Social Security

Good news: as an NYC teacher, you get Social Security on top of your TRS pension. You pay into it every paycheck, so most teachers collect both checks in retirement.

This page covers the basics — when you can claim, how the recent WEP and GPO repeal helps you, and how spousal and survivor benefits work. For your exact numbers, use your own “my Social Security” account at ssa.gov.

You earn both a pension and Social Security

Unlike some public pension systems in other states, NYC DOE teachers pay into and are covered by Social Security. Social Security and Medicare taxes are withheld from your paychecks your whole career, on top of your TRS pension contributions. So most teachers receive both a TRS pension and a Social Security benefit.

When you can claim

Your full retirement age (FRA) is based on your birth year — currently 66 to 67 for most people retiring now (67 if you were born in 1960 or later). Check the SSA’s chart for your exact FRA.

• Claim at 62: earliest option, but your benefit is permanently reduced — around 25–30% less than at FRA.
• Claim at FRA: your full, unreduced benefit.
• Delay past FRA: your benefit grows about 8% per year (delayed retirement credits) up to age 70. No increase for waiting past 70.

The early reduction is roughly 5/9 of 1% per month for the first 36 months, then 5/12 of 1% per month beyond that.

WEP and GPO are gone

The Social Security Fairness Act, signed in January 2025, repealed both the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). These used to reduce Social Security benefits for people with a public pension like TRS.

• WEP no longer reduces your own Social Security benefit.
• GPO no longer reduces spousal or survivor benefits based on a public pension.
• Your TRS pension does not factor into the benefit formula and no longer lowers your check.

The repeal applies to benefits payable for 2024 and later, and the SSA has been processing retroactive adjustments automatically. If you were affected before and think your benefit wasn’t corrected, contact SSA to check your case status.

How your benefit is figured

SSA uses your highest 35 years of Social Security–covered earnings (adjusted for inflation) to set your benefit at full retirement age.

• All covered earnings count — teaching or any other job.
• Years with low or no covered earnings pull your average down if you don’t have 35 full years of solid earnings.

Spousal and survivor benefits

You may qualify for a benefit based on someone else’s record:

• Spousal: up to 50% of your spouse’s FRA benefit; you generally get whichever is higher — your own or the spousal amount.
• Divorced spouse: possible if your marriage lasted at least 10 years, you’re currently unmarried, and you meet SSA rules — and it doesn’t affect your ex’s benefit.
• Survivor: if your spouse passes away, you may receive what they were getting (or would have gotten), and can switch to the higher of your own or the survivor benefit.

Because GPO was repealed, your TRS survivor pension no longer reduces a Social Security survivor benefit.

Working, taxes, and Medicare

• Working before FRA: if you claim early and earn above the annual limit, the earnings test withholds $1 of benefits for every $2 earned over the threshold ($3 in the year you reach FRA). It stops at FRA, and withheld amounts are credited back through a higher benefit later.
• Taxes: depending on your “combined income,” up to 85% of your benefit can be subject to federal income tax; lower-income retirees may owe tax on less or none. A tax professional can calculate your specific share.
• Medicare: you can enroll at 65 without yet claiming Social Security, and vice versa. If you’re already getting Social Security before 65, you’re typically auto-enrolled in Medicare.

How to apply

• Apply online at ssa.gov, by phone, or in person — generally up to four months before you want benefits to start.
• Have your Social Security number, birth certificate, W-2s or tax returns, and banking info for direct deposit ready; SSA will note anything else your situation needs.
• With WEP repealed, coordinating your pension and claiming age is like any retiree’s: weigh your health, income needs, and longevity to decide whether delaying makes sense.