Essential Insights for USG Corporation Employees: Navigating Retirement with a Pension and Social Security

Those planning retirement with a pension and Social Security supplemented by savings may want to consider how much spending money they have to work with, and whether or not it will cover necessary expenses.

When planning your retirement budget with unanswered questions about income streams, you may be left wondering how much Social Security you can expect, if your pension affects Social Security, or how taxes are going to work. Here's what you should know about retiring on your pension and Social Security.

How your Social Security benefits are calculated

When considering whether you qualify for social security and the amount that's entitled to you, several factors come into play. The first requirement is earning enough income over your career to gain 40 Social Security credits , which render you eligible to receive benefits.

Upon meeting that requirement, the Social Security Administration calculates the value of your benefit. Your average monthly earnings for the 35 years when your income was highest is used in the formula, adjusting numbers to account for the change in average wages across the overall economy during that time. The result is your primary insurance amount (PIA).

Depending on your age when claiming Social Security , the amount received may fluctuate above or below the PIA. Benefits are reduced when taking Social Security before reaching full retirement age. Alternatively, waiting past your retirement date might net you a greater benefit.

Working while you take Social Security can also influence the benefit amount. When under full retirement age, earning income above a set yearly limit lowers the benefit. On the other hand, earning income while receiving Social Security can increase your benefit if pay is high compared to previous years.

Benefits may also increase over time as the cost of living rises.

Benefits for spouses, former spouses, widows and widowers

When married with fewer than 40 credits, you may be eligible for a spousal benefit of up to half your spouse's amount at full retirement age. In the event you have enough credits but your earnings record based benefit is less than the spousal benefit, you may be entitled to your benefit plus an additional amount that will match the spousal benefit when added.

If you're divorced and you meet some conditions, you may be eligible for a spousal benefit that's up to half your former spouse's benefit at their full retirement age.

If your spouse has died, you may be eligible for a survivor's benefit as large as the full amount of your spouse's benefit if you've reached full retirement age, or a smaller amount if you're taking the benefit early.

Does pension affect Social Security?

Receiving a pension doesn't change the Social Security benefits you're eligible for if your employer withheld FICA taxes.

In the event that your employer didn't take FICA taxes out of your paycheck, then the pension received from that employer is considered a noncovered pension. Income from a noncovered pension can reduce your Social Security benefits.

How noncovered pensions can lower your benefits

If you have a noncovered pension but you still qualify for Social Security, the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) may apply to you. For this provision, the Social Security Administration uses a smaller percentage of your earnings in its formula for calculating the PIA, resulting in a smaller benefit. The WEP can cut your benefit by as much as half of your pension amount.

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When qualifying for a spousal benefit or survivor's benefit, a noncovered pension can reduce that benefit under the Government Pension Offset (GPO) . This provision cuts your benefit by two-thirds of your pension amount, and you can end up with a $0 benefit if your pension is large enough.

Exceptions to the WEP and GPO

If any of these situations apply to you, then the WEP won't reduce your benefit:

You work for the federal government and were hired in 1984 or later.

You work for a nonprofit that was exempt from Social Security on December 31, 1983, and meets some other conditions.

You only have a railroad pension.

Your earnings that weren't covered by FICA taxes were from before 1957.

You have at least 30 years of substantial earnings on which FICA taxes were paid.

The GPO typically won't affect your benefit if any of these is true:

You get a government pension that isn't based on your earnings.

You're a government employee, you have a government pension from work that was covered by FICA taxes, and you meet one of a few other requirements.

You work for the federal government, you switched from the Civil Service Retirement System to the Federal Employees' Retirement System after December 31, 1987, and you meet one of a few other requirements.

You received or were eligible for a government pension before December 1982, and you qualified for spousal benefits under the rules in place in January 1977.

You received or were eligible for a government pension before July 1, 1983, and you had one-half support from a spouse.

Does a pension count as earned income for Social Security?

The Social Security Administration doesn't view a pension as earned income . So you don't pay FICA taxes on your pension, and it doesn't add to your earnings record. Essentially, a pension can't add to your Social Security credits, and it doesn't enter into the PIA formula or affect your benefit amount.

When taking Social Security before full retirement age, a pension won't count toward earned income limit.

Looking up your Social Security benefits

It may prove beneficial to open an online account with the Social Security Administration to view a statement of your earnings history. The statement relays how much of your income was subject to FICA taxes for each year you've worked, letting you know if you have enough credits to be eligible for Social Security. Your full retirement age and estimates of what your benefit amount could be under different Social Security age scenarios is also shown.

The Social Security Administration offers a WEP calculator that shows how a noncovered pension may affect your Social Security benefit amount. You can enter your monthly income from the noncovered pension, your earnings from each year of your Social Security record, and the income you expect to earn in the future to calculate an estimate of your monthly benefit. A GPO calculator is also available and can help you establish how much your spouse's or survivor's benefits may be cut.

A financial advisor can help you get ready for retirement

With Social Security regulations being so complex, you may benefit from reaching out to a knowledgeable expert.

How does the retirement plan structure at USG Corporation impact both final average earnings participants and cash balance participants, especially regarding their eligibility and benefits accrued over time? In what ways does the differentiation between these two categories influence the retirement outcomes for employees of USG Corporation?

