Government Pension Offset (GPO)

The Government Pension Offset (GPO) is a rule that reduces or eliminates Social Security spousal or survivor benefits if you also receive a government pension based on work not covered by Social Security. Essentially, when a person receives a pension from government employment (such as federal, state, or local government), the GPO reduces their Social Security benefits based on their spouse’s or survivor’s work record. This ensures that benefits are fairly allocated and prevents double-dipping. The GPO does not affect the pension itself, only the Social Security benefits related to that pension’s recipient.