6. Certain Government Workers, Teachers, and Railroad Employees
Some jobs don’t contribute to Social Security. The Civil Service Retirement System, also known as CSRS, covers federal government employees hired before 1984 and offers retirement, disability, and survivor benefits. Since no Social Security taxes were deducted from their paychecks, these workers aren’t eligible to get retirement benefits.
If they had another job that allowed them to earn benefits, they may still be eligible to get Social Security though. The same if they have a spouse who paid Social Security contributions. S
till, in these cases, CSRS pension payments may decrease Social Security benefits. The latter are available to government employees who are covered by Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), which substituted CSRS.
Most state and local workers are protected by Social Security under Federal Agreement Section 218. However, if they don’t pay Social Security taxes, certain types of these workers, such as teachers, won’t be eligible to get Social Security benefits. Employers are the ones who generally provide them with pension benefits.
Some railroad employees aren’t eligible to get Social Security either. The Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) only covers those who have worked in the railroad industry for at least 10 years (or 5 years after 1995).
Railroad workers who have worked less than 10 years can’t receive retirement benefits through the RRB, but they can be eligible for retirement benefits once they complete the Social Security requirements.
Those people that were employed by the Federal Government do not receive social security benefits because they receive a Civil Service pension. They were entitled to receive SS benefits as a wife or widow until the Reagan Adm passed the law that stopped those benefits. So if you are a wife or. Widow that had the gumption to go out and work for the federal gov you are penalized unless your civil service pension is very low. Also at that time the social security money was separate from the general fund; putting social security money into the general fund was spent and now we are endanger of social security money being phased out by 2035.
If I never worked a day in my life (especially as a dedicated federal employee) I would be entitled to widows social security benefits, but now I am not entitled to any social security benefits.
It is not going to be completely phased out by 2035 the prediction is that you will still receive 75 percent of what you would have gotten if the system remained totally solvent.
Why did my SSI deposit go down $200 in April?
That changed you can now get your spouses the law changed in 2024-2025
I didn’t get my full Social Security because I retired from a town and got a county retirement. I had my full 40 quarters and they kept most of it. It’s not fair!!!!! I earned it and should have received it.
I really don’t like hearing that kind of thing. But when it has happened, people should tell their story ! I was shocked when I learned there is something called Supplimental Security Income.
The Social Security people can explain it to you. They are the ones that take care of it.
God bless you, and I hope all goes well for you. Merry Christmas to you also !
Patricia Davidson
Marysville Ohio
That was established during the Ronald Regan era., His administration thought it was “Double Dipping”. The same for all pension holders especially Police that have an internal Pension Plan system.
I agree Barbara. I’m in the same boat b/c I retired from a gov’t job. You’re right, not fair.
There are two pieces of legislation that prevents/reduces retired individuals in 15 States from receiving SS benefits even if the individuals have put in their 40 quarters before having worked for and receiving a federal/state pension. One is called the Windfall Elimination Provision or WEP and the other is the Government Pension Offset or GPO which is a law that affects spouses and widows or widowers. If you are in the following States, you will be subject to these laws: Alaska, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia (certain local governments), Illinois, Kentucky, (certain local governments), Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nevada, Ohio, Rhode Island (certain local governments), Texas. These laws mostly affect teachers, police officers, fire fighters and nurses who work for city and county hospitals and these punitive laws mostly affect women pushing them into poverty after serving the public for many years. I am a retired teacher in California and we, in California, recognized this problem years ago when several of our retirees lived in abject poverty after teaching for over 40 years. We formed a non-partisan group called CalRTA to lobby our legislators in Congress regarding this injustice. This year the Bill in Congress is called H.R. 82, authored by Reps. Garret N. Graves (R-LA) and Abigail A Spanberger (D-VA), and it calls for the repeal of these laws. If you want to know more about this, go to Congress.gov and insert HR 82 or you can contact me at sharynn8@yahoo.com.
Same here. 32 years working for a town. Retirement paid by state. Had to earn 10 more quarters to qualify after all that. Paid my own Medicare for 5 years. Finally got Social Security at 70. It pays for my Medicare, but I get less than $100 Social Security, and probably less each year with price hikes and increase in Medical plans. So much for the Golden Years.
The WEP G P O passed! Perhaps you can now get your Social Security, commencing in 2025
I worked as an Auditor for the state and then federal government before they were covered social security and because I left before retirement age, they only returned what I paid into the retirement.
If the illegal aliens are getting free everything from united states citizens then every American should receive benefits if people don’t stand up for there rights then America is screwed go vote and vote for someone who cares about the united states of America not themselves the people running the country now don’t care about the citizens of America look at what they are doing your money is going to people that are not American people and you’re letting them do it .let’s go Brandon!
Absolutely, hopefully we won’t get Harris…
Why did my SSI deposit go down $200 in April?
I do not have social security or medicare because I worked for the Postal Service and elected to become a CSRS employee. I received Medicare Part A and kept my postal health insurance.
They missed those individuals that were subject to Selective Service registration (draft) and did not. You must have registered for the draft if required to receive Social Security.
I am all for this law!!! About time you Draft Dodgers paid the price!
I retired from a municipality and have a pension from the town government. I started at a young age only having paid into social security for 4 yrs prior. I spent 6 yrs in the state militia and paid federal income taxes for 34 yrs. I am not in need of social security but I am disappointed that medicare is not available to me.
