what does the social security offset mean

The Social Security offset, also known as the Government Pension Offset (GPO), is a policy implemented by the U.S. government that reduces the Social Security benefits of individuals who also receive a pension from a non-covered government job. The offset applies to individuals who are eligible for Social Security benefits and are receiving a pension from a non-covered government job, such as a state or local government job.

The GPO is designed to prevent individuals from receiving both a government pension and Social Security benefits at the same time. The offset reduces the amount of Social Security benefits that an individual is eligible to receive by a specific percentage, which is currently at two-thirds of the individual’s government pension. This means that if an individual is receiving a $1,000 government pension, their Social Security benefits would be reduced by $666.67.

The GPO applies to anyone who is eligible for Social Security benefits and is receiving a pension from a non-covered government job. However, it does not apply to individuals who are receiving a pension from a government job that is covered by Social Security, such as federal government jobs. Additionally, the GPO does not apply to individuals who are receiving a pension from a non-covered government job but did not pay into Social Security while working in that job.

It’s important to note that the GPO only affects the amount of Social Security benefits an individual is eligible to receive, it does not affect the amount of the government pension. The government pension will be paid in full, regardless of whether or not the individual is also receiving Social Security benefits.

In conclusion, the Social Security offset, also known as the Government Pension Offset (GPO) is a policy implemented by the U.S. government that reduces the Social Security benefits of individuals who also receive a pension from a non-covered government job. This policy is intended to prevent individuals from receiving both a government pension and Social Security benefits at the same time and applies to individuals who are eligible for Social Security benefits and are receiving a pension from a non-covered government job. However, it does not affect the amount of the government pension, and it does not apply to individuals who are receiving a pension from a government job that is covered by Social Security or who did not pay into Social Security while working in that job.