What WEP and GPO do to your Social Security check

WEP (Windfall Elimination Provision) and GPO (Government Pension Offset) are two separate rules that reduce Social Security payments for people who also receive a pension from work not covered by Social Security. WEP affects your own retirement or disability benefit. GPO affects the spousal or survivor benefit you would otherwise receive based on someone else's Social Security record.

Neither rule has changed the way it calculates the reduction. What changes year to year is the dollar amount of the reduction itself, because it is tied to national wage averages. The reduction you face in 2024 is larger than it was in 2023, and will likely be larger again in 2025. This happens automatically — you do not need to do anything, but you should know it is coming.

These rules exist because Social Security's benefit formula was designed for people who worked their whole career in jobs covered by Social Security. If you worked part of your career in a job that did not pay into Social Security — such as certain government jobs, teaching positions, or work overseas — the formula treats you as if you had lower lifetime earnings than you actually did. The reduction is meant to correct that.

Key Takeaways

  • WEP reduces your own Social Security retirement or disability benefit if you also receive a pension from work not covered by Social Security.
  • GPO reduces a spousal or survivor benefit you would receive based on someone else's record if you also receive a non-Social Security pension.
  • The dollar amount of the reduction increases each year based on national wage trends, even though the rule itself does not change.
  • You can request a detailed estimate from Social Security showing exactly how much WEP or GPO will reduce your specific benefit.
  • Some people are exempt from WEP or GPO based on when they were hired or what type of work they did.

How WEP calculates the reduction to your own benefit

WEP changes the way Social Security calculates your primary insurance amount — the base number used to determine your monthly check. Normally, Social Security applies a formula that replaces a higher percentage of your lower earnings and a lower percentage of your higher earnings. WEP flattens that formula, so you get a smaller percentage across the board.

The reduction is capped at 50 percent of your non-Social Security pension amount. So if your government pension is $2,000 per month, WEP can reduce your Social Security benefit by no more than $1,000. However, the reduction often hits that cap, meaning you lose half your pension amount from your Social Security check.

The exact reduction depends on your year of birth and how many years you worked in a job covered by Social Security. People born in 1924 or earlier face a smaller reduction. People born in 1940 or later face the full reduction. The year you were born determines which version of the WEP formula applies to you.

How GPO reduces spousal and survivor benefits

GPO works differently from WEP because it affects a benefit based on someone else's record, not your own. If you are may have access to to a spousal benefit or a survivor benefit, and you also receive a government pension, GPO reduces that spousal or survivor benefit by two-thirds of your pension amount.

For example: if your government pension is $1,500 per month, GPO reduces your spousal benefit by $1,000 (two-thirds of $1,500). If your spousal benefit would have been $800, GPO wipes it out entirely and you receive nothing from that person's record. You keep only your own Social Security benefit, if you have one.

GPO applies to spouses, ex-spouses (if married at least 10 years), and surviving spouses or children. It does not matter when you were born — the two-thirds rule applies the same way to everyone. Unlike WEP, there is no cap based on your birth year.

Which government pensions trigger WEP or GPO

The rule applies to pensions from work where you did not pay Social Security taxes. This includes most federal government jobs, many state and local government jobs, and some work overseas. The key question is whether Social Security taxes were withheld from your paychecks during that employment.

Teachers in some states, police officers, firefighters, and other public employees often fall under this rule. However, some government workers do pay Social Security taxes in addition to their government pension system, and those people are not affected by WEP or GPO. You can check your Social Security statement or contact your former employer's pension office to confirm whether your work was covered by Social Security.

Military service before 1957 can also trigger WEP, because those earnings are credited to your Social Security record but no taxes were withheld at the time. Work for a railroad that was not covered by Social Security has similar effects.

Exemptions and special cases

You are exempt from WEP if you were hired into your government job before a certain date — usually January 1, 1986, though the date varies by employer and state. Some states have different cutoff dates. If you were already working in that job before the cutoff, WEP does not apply to you, even if you continued working there afterward.

You are also exempt from WEP if you have 30 or more years of substantial earnings in jobs covered by Social Security. "Substantial" means earning at least 25 percent of the national average wage in that year. If you worked most of your life in covered jobs and only a few years in a non-covered job, you may fall into this category.

GPO has fewer exemptions. The main one is if you were hired into your government job before May 12, 1983. If you were already employed in that position on that date, GPO does not apply to you. Otherwise, GPO applies regardless of how long you worked in covered employment.

Requesting a benefit estimate that shows WEP or GPO

Social Security can provide a detailed estimate showing how much WEP or GPO will reduce your benefit. You can request this through your online account at ssa.gov, by calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213, or by visiting a local Social Security office in person.

When you request an estimate, tell Social Security the amount of your government pension and when you expect to start receiving it. They will calculate your benefit with and without the reduction, so you can see the exact dollar difference. This estimate is not a may provide — your actual benefit may differ slightly when you claim — but it gives you a realistic picture of what to expect.

If you have not yet claimed Social Security, you can also create a my Social Security account online and view your earnings record. The record will note if WEP or GPO applies to you based on the information Social Security has on file.

Year-to-year changes in the reduction amount

The dollar amount of the WEP reduction changes each year because it is based on the national average wage index. Social Security publishes the new reduction amounts in October of each year, and they take effect in January. If you are already receiving benefits, your check will be reduced by the new amount starting with your January payment.

If you have not yet claimed, the reduction amount that applies to you depends on the year you claim. Claiming at age 62 in 2024 means a different reduction than claiming at age 62 in 2025, because the wage index will have changed. Delaying your claim does not make WEP or GPO go away, but it may change the dollar amount.

Social Security does not send notices each year explaining the change. You can find the current reduction amounts on the Social Security website, or you can request an updated estimate by contacting Social Security directly.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

No. Delaying your claim does not eliminate WEP or GPO — it only changes the dollar amount of the reduction. The reduction will still apply whenever you claim, and it will be based on the wage index for the year you claim. However, delaying does increase your base benefit amount, which may partially offset the reduction.

Does WEP or GPO apply if I worked overseas for a US company?

It depends on whether Social Security taxes were withheld from your paychecks. If you worked for a US company abroad and paid Social Security taxes, you are not affected. If you worked for a foreign employer or a US employer that did not withhold Social Security taxes, WEP or GPO may apply. Check your Social Security earnings record to see what was reported.

What if my government pension is very small — does GPO still apply?

Yes. GPO applies regardless of the pension amount. Even a small government pension can reduce or eliminate a spousal benefit. The reduction is always two-thirds of the pension, with no minimum or maximum based on pension size.

Can I appeal if I think WEP or GPO was calculated wrong?

Yes. If you believe Social Security made an error in applying WEP or GPO to your benefit, you can request a recalculation. Contact Social Security and ask them to review your case. Bring documentation of your employment history and pension information. If you disagree with their decision, you can file a formal appeal.

Does my spouse's WEP reduction affect my spousal benefit?

No. WEP only affects the person who earned the non-covered pension. If your spouse has WEP applied to their benefit, it reduces their check, but it does not change the spousal benefit you receive based on their record. GPO is different — it directly reduces the spousal benefit itself.