Retirement, Social Security benefit, and You
WEP and GPO: More than Two Million Retirees have lost some or all of their Earned Benefits. Source: SocialSecurityFairness.

Did you contribute to Social Security and CalSTRS? You may receive a reduced amount, or none, of your Social Security monthly benefit. And you surviving spouse may have reduced benefits, too. Here's why.

  • WEP. What is the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP)?. The WEP affects those educators who have work experience both in the CalSTRS system and in Social Security-covered employment. For someone who has 20 years or less in Social Security jobs, the WEP reduces the Social Security benefit by 50 percent. This also hurts spouses of retirees. Learn more.
  • Spouse: Compare the SS benefits for a surviving spouse that did not pay into Social Security v. the benefits for a teacher and the WEP penalty. Here are five scenarios.
  • No political support to get rid of WEP. Not true! H.R 82, a bill to repeal WEP,  has 123 Congressional co-sponsors. Learn more.
  • Read a Summary of HR 82. The Social Security Fairness Act of 2021; you can read the full bill here.
  • Cost. How much would the WEP and GPO repeal cost? How would it affect payroll? See the answer.
  • GPO. Government Pension Offset (GPO)--what is it? It was passed to stop highly-paid government employees from double-dipping into Social Security and other pensions. What it does -- "The GPO deprives retired educators of their spousal and
    survivor benefits under Social Security."  Show me more.
  • I need more information. You can read this report from the Congressional Research Service Social Security: The Government Pension Offset (GPO)
  • "...but they didn't pay into Social Security." This is a myth. Get the facts.
"What can I do to help repeal the WEP and GPO?"
  1. Sign a petition.
  2. Contact your Congressional Representative and voice your support for H.R 82.
     United States Senate:     United States House of Representatives Some information is from a  presentation by Jennifer Baker, CalRTA representative, on  Oct 1, 2021 at the SCFA General Faculty Meeting.