Social Security Overview
TRSL members (excluding Plan B members) do not participate in Social Security. However, you may be eligible for Social Security benefits through other Social Security-covered employment or if your spouse paid into Social Security.
The
Social Security Administration offers an online
Retirement Estimator to help you get an idea of your projected Social Security benefits.
NOTE: The Social Security Administration has currently suspended issuing Social Security benefit estimate statements.
The
Retirement Estimator gives estimates based on your actual Social Security earnings record. Please note these are just estimates, and will vary slightly from the actual benefit you may get in the future. If you have any questions, please visit your local Social Security office or call 1-800-772-1213, for more information.
Social Security reductions if you receive a TRSL retirement benefit
If you receive a retirement benefit from TRSL and you are also eligible for Social Security benefits, your Social Security benefit may be reduced according to federal regulations.
Your TRSL benefit will not be reduced.
There are two types of Social Security benefits: a spouse's or widow(er)'s benefit and an earned benefit. The type of benefit you receive determines the formula used to calculate the reduction to your Social Security benefit.
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A spouse's or widow(er)'s benefit is paid to spouses or surviving spouses of Social Security pensioners if those spouses did not work long enough under Social Security to have earned their own benefit or their earned benefit is less than the pensioner's benefit. The spouse's benefit is generally one-half of the benefit paid to the Social Security pensioner, and may be subject to the Government Pension Offset (GPO) reduction. For more information, visit the "What is GPO?" webpage.
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An earned benefit is paid to people who worked at other jobs where they paid Social Security taxes long enough to earn a Social Security benefit. It may be subject to the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) reduction. For more information, visit the "What is WEP?" webpage.
Need more information?
TRSL and Social Security Benefits
Social Security Administration
