Ask Larry

Is The WEP Reduction Limited To Half Of The Reduced Or Unreduced Amount of My Non-Covered Pension?

I elected to take an early reduced monthly pension from my non-covered work at age 60 and if apply for Social Security at age 67, is the WEP limited to 1/2 of my reduced monthly pension that I'm currently getting or would it be based on the unreduced pension I would have received if I'd elected to wait?

Hi,

The most that your Social Security benefit rate could be reduced due to the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) is half of the gross amount of the non-covered pension you receive. By 'gross amount', I mean the amount before any deductions (e.g. taxes, health insurance, etc.), but not a higher amount you could have received if you'd waited to start your pension at a later age. In other words, if you're non-covered pension amount is reduced for age, Social Security would use that amount and not the rate that you would have received if you had started drawing it later.

Best, Jerry

Posted: 
Jan 6 2020 - 10:18am
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