Too many Americans are collecting SSD, Social Security Disability benefits who can work they are NOT disabled.
Let’s see a story on those who collect Social Security or SSI without ever paying a dime into the system.
If you paid it in you should get it back. NO illegals should get a cent. It should be simple and straightforward to get, not the complicated lawyer required mess that it is now.
Those who paid into the system should be entitled to benefits even if they are “illegal”.
If you paid into it YOU Should receive it! Lets eliminate SPOUSAL benefits-not fair-outdated. There are 2 people that are withdrawing from one account. Double the deposits!
I also had 40 credits but because I am a teacher, they keep the majority of my benefits, and I cannot claim my spouse’s. Even though he paid into SS most of his life. It is like I am being punished for being a teacher and serving my community.
Many “illegals” have paid into Social Security accounts for years, by either providing an ITIN or others means. I do agree that if someone has paid into the system, and has the required quarters, they should be allowed to collect their benefits.
Thankyou for saying this.
The majority of these illegals that paid into SS were using an unsuspecting citizen’s SSN adding another crime to their list and creating a nightmare of supposedly under reported income with assessments of additional taxes, penalties and interest. Even possible wage garnishment that create a whole other level of problems ie. reduced living conditions, adverse credit ranking, potential loss of job and home. Trying to prove your innocence is costly, time consuming, as well as: physically, mentally, emotionally, psychologically, damaging relationships, damaging reputations, damaging careers and the trajectory or perceived future viability to paths and or positions. The shadows that forever remain in once you prove your innocence have altered your life in ways to numerous to itemize. They are here illegally that makes them criminals who are taking jobs from citizens, occupying housing that should have gone to citizens, using resources of all categories: utilities, education, health, food, social services etc. Some say they are adding value to our communities and economy but reality is that they are driving up the cost and availability of those resources for all of us. They need to return to their own country and begin the process for entry in the proper established process. Simply because a process is not to their liking does not give them the right to have their first act upon entering be breaking our laws. No, absolutely no other country in the world would accept or excuse this intentional disregard and violation of the laws of the land.
When a spouse dies after a 50 ty or so marriage
It’s not fair that the lower spousal benefit be dropped
I worked and received my own social security check each month
Now I only receive my husbands
But monthly expenses are same
With inflation I m broke 2 weeks out of month
Not fair……need to go to specialists
50 co pay s cannot afford it
Suffering
I can only see the first paragraphs of this article, then the alleged 7 types of Americans who are unable to get SS benefits part if it is no where to be found. Instead if you click on any item that seems to be the link to the continuation you get into an insurance ad, a “find if you are a witch” ad etc.
It seems to me that this article is not reliable and misleading. If you have any doubt about your eligibility for Soc Security Benefits just contact SSA al 1-800-772-1213. They will tell you all you need to know about your eligibility.
The COLA this year is a joke, I got a whole $13.80 increase not even enough for a day worth of groceries what the HELL!!!!!
The wpo and gpo were just repealed, President Biden needs to sign it into law. too late for a lot of us government workers.
I have a friend who was born and educated in the UK, taught in several European countries and in Africa before immigrating to the USA, where he has been a citizen for 20+ years. Here he taught in private schools (not public), so he paid into SS all those years.
While he does receive SS benefits, those were reduced by about $500 a month because he also receives retirement benefits from at least one foreign country (where he had paid into its retirement system).
So WHY the deduction, if he paid into SS all the years he worked here?
The complaints inthe above need to see if the changes in WEP and Gpo might give them some money.
This story forgot to mention. That felons in prison do not receive there SS while they are in prison.
Charles Bunner
I served and retired from the Military 1954-1974 and became a Postal Employee and when
Reagan became President a law was ENACTED known as the Windfall Elimination Program
and when I became eligible to receive SOCIAL SECURITY in 2000, I did not receive my full
earned benefits until CY2024 after Congress corrected the problem ONLY for CY2024.
WHAT HAPPENED to those earned benefits between CY2000 and CY2024, since I became age ninety on 02/26/2025?
I am a nurse living in az. I am working for a state facility. Does this mean even though I put in my 40 quarters before I started working for the state I won’t receive my SSI
You say illegals are receiving benefits that’s not true. Only Green card holders are eligible for Social Security benefits and that is a fact. As a Medicare Broker and Social Security intake specialist the federal government doesn’t give illegal immigration any federal benefits, not SNAP benefits, drivers license or voter’s regulations access. Please stop spreading conspiracy theories. Read the statues first before spewing misinformation.
Everyone who has been screwed should ,at let, understand that he system was build to get your money and not to give you money back, The powers that are in charge have had 100s of year to perfect the system and until the whole system is dismantled and competent aggressive move made to do that which works for ALL is put silently in place, There will be to other way except the one that is and has been for many decades. There are wats to do that which is needed but can only be done in silence and innovative ways. Let’s put creative thinking in place and start with the youthful minds, who are clear thinker, to regulate CHANGE!!!!
ALL has the POWER and that’s where change starts.
I too worked in the getting social security withheld before and after my tenure with the Federal Government. I have received NONE of my withheld SS funds. But I get my annual reports of how much of my money the government is holding! I worked for it and earned it but my money isn’t even accruing interest. Please return
MY EARNED MONEY to me. I could eradicate a signnificant ant portion of my debt and a tually live on my ension.