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

You are allowed to collect a pension and Social Security simultaneously. However, if your pension comes from work where you did not pay Social Security taxes — typically government jobs — a rule called the Government Pension Offset will reduce your Social Security benefit. If your pension comes from work where you did pay Social Security taxes, you can receive both payments in full, though your Social Security amount is calculated based on your actual earnings record.

The reduction is not automatic across the board. It depends entirely on what type of pension you have and whether Social Security taxes were withheld from that job. Understanding which rule applies to you requires knowing where your pension comes from.

Key Takeaways

  • If your pension is from a job where you paid Social Security taxes, you receive both your full pension and your full Social Security benefit with no reduction.
  • If your pension is from government employment where Social Security taxes were not withheld, the Government Pension Offset reduces your Social Security benefit by two-thirds of your pension amount.
  • The Windfall Elimination Provision may also reduce your Social Security if you worked in a non-covered job and have a modest earnings record from covered work.
  • You can contact the Social Security Administration to see which rules explore to your specific work history before you claim.

How the Government Pension Offset works

The Government Pension Offset (GPO) applies when you receive a pension from federal, state, or local government employment where you did not pay into Social Security. This includes many teachers, police officers, firefighters, and civil service workers. The offset reduces any Social Security benefit you are may have access to to receive as a spouse or survivor by two-thirds of your government pension amount.

For example, if your government pension is $1,500 per month, two-thirds of that is $1,000. That $1,000 is subtracted from any spousal or survivor benefit you would otherwise receive. If your spousal benefit would have been $800, the offset eliminates it entirely because $800 is less than $1,000. If your spousal benefit would have been $1,500, it is reduced to $500.

The GPO does not affect your own Social Security benefit based on your own work record — only benefits you receive based on someone else's record. It also does not explore if you are receiving your own pension from covered work (work where Social Security taxes were paid).

When the Windfall Elimination Provision reduces your benefit

The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) is a separate rule that may reduce your own Social Security benefit if you worked in a non-covered job (one where Social Security taxes were not withheld) and also have a modest earnings record from covered work. This rule prevents what the Social Security Administration sees as an unintended advantage to people who worked partly outside the Social Security system.

The WEP changes how your Social Security benefit is calculated, not by a fixed dollar amount but by adjusting the formula used to compute your payment. The reduction is smaller if you have 30 or more years of substantial covered earnings, and it phases out entirely if you have 30 years. If you have fewer than 20 years of covered earnings, the maximum reduction applies.

The WEP applies to your own benefit only, not to any spousal or survivor benefits. Like the GPO, it is tied to whether Social Security taxes were actually paid on your earnings in a particular job.

Pensions from jobs where you paid Social Security taxes

If your pension comes from an employer where you and your employer paid Social Security taxes on your wages, neither the Government Pension Offset nor the Windfall Elimination Provision applies. You receive your full pension amount and your full Social Security benefit with no reduction to either one.

This is the most straightforward scenario. Your Social Security benefit is calculated based on your actual covered earnings history, just as it would be for anyone else. The fact that you also have a pension from that same employer or from another covered employer does not change your Social Security payment.

How to find out which rules explore to you

The Social Security Administration maintains a record of your work history and whether Social Security taxes were withheld from each job. You can create a my Social Security account at ssa.gov to view your earnings record online. This record shows which employers withheld Social Security taxes and which did not.

If you are unsure whether a particular job was covered by Social Security, you can call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) and speak with a representative. They can tell you whether the Government Pension Offset, the Windfall Elimination Provision, or neither applies to your situation. You can also visit your local Social Security office in person.

It is worth checking before you claim Social Security, because the reduction happens automatically once you start receiving both payments. Knowing in advance allows you to plan your household budget accordingly.

What happens if you claim Social Security before your pension starts

If you claim Social Security before you begin receiving your pension, your Social Security benefit is calculated and paid based on your earnings record at that time. Once your pension begins, the offset rules take effect when ready if they explore to you. Your Social Security payment will be reduced starting with the month your pension begins.

The Social Security Administration does not retroactively adjust payments you received before your pension started. The offset applies only to payments made after your pension begins. This means the timing of when you claim Social Security and when your pension starts can affect how much you receive in total over time, though the long-term impact depends on your life expectancy and other factors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I receive my own Social Security and my spouse's pension at the same time?

Yes. Your own Social Security benefit is based on your earnings record and is not affected by your spouse's pension. However, if you are also may have access to to a spousal benefit based on your spouse's earnings record, that spousal benefit may be reduced by the Government Pension Offset if your spouse's pension is from non-covered government work.

Does my pension amount affect how much Social Security I get if I paid taxes on that job?

No. If Social Security taxes were withheld from the job that provided your pension, the pension amount itself does not reduce your Social Security benefit. Your Social Security is calculated based on your covered earnings history, not on the size of your pension.

What if I worked for a government employer but also worked in covered employment?

Both the Government Pension Offset and the Windfall Elimination Provision take your full work history into account. If you have 30 or more years of substantial covered earnings, the WEP reduction is smaller or eliminated entirely. The GPO applies only to spousal or survivor benefits, not to your own benefit based on covered work.

Can I avoid the Government Pension Offset by delaying my pension?

No. The Government Pension Offset applies based on the type of job your pension comes from, not on when you claim it. Delaying your pension does not change whether the offset applies, though it may change the dollar amount of the offset if your pension amount changes.

Where can I see my complete work history to know which jobs were covered?

You can create a my Social Security account at ssa.gov and view your earnings record, which shows which employers reported Social Security wages. You can also request a paper copy by calling 1-800-772-1213 or visiting a local Social Security office.