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For members enrolled in the: DB Defined Benefit Plan DC Defined Contribution Plan CO Combined Plan

Social Security

By working in a position that is not covered by Social Security, the pension you receive (if eligible) may reduce any Social Security benefits you may also be eligible to receive. Examples of positions not covered by Social Security include many federal, state and local government jobs. Any “public-service” position in Ohio that contributes to: the State Teachers Retirement System (STRS Ohio), the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System (OPERS), the School Employees Retirement System (SERS), the Ohio Police & Fire Pension Fund or the State Highway Patrol Retirement System falls into this category.

Because your STRS Ohio pension is not from a job covered by Social Security, any Social Security benefits you and/or your spouse may be eligible for from other employment may be reduced by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and/or the Government Pension Offset (GPO). Note that regardless of which provision may apply to your situation, as an STRS Ohio retiree your STRS Ohio retirement benefit will not be reduced.

WEP

The WEP affects how your Social Security retirement or disability benefits are calculated if you are also entitled to receive a pension benefit for work not covered by Social Security. While your Social Security benefits are lowered under the WEP, they cannot be totally eliminated.

For more information about the WEP and how it might affect you, check out the Windfall Elimination Provision fact sheet and use the WEP calculator.

GPO

The GPO applies only if you receive a pension for work not covered by Social Security and are eligible for Social Security benefits as a spouse or widow(er) (i.e., dependent’s benefits). Under this provision, your Social Security dependent’s benefit will be reduced by two-thirds of the amount of your government pension. Under the GPO it is possible for a spouse’s or surviving spouse’s benefit to be totally eliminated.

For more information about the GPO and how it might affect you, check out the Government Pension Offset fact sheet and use the GPO calculator.

Additional questions about social security

If you have additional questions concerning these two provisions or any other Social Security-related questions, call Social Security at 800‑772‑1213 (toll-free) or visit their website.