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Public employees and Social Security
Public service employees in 27 U.S. states may be affected by either or both of two Social Security provisions which will reduce their SS benefits earned outside of that employment. Those provisions, known as the Windfall Elimination Provision (“WEP”) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO), affect retirees from State agencies which have chosen not to participate in the Federal Social Security program, but yet the employee has earned Social Security benefits through other SS-covered employment. WEP affects one’s own SS benefit, whereas the GPO affects their spousal and/or survivor benefits. In this Arizona Daily Star article by Tom Margenau, the author explains these two programs and how they affect public service retirees in States which have chosen not to participate in Social Security. Click here to read more.