Can members of Congress collect both a congressional pension and Social Security?
Executive summary
Members of Congress can receive both a congressional pension and Social Security benefits, but the interaction depends on which federal retirement system they were under and on changes to Social Security law enacted in 2025. Members covered by FERS generally pay into Social Security and receive both a FERS pension and Social Security without an automatic offset; Members who were in CSRS‑Offset had their CSRS pension reduced by the portion of Social Security attributable to congressional service [1]. The Social Security Fairness Act (signed Jan. 5, 2025) repealed the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO), changing how some public pensions interact with Social Security [2] [3].
1. How the two systems historically interacted — two different tracks
There are two main historical tracks for congressional retirement: CSRS (Civil Service Retirement System) and FERS (Federal Employees Retirement System). Members who remained under CSRS but were in the CSRS Offset plan had their congressional annuity reduced by the amount of Social Security benefits attributable to their congressional service once they became eligible, effectively preventing a full double payment for the same years of service [1]. By contrast, Members covered by FERS (the system enacted after 1983 reform) pay Social Security taxes and build a FERS pension plus Thrift Savings Plan balances; under FERS, members typically receive both a FERS annuity and Social Security without the CSRS‑style offset for congressional service [4] [5].
2. What the 2025 law changed — GPO and WEP repeal
Congress passed the Social Security Fairness Act (HR 82), signed Jan. 5, 2025, which repealed the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) for monthly benefits after December 2023. The GPO and WEP historically reduced Social Security benefits for people with non‑covered public pensions (spousal/widow benefits under GPO, and worker benefits under WEP) [2] [3]. Repeal means affected public‑sector retirees no longer face those particular reductions going forward, altering the calculation for many public pensions and Social Security interactions [2] [3].
3. Practical implication for current and former lawmakers
Most Members who entered Congress after the 1983 reforms were required to pay into Social Security and thus accrue Social Security benefits like other workers; under FERS they get a smaller FERS annuity plus Social Security and Thrift Savings Plan benefits [5] [6]. Recent reporting on individual Members illustrates this: Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s five years of service under FERS would translate into roughly $8,700 a year in FERS pension once she turns 62, and she will also have paid Social Security taxes during her service [7]. For Members who were under older CSRS and had the offset plan, the CSRS annuity was explicitly reduced by the Social Security amount attributable to congressional service [1].
4. Who the 2025 repeal helps most — spousal/widow and certain public‑pension holders
The Congressional Budget Office estimated eliminating the GPO would increase monthly benefits for affected spousal beneficiaries by about $700 on average and by $1,190 for widow(er)s as of December 2025; repealing the WEP would increase affected worker beneficiaries’ benefits by about $360 on average [2]. The Social Security Administration’s explainer notes the GPO primarily targeted people with non‑covered pensions (state/local pensions that did not withhold Social Security taxes) — teachers, some local public servants — but the repeal also affects how public pensions interact with Social Security broadly [3].
5. Competing perspectives and political context
Proponents of the 1983 changes and of GPO/WEP argued the offsets prevented “double dipping” or unfairly generous spousal benefits; critics argued the rules produced unjust reductions for public servants who had paid into Social Security elsewhere or who relied on modest pensions. The 2025 repeal reflects the political consensus that the GPO/WEP produced unfair outcomes for millions of public‑sector retirees and their survivors, as reflected in the broad congressional vote referenced by Sen. Collins’ office [8] [2]. Advocacy groups such as the National Taxpayers Union track how Members’ retirement timing and pension calculations play out in public debate, illustrating competing motives: pension security for retirees versus fiscal scrutiny of elected officials’ benefits [6].
6. What reporting and government documents do and do not say
Official CRS reporting explicitly states that CSRS‑Offset pensions were reduced by the Social Security amount attributable to congressional service [1]. Government and SSA explain the mechanics and the 2025 repeal of GPO/WEP [3] [2]. Available sources do not mention specific transitional rules for every individual Member’s benefits after the 2025 repeal in this packet of documents — for specific casework or retroactive adjustments reporters and citizens should consult Social Security Administration determinations or CRS case notes (not found in current reporting).
7. Bottom line for readers
Yes: Members of Congress can and do collect both a congressional pension and Social Security in many circumstances. Whether one benefit reduces the other depends on which retirement system the Member was under (CSRS‑Offset vs. FERS) and on the post‑2025 repeal of the GPO/WEP that removed certain offsets for public pensions, changing benefit outcomes for many retirees [1] [4] [2] [3] [7].