Ask Larry

Non-Covered Pension - WEP / GPO

Is It Possible That My Wife's Total Social Security Benefit Amount Could Be Reduced By 117% Of Her School Pension Amount?

Hello Larry,
I don't think I've seen this question covered and would appreciate your advice.
My Wife was born in 1954. She worked in retail, and paying SS taxes, for almost 40 years. In 2011 she took a job with the local school system which does not collect SS taxes. Through that government employment she will now be eligible for a modest state pension when she retires at the end of the school year in 2023.

Posted: 
Thursday, December 15, 2022 - 18:22

What Can I Do If I Think That Social Security Made A Mistake In Calculating My Benefit Amount?

I started my Canada Pension at age 60 @ approx $142 per month. At age 62 I started my Social Security for approx $600 after WEP. However the WEP the agent assessed was dollar for dollar $142 with no exchange rate factored. If I understand correctly, my WEP assessment should have been half my CPP with exchange rate applied? If true, what can I do?

Posted: 
Thursday, December 8, 2022 - 11:45

Would My Canadian Pension Be Subject To WEP And GPO?

I am a Canadian citizen and US permanent resident who has worked in the US for over 30 years in Education - which did not have FICA deductions. I am now drawing pension benefits from CalSTRS. I do have a few quarters credit in Social Security due to some part-time side jobs, but no where near enough to qualify for any Social Security benefits. However, I am eligible for for a small CPP benefit of approximately C$170 monthly due to my work history in Canada prior to moving to the US. If I apply to receive the CPP benefit, will it still be subject to WEP and GPO?

Posted: 
Saturday, December 3, 2022 - 22:28

Where Can I Find The Earnings Amount That Will Qualify As Substantial Earnings In 2023?

Like most other people, I'm trying to determine the right time to claim my Social Security benefit. At the end of 2022, I will have 29 years of substantial earnings for WEP calculation purposes. Based on my current income, I think I will have earned enough to qualify for the 30th year at the end of May 2023. My questions... Where can I find the amount that will qualify for substantial earnings for 2023? (the chart on the SS sight only goes up though 2022).

Posted: 
Friday, December 2, 2022 - 17:50

Would I Be Better Off Taking Out My Teacher Retirement System Contributions And Quitting Before I Reach Retirement Age?

Hi Larry,

I have a question regarding GPO and my survivor benefits. Would it be in my best interest to INSTEAD OF fully retiring from my teacher retirement system and receiving my pension with reduced survivor benefits - I take out all my pension contributions (yes, I know it will be taxed) and then quitting before I reach retirement age? If I did that, would I still be able to receive my full survivor social security benefits and keep my retirement contributions? TIA

Posted: 
Tuesday, November 8, 2022 - 11:40

Do Partial Years Count Towards The 30 Year Substantial Earnings Exception?

I am 62 and trying to plan when to take my social security benefit. I have two main questions:
(1) I was a teacher, so I will be WEP'd. I am looking at whether I can not be subject to WEP under the "paid 30 years into Social Security" exemption. I currently have 26 "substantial earnings years" and several other years where I almost made that particular year's "substantial earnings." Question: Do partial years count towards the calculation of 30 years substantial earnings?

Posted: 
Wednesday, November 2, 2022 - 21:09

How Could My Foreign Benefits Affect My U.S. Social Security Benefits?

Hi Larry. How could affect my US SS retirement benefits, include spousal, incoming foreign SS Benefits, what under Totalization Agreement? Part of my earnings were transferred to get foreign benefits. My foreign benefits are related to my 29 years of work in my born country. I had been paying SS to this foreign system, of course, all of these years, then I moved to USA 2 decades ago, got a job and paid into SS for a 11 years. I applied for US SS retirement Benefits and a claimant specialist helped me to apply for a spousal benefits too, what she advised.

Posted: 
Saturday, October 22, 2022 - 12:39
MaxiFi software running on a laptop
Get What's Yours!
Discover tens of thousands in extra retirement dollars with Maximize My Social Security software!
  • Find your maximized strategy
  • Unlimited what-ifs
  • Step-by-Step filing instructions
  • Our software's lifetime-benefit increase for an illustrative couple earning $65K each and planning to take retirement benefits at 62.

    Results will differ based on your specific case and filing strategy.

Getting Started is Easy
Web-based software. Works on ALL browsers. No download.