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Social Security
As a California public school educator, you do not pay into Social Security, so you will not receive Social Security benefits for your CalSTRS-covered position.
If you expect to receive a Social Security check through your spouse or other employment, two federal rules—the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset—could leave you with a smaller Social Security check or no check at all.
Your CalSTRS retirement benefit will not be reduced by these rules.
Important things to consider
If you are receiving Social Security now, your Social Security benefit may be reduced or eliminated when you begin receiving your CalSTRS benefit. Let the Social Security Administration know when you are planning to retire so that your Social Security benefit can be adjusted. Otherwise, you will have to repay any excess Social Security benefits you receive once you begin receiving your CalSTRS benefit.
If you take a refund, your Social Security benefit may still be subject to offset.
Your annual Social Security statement is based on your projected income and may not accurately reflect the impact of the offsets.
When you receive your annual benefit adjustment each year, contact the Social Security Administration. Your Social Security benefit may need to be adjusted.
You cancalculatethe potential impact of these provisions online or contact the Social Security Administration at 800-772-1213.
Government Pension Offset
The Government Pension Offset affects your spousal, widow or widower Social Securitybenefits that are based on your spouse’s earnings.
Under this rule, your Social Security benefit will be reduced by two-thirds of your CalSTRSretirement benefit. If two-thirds of your CalSTRS benefit exceeds the amount of your spousalbenefit from Social Security, you will not receive a Social Security check. If your Social Securityspousal benefit is higher than two-thirds of your CalSTRS benefit, you’ll receive the difference.
If you were eligible for CalSTRS benefits between December 1982 and June 1983 and wereentitled to the Social Security spousal benefit before December 1977, you’re exempt from theGovernment Pension Offset.
Due to the complexity of Social Security law and the formulas used in determining SocialSecurity benefits, contact a Social Security representative to determine if these provisionsor exceptions apply to your individual situation. In addition, your benefit estimate from SocialSecurity may be overstated because non-Social Security pensions such as CalSTRS are notconsidered in the estimate.
Windfall Elimination Provision
The Windfall Elimination Provision affects your Social Security benefits that are based on yourearnings. The rule may reduce your Social Security benefit, but it will not eliminate it.
Social Security benefits are based on your average monthly earnings over a 35-year period, adjusted for inflation. When Social Security determines your benefits, it separates your average earnings into three amounts and multiplies the amounts using three different factors. For example, if you turned 62 in 2024, the first $1,174 of your average monthly earnings would be multiplied by 90%, while the earnings from $1,174 to $7,078 would be multiplied by 32%, and any remainder by 15%.
If you’re also eligible for a CalSTRS retirement benefit, the 90%factor is reduced to 40%. The exact amount of the reduction is based on your years of substantial earnings covered under Social Security and adjusted every year. The maximum reduction in Social Security benefits under the Windfall Elimination Provision is $587 per month if you were age 62 in 2024.
If you earned at least 40 Social Security credits through other employment, you should apply for Social Security, even though you may receive a reduced Social Security benefit. You’re exempt from the Windfall Elimination Provision if you were eligible to retire from CalSTRS before January 1, 1986, or if you have 30 or more years of substantial earnings under employment covered by Social Security. In 2024, substantial earnings were $31,275 annually. With 21 to 29 years of substantial earnings, the 90%factor is reduced on a sliding scale beginning at 45%for 21 years up to 85%for 29 years.
Additional information about the Windfall Elimination Provision is available atSSA.gov.
Social Security, CalSTRS and you
Explains the two federal rules that affect the Social Security benefits you may receive as a spouse or through other employment.
Social Security: What you need to know
If you expect to receive both a CalSTRS retirement benefit and a Social Security benefit in retirement, two federal rules may affect your Social Security benefit.
Website Accessibility Statement
CalSTRS (the "District") is committed to ensuring that its services are accessible to all members of the public. As part of this commitment, the District strives to provide an accessible website compatible with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) version 2.1, AA, and commercial screen reading software. Features of the website are created to allow individuals with vision and other impairments to understand and use the website to the same degree as someone without disabilities.
If you need any special assistance or accommodations:
Contact our compliance support team online with your request
Contact our compliance support team via telephone at: (888) 765-1970
Ongoing Compliance Information
Compliance Coordinator
The District has designated a Compliance Coordinator for website disability-related accommodations. The Compliance Coordinator has received training in website accessibility and updates the site in accordance with those best practices and requirements.
Compliance Procedures
The District is working to ensure all website content complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and controlling State laws. In an ongoing effort to continually improve and remediate accessibility issues, the website is regularly scanned to ensure ongoing compliance, and timely changes are made to any inaccessible content if found.
Accessible Documents Policy
The District is committed to providing all documents hosted on the website in an accessible format or making accessible alternatives available.
Linked Documents and Third Parties
Please note that this site may link out to third-party websites that do not have accessible content. This site may also include documents provided by third parties. While we cannot control the accessibility of content provided by third parties, we are happy to assist any member of the public with reading and accessing content on our site.
Report a Website Accessibility Issue
We are committed to your ability to access all content, and we will respond to all requests in a timely manner. If you need assistance or accommodations while accessing content on this website, please contact our Compliance Coordinator via the form below: