the reduction and how it was calculated. If you believe the calculation is wrong, you can request a review and provide additional documentation about your work history.

Timing: when the reduction starts

If you are already receiving a government pension and then file for Social Security, the WEP or GPO reduction applies to your Social Security benefit from the month you become may have access to to it. If you are already receiving Social Security and then start receiving a government pension, Social Security will recalculate your benefit and apply the reduction going forward.

The reduction does not apply retroactively to benefits you already received. Once the reduction starts, it continues for as long as you receive both the pension and Social Security. If your pension ends, Social Security will recalculate your benefit and remove the reduction.

Strategies if your benefit is significantly reduced

If the WEP or GPO significantly reduces your Social Security, you have limited options to change the outcome, but a few approaches may help. Delaying your Social Security claim increases your monthly benefit amount, which may result in a larger payment even after the WEP or GPO reduction. For every year you delay past your full retirement age (up to age 70), your benefit increases by about 8 percent per year.

If you are affected by the GPO and claiming as a spouse or survivor, you cannot claim on your own record instead to avoid the reduction — the WEP would apply to your own benefit if you have a government pension. However, if you have worked long enough in covered employment (30 or more years), the WEP reduction may be smaller than the GPO reduction, making your own benefit a better choice.

Some people born before January 2, 1954 may have been grandfathered under older rules that allowed them to avoid the WEP or GPO. If you were born in that window, contact Social Security to ask whether you may have access to for an exception.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get both my government pension and my full Social Security benefit?

Only if you paid Social Security taxes while working for the government employer. If you did not pay Social Security taxes on that job, the WEP or GPO will reduce your Social Security benefit. Contact Social Security with your pension statement to find out whether your specific pension triggers a reduction.

Does a private pension reduce my Social Security?

No. Private pensions, including company pensions, union pensions, and 401(k) distributions, do not trigger the WEP or GPO. You receive your full Social Security benefit regardless of how much private pension income you have.

What if my spouse has a government pension and I'm claiming spousal benefits?

The GPO applies only to your own government pension, not your spouse's. If your spouse has a government pension but you do not, you can receive your full spousal benefit. If you also have your own government pension, the GPO reduces your spousal benefit based on your pension amount.

Can I appeal if I think the reduction is calculated wrong?

Yes. If you receive a notice of reduction, you can request that Social Security review the calculation. Bring documentation of your work history, your pension statement, and any records showing years you paid Social Security taxes. Social Security will reconsider and send you a new decision.

Does the WEP or GPO apply if I'm still working?

The reduction applies once you file for Social Security, regardless of whether you are still working. However, if you file before your full retirement age and continue to work, Social Security's earnings test may also reduce your benefit. The WEP or GPO reduction is separate from the earnings test reduction.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.