Can I receive both FERS pension and Social Security benefits with Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP)?

Yes, you can receive both your FERS pension and Social Security benefits, but you should know about the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP). Since you worked under FERS (not CSRS), you were paying into Social Security during your government service, so the WEP impact should be minimal or non-existent for you. The WEP mainly affects people who worked under systems where they didn't pay into Social Security (like CSRS or some state government positions). With 7 years of substantial earnings in the private sector on top of your FERS service, you're in good shape. Your Social Security benefit will be calculated based on your entire work history where you paid SS taxes. You can create an account at ssa.gov and check your earnings record to get a better estimate.

I went thru something simlar but mine was STATE government then private sector. My SS was reduced by almost 40% bc of the stupid Windfall thing!!! The SSA office told me I would get one amount then when I actually retired SURPRISE its much less. Make sure u get the CORRECT INFO from ssa before u make retirement plans. They calculated mine wrong TWICE and I had to make appts and go in person to fix it. Nightmare!!

My husband is in almost the same boat! He was FERS for 25 yrs and then private for 5 and he gets both without any reduction. It's the CSRS folks who really get hit with WEP.

im confused about all this pension stuff so maybe someone can clearify... does it matter how many years in private sector? my uncle worked goverment job 30 years then only 2 yrs private before retiring and I think he had some kind of reduction. is there a minimum time u need in the private part?

Just wanted to add some clarification on this topic since there's sometimes confusion. There are actually TWO separate provisions that can affect government workers: 1. Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) - This reduces YOUR Social Security benefits if you receive a pension from work not covered by Social Security 2. Government Pension Offset (GPO) - This reduces any Social Security SPOUSAL or SURVIVOR benefits you might be eligible for Since you worked under FERS and paid into Social Security during that time, the WEP shouldn't significantly impact you. The formula gets complicated, but essentially, the more years you have with "substantial earnings" under Social Security, the less the WEP reduction. With 23 years of FERS (paying into SS) plus 7 more years in private sector, you're likely fine. If you want an accurate calculation, I recommend visiting your local SSA office with documentation of your work history. They can give you precise numbers.

I've dealt with this exact situation with many clients. Since you were in FERS (not CSRS), you were paying Social Security taxes during your government service, so WEP will have minimal impact. Your Social Security benefit calculation will include ALL years you paid into the system - both your FERS years and private sector years. If you're trying to get specific numbers, I'd strongly recommend trying to speak directly with an SSA representative who specializes in federal employees. Unfortunately, getting through to SSA can be incredibly frustrating these days with the long hold times and frequent disconnections.

@confused_about_pensions If you're having trouble reaching SSA by phone, I've had success using a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com). They have a system that holds your place in line and calls you back when an agent is available instead of you waiting on hold for hours. Saved me a lot of frustration when I needed to sort out my retirement benefits. They have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. For something complicated like WEP calculations, speaking to an actual agent is definitely better than trying to figure it out from the website alone.

Thank you all for the helpful information! I just checked my Social Security statement online and it does show earnings for all my years of work including my FERS time, which confirms what many of you have said about paying into the system during that time. I'm relieved to know that WEP probably won't affect me much since I was in FERS. I'm going to try to schedule an appointment with SSA to get the exact calculations. If I can't get through on the phone, I'll try that Claimyr service someone mentioned. One more question - does anyone know if any of this affects when I should start taking my Social Security benefits? I'll be 63 next year when I retire, but wondering if I should wait until my full retirement age or even 70?