What may affect the amount of Social Security benefits received?

The amount of Social Security benefits received can indeed be influenced by a pension received from non-covered employment. This situation arises because Social Security benefits are designed to be based on lifetime earnings that are subject to Social Security taxes. When a person receives a pension from a job that did not pay into Social Security—such as certain government or foreign employment—there can be an offset in their Social Security benefits.

This offset results from the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), which alters the way benefits are calculated for individuals who receive pensions from non-covered employment. Essentially, the WEP reduces the amount of Social Security benefits to account for those additional retirement benefits received elsewhere.

Understanding this connection is crucial as it highlights the interaction between various retirement income sources and can impact financial planning for retirement, depending on the income structure throughout one’s professional life.