GPO Calculator

If you receive a pension from a government job in which you did not pay Social Security taxes, some or all of your Social Security spouse's, widow's or widower's benefit may be offset due to receipt of that pension. This offset is referred to as the Government Pension Offset, or GPO.

The GPO will reduce the amount of your Social Security spouse's, widow's or widower's benefits by two-thirds of the amount of your government pension. For example, if you receive a monthly civil service pension of $600, two-thirds of that, or $400, must be used to offset your Social Security spouse's, widow's or widower's benefits. If you are eligible for a $500 spouse's benefit, you will receive $100 per month from Social Security ($500 - $400 = $100).

Some individuals are exempt from the offset.

The Government Pension Offset (GPO) fact sheet provides more information about why the offset exists and how it works.

To estimate your future spouse's, widow's or widower's benefits under the GPO, you need two things:

1. The estimated "gross" monthly amount of your pension from your government job not covered by Social Security.
2. The estimated monthly amount of your Social Security benefit as a spouse, widow or widower before the effect of GPO.

If you will be eligible for spouse's benefits and have access to your spouse's Social Security Statement, look at his or her Statement to find the estimated amount of the retirement benefit your spouse would be eligible to receive at full retirement age. If your spouse already receives benefits, ask them what their benefit would be if it started at their full (or normal) retirement age. Divide this amount in half and round down to the nearest dollar. This is your estimated spouse's benefit if you retire at full retirement age. (Please read the note at the bottom of the page if you will also be eligible for retirement benefits based on your own record.)

If you retire before full retirement age, your benefit amount as a spouse will be reduced. (The reduction will vary based on your date of birth. The maximum reduction for benefits starting at age 62 is 29.2% for someone born in 1942 and will increase to 35% for those born in 1960 or later.)

For more information about your estimated benefit amount if you retire before reaching full retirement age, please call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), or contact your local Social Security office.

If you will be eligible for widow's or widower's benefits, or if you do not have access to your spouse's Social Security Statement or records, please call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), or contact your local Social Security office.