Pension without social security

[Anonymous]

I recently met someone and he told me that she will retired with a $65000 pension, but he won't have any social security because he never paid into it. So people with pension don't have social security? This person also told that's their only source of retirement. They have no 401k, no Roth nothing just a pension. But he said that his home is paid off and he also has a rental that brings him $1500 after all expenses. That can't be enough to retire just $65k per year and additional $1500/month.

What's the appeal of pension if one can't have social security? Or is it specific to some companies where you choose one or the other. This person I think retired as a teacher but I don't know the state.

[Anonymous]

It's a government pension. It's because they pay into the pension, instead of the 7.65% FICA tax that goes into Social Security and makes you eligible to collect Social Security.

He should work a bit longer- it would probably raise his pension amount

[Anonymous]

That old govt pension system (CSRS). Much generous than current system (FERS) but no SS.

[Anonymous]

$65k pension and $1500/month rental income in my world that's a decent retirement. I don't know the equivalent $ amount in terms of 401k but it's not bad at all. I think with that amount he is probably in the 25th percentile of retirees.

[Anonymous]

83k with a paid off house is enough for most.

There will be very little tax on that, an no SS or Medicare tax. It’s a least 6k a month clean after tax. As long as the property tax is low and utilities as well, it should a good amount of discretionary income.

[Anonymous]

In some states teachers pay into the pension system and not SS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I recently met someone and he told me that she will retired with a $65000 pension, but he won't have any social security because he never paid into it. So people with pension don't have social security? This person also told that's their only source of retirement. They have no 401k, no Roth nothing just a pension. But he said that his home is paid off and he also has a rental that brings him $1500 after all expenses. That can't be enough to retire just $65k per year and additional $1500/month.



What's the appeal of pension if one can't have social security? Or is it specific to some companies where you choose one or the other. This person I think retired as a teacher but I don't know the state.

Considering that the average salary of a US worker is ~62k per year I’m not sure how you would come to the conclusion that someone with a 65k pension, an extra 15k/ year in rental income and a paid off home would be unable to get by. …you sound wildly out of touch with reality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I recently met someone and he told me that she will retired with a $65000 pension, but he won't have any social security because he never paid into it. So people with pension don't have social security? This person also told that's their only source of retirement. They have no 401k, no Roth nothing just a pension. But he said that his home is paid off and he also has a rental that brings him $1500 after all expenses. That can't be enough to retire just $65k per year and additional $1500/month.



What's the appeal of pension if one can't have social security? Or is it specific to some companies where you choose one or the other. This person I think retired as a teacher but I don't know the state.

Considering that the average salary of a US worker is ~62k per year I’m not sure how you would come to the conclusion that someone with a 65k pension, an extra 15k/ year in rental income and a paid off home would be unable to get by. …you sound wildly out of touch with reality.

Yep

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's a government pension. It's because they pay into the pension, instead of the 7.65% FICA tax that goes into Social Security and makes you eligible to collect Social Security.

He should work a bit longer- it would probably raise his pension amount

If he was under the old government system his pension would almost certainly be much higher- given that he would have to have been continuously serving in government since before 1986 (when they switched to the FERS system which gives you access to SS and a 401k match but a lower pension percentage)

[Anonymous]

State governments still do this.

[Anonymous]

That strikes me as low if it is a federal pension, unless this person was in the lower GS grades.

[Anonymous]

So, what's the surprising part? No ss or who the heck can live on $65k+$18k?
This person has done very well living on the income he/she is about the receive in retirement.
Their SS could be taxed because of the pension and the rental, so why bother!
401k is taxed at income level. Again, good they never bothered with it.
Now, wish they had done Roth IRA if eligible, but they probably don't need too much money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I recently met someone and he told me that she will retired with a $65000 pension, but he won't have any social security because he never paid into it. So people with pension don't have social security? This person also told that's their only source of retirement. They have no 401k, no Roth nothing just a pension. But he said that his home is paid off and he also has a rental that brings him $1500 after all expenses. That can't be enough to retire just $65k per year and additional $1500/month.



What's the appeal of pension if one can't have social security? Or is it specific to some companies where you choose one or the other. This person I think retired as a teacher but I don't know the state.

Considering that the average salary of a US worker is ~62k per year I’m not sure how you would come to the conclusion that someone with a 65k pension, an extra 15k/ year in rental income and a paid off home would be unable to get by. …you sound wildly out of touch with reality.

Yep

Do: get that but I'm a bit shocked they wouldn't have saved some on their own even without a 401k to do so. Don't get how you get to 60+ and literally have nothing saved and expect your pension to be everything

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I recently met someone and he told me that she will retired with a $65000 pension, but he won't have any social security because he never paid into it. So people with pension don't have social security? This person also told that's their only source of retirement. They have no 401k, no Roth nothing just a pension. But he said that his home is paid off and he also has a rental that brings him $1500 after all expenses. That can't be enough to retire just $65k per year and additional $1500/month.



What's the appeal of pension if one can't have social security? Or is it specific to some companies where you choose one or the other. This person I think retired as a teacher but I don't know the state.

Considering that the average salary of a US worker is ~62k per year I’m not sure how you would come to the conclusion that someone with a 65k pension, an extra 15k/ year in rental income and a paid off home would be unable to get by. …you sound wildly out of touch with reality.

Yep

Do: get that but I'm a bit shocked they wouldn't have saved some on their own even without a 401k to do so. Don't get how you get to 60+ and literally have nothing saved and expect your pension to be everything

But it's more than enough for this person and they might have been contributing to it like many have to for public pensions, sometimes 8% or more. They may also have been sending extra to pay off the mortgage faster. They seem to be in good shape so not sure why they need to be judged.

[Anonymous]

People who didn't pay enough into Social Security to get insured are not eligible for it on their own records. For some people, they didn't pay enough in because their jobs paid into pensions instead. Some people had pensions and did pay into Social Security. Some people didn't pay enough into Social Security to get insured AND they don't have pensions.

Since the Social Security Fairness Act passed, people who paid a little into Social Security but also have government pensions will likely get more. Same with people who never paid into Social Security but have/had spouses who did pay in to Social Security.