Retirement Plan Structure: USG Corporation's retirement plan differentiates between Final Average Earnings Participants and Cash Balance Participants. Final Average Earnings participants, who joined before January 1, 2011, accrue benefits based on their final average earnings and years of service, which can result in higher benefits for longer-serving employees. Cash Balance participants, who joined after January 1, 2011, have their benefits calculated based on a cash balance account, which grows with contributions and interest credits. These differences affect retirement outcomes, as Final Average Earnings participants may see higher pension payments if they have longer service or higher wages, while Cash Balance participants have more predictable but potentially lower benefits based on their account balance(USG Corporation_Retirem…).

USG Corporation's Retirement Plan allows for different age-specific rules regarding early retirement. How do the "Rule of 90" and "Rule of 82" affect the financial planning of employees considering an early retirement option, and what should they consider regarding their long-term financial security?

Rule of 90 and Rule of 82: The "Rule of 90" allows employees to retire early without a reduction in benefits if their age plus years of service total 90, provided they retire at or after age 62. The "Rule of 82" permits early retirement with reduced benefits for those whose age and years of service total 82. Employees planning early retirement must consider these rules as they directly affect the amount of benefits they receive, making it important to assess how long-term financial security will be impacted, especially if they retire before age 62(USG Corporation_Retirem…).

Could you elaborate on the process through which employees at USG Corporation can change their beneficiaries within the retirement plan? What steps need to be taken, and what are the implications of these changes on the benefits received upon the participant's death?

Changing Beneficiaries: To change beneficiaries, USG Corporation employees must contact Your Benefits Resources™, where they can designate a primary and contingent beneficiary. If married, the spouse must provide notarized consent to name a different primary beneficiary. The process involves completing a form, and any changes affect who receives benefits upon the participant's death. Failing to update the beneficiary could result in benefits being paid to unintended individuals(USG Corporation_Retirem…).

As part of the retirement process at USG Corporation, how are pensionable earnings calculated? What factors are included in this determination, and how might they vary among different employees based on their roles within the organization?

Pensionable Earnings Calculation: Pensionable earnings at USG Corporation include regular pay, shift differentials, and bonuses but exclude items like nonqualified deferred compensation, severance, and stock awards. These earnings are used to calculate benefits based on formulas that take into account an employee’s service years and earnings over the 36 highest consecutive months of the last 15 years of participation(USG Corporation_Retirem…).

How does the automatic enrollment in the USG Corporation Retirement Plan work, and what options do employees have if they initially chose not to participate? What implications might this have for their retirement savings strategy?

Automatic Enrollment and Opting In: Employees at USG Corporation are automatically enrolled in the retirement plan unless they choose to opt out. If employees decide not to participate initially, they can enroll later by contacting Your Benefits Resources™. Failure to participate from the start could result in lower retirement savings due to fewer years of contributions(USG Corporation_Retirem…).

In the context of USG Corporation, what are the potential tax consequences for employees withdrawing their retirement benefits, especially regarding the mandatory withholdings? How might employees effectively manage these tax liabilities when planning for retirement?

Tax Consequences of Withdrawals: Employees withdrawing their retirement benefits from USG Corporation will face mandatory federal income tax withholdings, typically 20% for lump sum distributions, unless the distribution is rolled over into an IRA. Employees must plan for these taxes when withdrawing to avoid unexpected liabilities and ensure they maximize their after-tax retirement income(USG Corporation_Retirem…).

How do employees at USG Corporation access the necessary documents related to their retirement benefits, and what is the process for obtaining copies of these documents if needed? What are the responsibilities of the Plan Administrator in this process?

Accessing Retirement Documents: Employees can access documents related to their retirement benefits through Your Benefits Resources™ online or via phone. If additional copies are needed, employees can request them from the Plan Administrator for a small fee. The Plan Administrator oversees ensuring these documents are provided to participants as required by ERISA(USG Corporation_Retirem…).

What unique provisions exist for USG Corporation employees who experience a break in service? How do these provisions impact their accumulated benefit service and overall benefits upon reemployment?

Break in Service Provisions: USG Corporation allows employees who experience a break in service to retain their accumulated benefits if they are reemployed within one year. If reemployed after one year, their previous service may not count toward future benefits unless they were vested prior to termination. This can affect the total benefits an employee accrues if they leave and later return(USG Corporation_Retirem…).

What options do employees of USG Corporation have for managing their benefits if they return to work after retirement? How does this affect their pension benefits and the overall strategy for maximizing retirement income?

Returning to Work After Retirement: Employees returning to work after retirement at USG Corporation will have their pension payments suspended and recalculated based on additional years of service. This recalculation takes into account prior payments, meaning employees should consider the impact of returning to work on their long-term pension strategy(USG Corporation_Retirem…)(USG Corporation_Retirem…).

How can employees of USG Corporation contact their Benefits Resourcesâ„¢ for more information on their retirement plan options? Are there specific channels preferred for different types of inquiries, and what resources are available to assist them?

Contacting Benefits Resources™: Employees can contact Your Benefits Resources™ via the web or a toll-free number to inquire about retirement plan options. Different inquiries, such as changes to beneficiaries or requesting benefit estimates, can be handled through these channels. Resources such as detailed benefit estimates are available to help employees plan for retirement(USG Corporation_Retirem…).