The WEP and GPO reduce Social Security payments for certain government workers

The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) are rules that lower Social Security payments for people who also receive a pension from government work — typically federal, state, or local employment where they did not pay Social Security taxes.

These rules have been in place since 1983 (WEP) and 1977 (GPO). As of now, neither has been repealed, though bills to repeal or modify them are introduced regularly in Congress. This guide explains how each rule works, who it affects, and what the current status is.

Key Takeaways

  • The WEP reduces your Social Security benefit by up to 50 percent of your government pension if you worked in a job where you did not pay Social Security taxes.
  • The GPO reduces or eliminates a spouse's or widow's Social Security benefit based on a government pension the spouse or widow earned themselves.
  • You are affected only if you have both a government pension and Social Security credits from other work, or if you are claiming as a spouse or widow of someone with a government pension.
  • Repeal bills have been introduced in Congress multiple times, but neither provision has been removed from law as of now.
  • The Social Security Administration can tell you exactly how much either rule will reduce your specific benefit before you claim.

How the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) works

The WEP applies to you if you receive a government pension from work where you did not pay into Social Security, and you also have Social Security credits from other work. It recalculates your Social Security benefit using a different formula that typically results in a lower payment.

The reduction is not a flat dollar amount — it depends on your birth year and how much your government pension is. For people born in 1940 or later, the maximum reduction is about 50 percent of your government pension amount, but the actual reduction to your Social Security check is capped at a specific dollar figure that changes each year. In 2024, that cap was $895 per month for someone born in 1943 or later, though this figure varies by birth year.

You are not affected by the WEP if: you paid Social Security taxes for at least 30 years while working, your government job was covered by Social Security, or you did not receive a government pension. The Social Security Administration maintains a list of government employers whose workers are covered by Social Security and whose are not.

How the Government Pension Offset (GPO) works

The GPO is different from the WEP. It affects your benefit as a spouse or widow, not your own work record. If you are claiming Social Security as a spouse or widow, and you also receive a government pension from your own work, the GPO reduces your spousal or widow benefit.

The reduction is two-thirds of your government pension. For example, if your government pension is $1,500 per month, two-thirds of that ($1,000) is subtracted from your spousal or widow benefit. In many cases, this results in a benefit of zero — you receive only your government pension and nothing from Social Security.

The GPO does not affect your own Social Security benefit based on your own work record. It only affects benefits you claim as someone else's spouse or widow. You are not affected if you did not work in a government job, or if your government job was covered by Social Security.

Who is affected by WEP and GPO

The WEP affects roughly 1.8 million Social Security beneficiaries, according to the Social Security Administration. These are typically people who worked for federal, state, or local government agencies — such as teachers, police officers, firefighters, or civil service employees — in positions not covered by Social Security, and who also worked in other jobs that did pay Social Security taxes.

The GPO affects a smaller group: spouses and widows of government workers. Because the GPO can eliminate a spousal or widow benefit entirely, it has been the focus of more repeal efforts in Congress.

Not everyone with a government pension is affected. If your government employer withheld Social Security taxes from your pay, or if you worked 30 or more years in jobs covered by Social Security, you may not face either reduction. The Social Security Administration can review your specific record and tell you whether WEP or GPO applies to you.

Current status of repeal efforts

Multiple bills have been introduced in Congress to repeal or modify the WEP and GPO. The most recent significant effort was the "Social Security Fairness Act," which would repeal both provisions entirely. However, as of now, neither the WEP nor the GPO has been repealed.

Bills to change these rules are introduced regularly but have not passed into law. Repeal efforts face debate over cost — the Social Security Administration estimates that full repeal would increase program costs — and disagreement over whether the rules are fair or unfair to different groups of workers.

You should not assume that repeal is coming or plan your benefits around a potential change. Base your decisions on the rules as they exist now. If repeal does occur in the future, the Social Security Administration would notify beneficiaries of any changes to how their benefits are calculated.

How to learn about WEP or GPO affects your benefit

The Social Security Administration can calculate your benefit under both the regular formula and the WEP or GPO formula before you claim. You can request this information by calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213, visiting a local Social Security office, or creating an account on ssa.gov to view your earnings record.

When you contact Social Security, have ready: your government employer's name, the years you worked there, your government pension amount (if you are already receiving it), and the dates of any other work covered by Social Security. Social Security staff can then show you what your benefit would be with and without the WEP or GPO applied.

If you are close to claiming age, this conversation is worth having early. Knowing the exact reduction helps you decide when to claim and whether to pursue other income sources. Social Security cannot change the rules for you, but they can show you the numbers clearly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get the money back that WEP or GPO took from my benefit?

No. These rules apply to benefits going forward, not retroactively. If you have already been receiving a reduced benefit, Social Security does not refund the difference. If repeal were to occur in the future, the Social Security Administration would apply the new rules to future payments only, not past ones.

Does WEP apply if I worked for a government employer that did pay Social Security taxes?

No. The WEP applies only if you worked in a government job where Social Security taxes were not withheld. If your government employer was covered by Social Security, you are not subject to the WEP, even if you also worked other jobs.

What if I have a government pension but never worked in Social Security-covered employment?

Neither the WEP nor the GPO affects you. The WEP requires that you have Social Security credits from other work. If you have no Social Security work history, there is no Social Security benefit to reduce.

If my spouse dies, does the GPO still apply to my widow benefit?

Yes. The GPO applies to widow and widower benefits the same way it applies to spousal benefits. If you are claiming as a widow and you have a government pension, the GPO reduces your widow benefit by two-thirds of your pension amount.

Should I delay claiming Social Security to reduce the impact of WEP or GPO?

Delaying does not reduce the WEP or GPO reduction itself — the rules apply regardless of when you claim. However, delaying increases your base benefit amount, which may result in a higher payment after the reduction is applied. Discuss the timing with Social Security directly, as the math depends on your specific situation.