Social Security and SURS
Employees who participate in the State Universities Retirement System (SURS) do not have Social Security withheld from their pay and this pay does not earn quarters of social security coverage for such things as disability.
If you worked in previous positions and Social Security was deducted from your pay, you do not lose those quarters of Social Security earnings. However, when you work for an employer such as SIUE, who doesn’t withhold Social Security taxes from your salary, your SURS pension can reduce your Social Security benefits. There are several factors which may determine if the Windfall Elimination Provision will apply to you.
Please visit the Windfall Elimination Provision link from the Social Security website to learn how this works and if it will impact you.
