Will WEP reduce my Social Security benefits with TRS pension? Texas teacher confused about actual percentage

You're dealing with the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and possibly the Government Pension Offset (GPO). I retired as a Texas teacher 3 years ago after working 18 years in the public sector and 22 years in SS-covered employment. The short answer: you won't lose ALL your Social Security, but you probably won't get 100% either. In my case, my SS benefit was reduced by about 45% because of WEP. The reduction depends on how many "substantial earnings" years you had in SS-covered employment. With 20+ years in the private sector, you'll likely keep more than someone with fewer years. The SSA has a WEP calculator on their website that can give you an estimate based on your specific situation. You'll need your earnings history, which you can get from your SS statement.

i went thru this last year!! the ssa rep told me different things every time i called them!! soooo frustrating!!! my ss got cut almost in half bc of that stupid WEP thing. doesnt seem fair when we EARNED that money!!!! 😡

You're not going to like this answer, but it depends on your specific circumstances. What you're dealing with is the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP). The 100% loss scenario isn't accurate for WEP - that's more related to Government Pension Offset which affects spousal or survivor benefits. The WEP reduction is based on your years of "substantial earnings" under Social Security. The maximum reduction for 2025 is $590 per month, but that decreases if you have 20+ years of substantial earnings. At 30+ years of substantial earnings, there's no WEP reduction at all. Since you worked 20+ years before teaching, you'll need to check if those were all "substantial earnings" years according to SSA's definition (the threshold changes each year - for example, for 2025 it's around $30,000). Call SSA directly and request a WEP calculation based on your earnings record. Don't rely on general advice because your situation is unique.

My sister works for TRS and says everyone panics about this but most teachers still get decent SS benefits! The key is how many years you paid into Social Security before teaching. You said you have 20+ years which is GOOD news for you!

I retired from Austin ISD in 2022 after working in the private sector for about 18 years. Here's my actual experience with WEP: 1. My projected SS benefit was initially $1,876/month 2. After WEP, it was reduced to $1,165/month 3. That's about a 38% reduction The reduction happens because of the formula they use to calculate benefits. Those of us with pensions from "non-covered employment" (like TRS) get a different formula. It's very frustrating getting straight answers from SSA on this. I spent hours on hold trying to speak with someone who understood WEP. I eventually used Claimyr.com to get through quickly to an agent who specialized in WEP cases. They have a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU - saved me hours of hold time. The agent confirmed I'd have about a $700/month reduction. Not great, but at least I got a clear answer so I could plan accordingly.

The whole WEP thing is SO CONFUSING! I've been trying to figure it out for months. One SSA person told me I'd lose almost everything, another said I'd be fine. I HAVE NO IDEA WHO TO BELIEVE ANYMORE!!! Does anyone know if there's a minimum amount they have to give you? Like, can they reduce it to zero? I worked 25 years before becoming a teacher, so I've paid A LOT into Social Security!

Let me clarify something important: WEP has a 40% protection rule that isn't widely known. Your WEP reduction cannot exceed 50% of your non-covered pension amount. So if your TRS pension is $3,000/month, the maximum WEP reduction would be $1,500, even if the formula would otherwise reduce it more. Also, with 20+ years in the private sector, be sure to check if those were all "substantial earnings" years. For each year over 20 with substantial earnings, your WEP reduction decreases by 5%. I strongly recommend creating an account at my.ssa.gov if you haven't already. You can see your earnings record year by year to determine which years count toward reducing your WEP penalty.

just wondering... has anyone tried to get around this WEP thing by working a few extra years in a normal job after retiring from teaching?? like could you work at walmart for a few years and fix this whole problem??

I've been doing a ton of research on this. From what I understand, with WEP, you'll get reduced SS benefits, not zero. The exact amount depends on how many years you paid into SS. With 40 credits and 20+ years, you're in better shape than most teachers who only worked a few years under SS before teaching. There's actually legislation proposed almost every year to reform or eliminate WEP, but it never seems to pass. The Social Security Fairness Act would repeal both WEP and GPO, but who knows if it'll ever happen.

Another Texas teacher here. One important thing nobody's mentioned: If you keep working in a SS-covered job AFTER starting your TRS pension, those earnings are still subject to WEP, but they're calculated differently. In my case, I retired from teaching but work part-time as a consultant. That income still counts toward Social Security, and if I work enough years, it could eventually help reduce my WEP penalty further. The most accurate way to get your personal estimate is to contact SSA directly. I know it's frustrating with the wait times, but you need someone to calculate your specific situation. I used Claimyr.com to bypass the hold times and got connected to an agent in under 5 minutes. Worth every penny because I was able to get exact figures for my planning.