Benefits Planner: Retirement 


What is Government Pension Offset (GPO)? 
If you will receive a pension for work not covered by Social Security such as government employment , any Social Security benefits you may be eligible to receive on your spouse's record may be reduced. This type of benefit reduction is called GPO. Some individuals are exempt from the offset. If you want to know if you meet the requirements for an exemption , please read the " When won't my Social Security benefits be reduced? " section of our " Government Pension Offset " factsheet. 

Information You Need to Calculate Your Benefits If You Are Affected by the GPO 
To estimate your future spouse's, widow's, or widower's benefits under the GPO , you need two things : The estimated " gross " monthly amount of your pension from your government job not covered by Social Security. The estimated monthly amount of your Social Security benefit as a spouse, widow, or widower before the effect of GPO. 

If you will be eligible for spouse's benefits and have access to your spouse's estimate: 
Find the estimated amount of the retirement benefit your spouse would be eligible to receive at full retirement age. If your spouse already receives benefits , ask them what their benefit would be if it started at their full or normal retirement age. Divide this amount in half and round down to the nearest dollar. This is your estimated spouse's benefit if you retire at full retirement age. 

If you will be eligible for a Social Security retirement benefit based on your own earnings: 
As well as a higher benefit based on your spouse's earnings , it will also affect your benefits as a spouse, widow, or widower. To get a more accurate estimate of how the government pension you will receive for work not covered by Social Security will affect the part of your benefit based on your spouse's work : Enter the estimated " gross " monthly amount of the government pension in today's dollars you will receive for work not cover

user: I could use some help with retirement benefits

assistant: Do you need help with knowing more about what Government Pension Offset is?

user: no, other things

assistant: Do you need help to calculate your benefits if you are affected by the GPO?

user: yes sir

assistant: Are you trying to estimate your future spouse 's , widow 's , or widower 's benefits under the GPO?

user: yes I am

assistant: OK, you need two things :The estimated " gross " monthly amount of your pension from your government job not covered by Social Security . and, The estimated monthly amount of your Social Security benefit as a spouse , widow , or widower before the effect of GPO .

user: and what if my spouse already gets benefits?

assistant: ask them what their benefit would be if it started at their full or normal retirement age, Divide this amount in half and round down to the nearest dollar .This is your estimated spouse 's benefit if you retire at full retirement age

user: what happens to the benefit amounts if I retire before full retirement age?

assistant: Your benefit amount as a spouse will be reduced .The reduction will vary based on your date of birth. The maximum reduction for benefits starting at age 62 is 30 percent for someone born in 1946 .It will increase to 35 percent for those born in 1960 or later.)  For more information about your estimated benefit amount if you retire before reaching full retirement age , please call our toll free number at 1 - 800 - 772 - 1213 If you are deaf or hard of hearing , call our TTY number at 1 - 800 - 325 - 0778 or contact your local Social Security office .