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Taking a Look at GPO and the Impact on Survivor Benefits
The Government Pension Offset, or “GPO,” took effect in 1983 (although the legislation was first passed in 1977). For those with a non-covered pension as described in the previous section on the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), the Government Pension Offset reduces any Social Security spousal benefit or survivor benefit the person with the non-covered pension is entitled to (WEP applies to one’s personal Social Security retirement benefit and GPO applies to their spousal and survivor benefit).
Application of GPO generates many questions from those affected, prompting a number of calls to our AMAC Foundation Social Security Advisory Service for explanations. We handle these inquiries on an individual basis, but thought it might be helpful to repost an article by GoBankingRates’ Josephine Nesbit providing some additional background on GPO and how it works. Check out her post here…