Some pensioners stand to lose $413 a month in Social Security
Some U.S. workers who have paid into the Social Security system are in for a rude awakening when the checks start coming: Their benefits could be chopped by up to $413 per month without warning.
That is the maximum potential cut for 2015 stemming from the Windfall Elimination Provision, a little-understood rule that was signed into law in 1983 to prevent double-dipping from Social Security and public-sector pensions. A sister rule called the Government Pension Offset can result in even sharper cuts to spousal and survivor benefits.
WEP affected about 1.5 million Social Security beneficiaries in 2012, and another 568,000 were hit by the GPO, according to the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA). Most of those affected are teachers and employees of state and local government.
These two safeguards often come as big news to retirees because the SSA gives them no advance warning, and until 2005, no law required that affected employees be informed by their employers. Even now, the law only requires employers to inform new workers of the possible impact on Social Security benefits earned in other jobs.
Many retirees perceive the two rules as grossly unfair. Opponents have been pushing for repeal, so far to no effect.
WHY WEP?
To understand the issue, you need to understand how Social Security benefits are distributed across the wealth spectrum of wage-earners.
The program uses a progressive formula that aims to return the highest amount to the lowest-earning workers - the same idea that drives our system of income tax brackets.
http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/personalfinance/some-pensioners-stand-to-lose-dollar413-a-month-in-social-security/ar-AAb6NtC?ocid=mailsignout
= new reply since forum marked as read
of the estate tax on the uber wealthy so that unused money earns more interest, I believe Congress has done their job.
These workers paid into their pensions and social security. They should get checks from both.
I suppose the only fair thing to do now is cut social security payments to people who invested in a 401k next?
...before returning to school to become teachers. After paying for our education to become qualified in our new profession, our previously earned SS benefits were massively cut. At the time, the debate was about how 'double-dipping' by educators was wrong.
So while some who worked as many years as I did in the private sector get full SS benefits at retirement, I...as a teacher...am punished for going back to school, upgrading my skills (as a working mom BTW using my own $$) and changing to a new job.
I'd do it all again because I loved teaching, but it does seem a bit unfair. 
...as well. Now a retired teacher, I get my public employment pension but SS benefits were cut by about 60%.
I also worked for 10 years in the private sector.
... 
It isn't fair at all.
But I was close. 
...close. CalPERS is the other California system...the California Public Employee Retirement System. It covers pretty much all public sector employees EXCEPT for teachers. In schools, that would include support staff mostly. 
...CalSTRS. Many, however, worked at other private sector jobs before becoming teachers or part time or during summer. They paid into SS just like everyone else.
When I read the article I thought it was saying that anyone getting a public pension would have their SS reduced but that isn't what it's saying. So I pay into both the underfunded state pension system and SS. I presume that means I will get both when I retire. Assuming the pension fund isn't completely raided before then.
