{"id":28240,"date":"2024-03-25T12:14:00","date_gmt":"2024-03-25T12:14:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/staging.sightlinemg.com\/federaltimes\/uncategorized\/2024\/03\/25\/i-paid-my-40-quarters-why-is-my-social-security-benefit-reduced\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T05:07:30","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T05:07:30","slug":"i-paid-my-40-quarters-why-is-my-social-security-benefit-reduced","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.sightlinemg.com\/federaltimes\/your-career\/2024\/03\/25\/i-paid-my-40-quarters-why-is-my-social-security-benefit-reduced\/","title":{"rendered":"I paid my 40 quarters, why is my social security benefit reduced?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u201cI\u2019m currently retired from civil service for 8 years on 1 April as I did 37 years as a CSRS employee. I did work various jobs to accumulate my 40 quarters for social security. OPM stated that my annuity cannot be touched due to my age, 66 at the end of this month. I started to fill out the form on line to collect my SSI. I was at the section where it asked me if I worked a job that did not pay into SSI, yes, and put the amount in of my monthly annuity. The form said to call SSI. They told me that my monthly SSI payment \u201ccould\u201d be reduced by 2\/3rds because I am receiving a government annuity. I have worked my 40 quarters to pay into the system. I\u2019m confused on why they can if I paid into the system for 40 quarters.\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Reg\u2019s Response<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While your annuity cannot be reduced, any Social Security benefit you are entitled to will be affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision. The WEP reduces that benefit if you have fewer than 30 years of substantial earnings under Social Security. For a full explanation of the WEP and how it will affect you, go to www.ssa.gov<\/b><\/a>\/pubs\/EN-05-10045.pdf <\/p>\n\n\n\t