Do you know what your Social Security Benefits are when you retire? Do you know how your State Pension Fund works? If you have answered yes or no, read on.
It is mandatory for all teachers to receive a State Pension.
You pay into it once a month and the school district - you are affiliated with matches your payment.
When retirement age comes into effect a formula is put into use to determine the amount of your pension - which will then become your monthly retirement payment.
This payment is made automatically to you through the state of California.
The problem with Social Security for teachers is teachers do not pay into Social Security unless there is a second job involved.
At this point, the social security money would be reduced.
Any person with a State Pension can not receive Social Security from a deceased spouse - or in the case of a divorce - cannot receive the 50% you are normally entitled.
If the pension is less than the Social Security - you will receive the difference between the Social Security amount and the State Pension.
For example: My spouse was receiving $2,000.
00 dollars a month from Social Security.
Normally I would be receiving $1,000.
00 dollars per month but I am receiving more money on my State Pension benefit and my Social Security monthly benefit is - a big fat zero.
If I was receiving less money, I would be paid the difference between my State Pension and Social Security.
There is Legislation now in Washington fighting to change this law.
My husband worked all his life and paid into the Social Security System.
I should be entitled like other spouses - who do not have a State Pension - to receive all of Social Security benefits which are entitled to me.
I cannot receive any of the Social Security benefits which were deducted automatically from my pay checks while working other jobs before - during- after my career in teaching went into effect.
All the money which was deducted from my pay checks is gone - lost forever.
Thank you for reading my article.
Please feel free to read any of my numerous other articles on various subjects.
Copyright Linda E.
Meckler 2007