Understanding your Social Security benefits

The vast majority of Texas school districts do not participate in Social Security, so most employees are entitled to Social Security benefits only if they paid into that system through other employment (for at least 40 quarters) or through their spouses. 

At the end of 2024, Congress passed the Social Security Fairness Act that repealed the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO). WEP and GPO previously reduced Social Security benefits for public service employees, like teachers with Texas Retirement System (TRS) pensions, and their families. 

The repeal means affected Texas public servants will now receive their full, earned Social Security benefits without these reductions. On Feb. 25, 2025, SSA began adjusting monthly benefit payments to people whose benefits had been affected by the WEP and GPO. 

For more information, go to: https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/social-security-fairness-act.html.

Click here for an unofficial list of Texas school districts participating in Social Security.