Full question: I am collecting my deceased spouse’s benefits and I am eligible for a UK state pension and a UK teaching pension. How will these pensions apply or not apply to me? Thank you very much.

Hello,

There are two rules related to pensions and Social Security and they affect Social Security benefits in different ways for U.S. and foreign pensions.

If you are collecting a Social Security survivor (deceased spouse’s) benefit based on your husband’s earnings, your foreign pensions from the UK will most likely not cause your survivor benefit to be subject to the Government Pension Offset, GPO rule.

Related to this is that retirees collecting their own Social Security retirement benefit and a foreign pension may have their Social Security income reduced by the other pension rule, the Windfall Elimination Provision, WEP.

In all these cases, working with a Registered Social Security Analyst can assure that you receive all the benefits you are entitled to. Schedule a free consultation here.

All the best,
Martha

Schedule Appointment
Back to All