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July 2, 2016
Category:
I Have a Non-Covered Pension, Can I Collect Spouse's and Widow's Benefits?
I am 67 years old, retired, and have a good retirement benefit from my working for 37 years from the University of California. I did not contribute to Social Security and my UC pension is quite good (over $6,000 per month). My husband has paid into Social Security for 40 years. He is now 69, retired, and also has a pension from UC. He is waiting until he is 70 to begin collecting Social Security. I have two questions: 1) Am I able to collect any spousal benefits from now until he begins collecting? 2) If he dies, will I receive any spousal benefits? Thanks.
No one can receive a spouse's benefit before their spouse files for their retirement benefit.
Since you are receiving a non-covered pension you will be affected by the Government Pension Offset (GPO), see: https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10007.pdf. This means that your spouse's and widow's benefits will be reduced by two-thirds of your government pension, i.e.by $4,000, hence they will be zero.
Basically, the GPO ensures that you are treated the same as other spouses that paid Social Security taxes on their career earnings.
Best,
Mike