Can I get spouse's Social Security benefits with my own pension - WEP/GPO confusion

Unfortunately, you're likely going to run into the Government Pension Offset (GPO). Since you're receiving a pension from employment not covered by Social Security (teacher's pension), your potential spousal benefit will be reduced by 2/3 of your pension amount. Quick math: 2/3 of $3,800 = $2,533. So if your spousal benefit would be $1,600 (half of your husband's $3,200), it would be completely eliminated because the GPO reduction exceeds the benefit amount. Those earlier jobs that paid into SS might qualify you for your own small SS retirement benefit, but that would be subject to the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), a different but related reduction.

same happened to my mom, she was a nurse with state pension and got basically nothing from dad's ss when he passed. system is totally rigged against public workers

The GPO is definitely going to affect you but I'd still recommend applying. Sometimes people have enough quarters from other work that they qualify for some benefits. The SSA will calculate everything correctly once you apply.

The Government Pension Offset can be frustrating, but there are some important details to understand. First, those earlier jobs that paid into Social Security might qualify you for your own benefit (though WEP may reduce it). Second, there are a few exceptions to GPO: 1. If your government pension isn't based on your own work (rarely applies) 2. If you paid into Social Security for the last 60 months of government employment (probably doesn't apply to teachers) 3. If you were eligible for your government pension before December 1982 and meet certain conditions Also important: if you have 30+ years of substantial earnings under Social Security, WEP doesn't apply to your own benefit, and 20-29 years reduces the WEP penalty. However, this doesn't help with GPO on spousal benefits. I'd recommend scheduling an appointment with SSA to review your specific situation and all your options. Their calculations can be complex.

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u should check if u have 40 credits from those retail jobs. if u do u might get ur own ss benefits but they'll probably be tiny cuz of WEP

Yes, you can check your quarters of coverage (credits) by creating an account at ssa.gov and viewing your earnings record. You need 40 quarters (10 years) of work to qualify for your own retirement benefit. The site will show your estimated benefit amount, but be aware this estimate might not factor in WEP reductions yet. Regarding your earlier question about exceptions - there's one more thing to consider. If your husband passes away, survivor benefits are also reduced by GPO, but sometimes they're higher than spousal benefits, so you might get some benefit as a widow even if you can't get spousal benefits now.

The whole GPO/WEP thing is SO UNFAIR!!! I worked as a teacher for 28 years and as a waitress (paying SS taxes) for 12 years, and I get penalized for BOTH! Can't get much of my husband's SS because of GPO and my own SS is reduced because of WEP. Double whammy for public servants!!! Congress needs to repeal these awful provisions NOW!!

A few follow-up points that might help: 1. Your 7 years in retail likely gave you around 28 quarters of coverage (if you worked all four quarters each year). You need 40 for your own benefit, so you'd be short unless you had other covered employment. 2. If you're already 67, you're at your Full Retirement Age (FRA), which is good timing for benefits if you do qualify. 3. The GPO calculation is straightforward but often misunderstood: Your spousal benefit would normally be 50% of your husband's PIA (Primary Insurance Amount), then reduced by 2/3 of your non-covered pension. I strongly recommend getting an appointment with SSA to review your specific earnings record and get accurate calculations for your situation.