Can 16 years in Texas TRS system trigger WEP reduction on future Social Security benefits?

You're asking about the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), which can reduce Social Security benefits for people who receive pensions from jobs not covered by Social Security (like your TRS pension). Yes, you need 30 years of "substantial earnings" under Social Security to completely avoid the WEP reduction. The WEP reduction is actually phased out gradually - at 20 years of substantial earnings, the reduction begins to decrease, and by 30 years, it's eliminated completely. For 2025, "substantial earnings" means making at least $30,875 per year in SS-covered employment (this amount is adjusted annually). Since you're 38 and have 2 years of SS-covered work so far, you would need 28 more years (at substantial earnings levels) to fully eliminate WEP, which would put you at age 66. But remember, the reduction starts decreasing at 20 years, so even if you don't make it to 30, each additional year helps.

same boat here but in California. It SUUUCKS. I worked 12 yrs teaching and now switched to tech. The whole system is rigged against us. The SS website has a calculator but its so complicated and I couldnt figure it out.

The reduction isn't as bad as many people fear. Here's how it works: Without WEP, Social Security uses a formula that gives you 90% of your first tier of average indexed monthly earnings (AIME). With WEP, that 90% factor can be reduced to as low as 40%. But for every year over 20 years of substantial earnings, the reduction decreases by 5%. So with 25 years, instead of 40%, you'd get 65% of that first tier. The maximum WEP reduction for 2025 is about $588 per month, but it can never reduce your benefit by more than half of your non-covered pension. Also worth noting: if your TRS pension is relatively small, the impact of WEP may be less significant. And if you have high lifetime earnings under Social Security, the percentage impact of WEP becomes smaller because it only affects the first tier of the benefit calculation.

They don't tell teachers about this stuff on purpose I swear!! I found out after 22 years and almost had a heart attack. Now I gotta keep working till I'm practically dead just to get my full SS. Just another way they screw educators.

The SSA has a WEP calculator on their website that can help you estimate your reduced benefit. Search for "WEP calculator" on ssa.gov. You'll need to create a my Social Security account if you don't already have one to see your earnings history. Another option is to call SSA directly to ask for an estimate, but reaching a knowledgeable representative can take hours of waiting on hold.

I just looked at the SSA website's info on WEP and I'm still confused about something - does the 30 years have to be consecutive? Or just 30 years total over my lifetime? Also, if I work part-time for a few years while my kids are young, would those years still count toward the 30 if I meet the "substantial earnings" threshold?

I was in a similar situation (14 years teaching in Illinois). I found that maximizing my 401k and other tax-advantaged accounts in my new corporate job helps offset some of the projected losses. Since the WEP only affects the Social Security portion of retirement income, building up other sources becomes really important. Have you looked into retirement savings options at your new employer?

my uncle retired last year and he told me you can also check if your state has a "totalization agreement" or something?? might be worth looking into for texas

One important thing to check: make absolutely sure your TRS years were completely exempt from Social Security. Some Texas school districts actually do participate in Social Security alongside TRS. If any of your teaching years had SS contributions, they might count toward your 30 years (if they met the substantial earnings threshold). If you have access to your Social Security Statement (through my Social Security online), it will show your yearly earnings record. Look for any earnings during your teaching years - if you see some, those years might actually count!

i retired early at 57 from teaching after 22 years and started a business. worked 8 more years paying into SS. still got hit with WEP but not as bad as i feared. the good thing is my business income was higher than teaching so my SS benefit is still decent even with reduction. sometimes the best option is just earning more in your new career!

I've been researching this topic for months and there's been occasional talk in Congress about reforming or eliminating WEP, though nothing has passed yet. The "Social Security Fairness Act" gets reintroduced regularly. Might be worth keeping an eye on potential legislative changes over the next few decades before you retire.