What Colorado teachers get instead
Colorado teachers belong to the School and Denver Public Schools divisions of Colorado PERA, which replaces Social Security for most members. The pension formula is 2.5% of highest average salary for each year of service.
Most Colorado public employees, not only teachers, are outside Social Security, so spouses who both worked in the public sector may have little covered work between them.
Social Security from other work
Many Colorado teachers earned Social Security credits before they started teaching, during summers or in a second job. With 40 credits, about ten years of covered work, you qualify for your own benefit. Until 2025 the Windfall Elimination Provision cut that benefit for anyone with a non-covered pension. The Social Security Fairness Act repealed it, so the full benefit now adds to your Colorado PERA (School Division) pension.
Spousal and survivor benefits changed too. The Government Pension Offset used to reduce them by two-thirds of your pension, which wiped them out for most retired teachers. That rule is gone as well. If your spouse worked in a covered job, you may now be due a spousal benefit while they are alive and a survivor benefit after.
Medicare
Teachers hired after March 31, 1986 pay the 1.45% Medicare tax even in jobs without Social Security. Ten years of that work qualifies you for premium-free Medicare Part A at 65. If you were hired before April 1986 and never changed employers, check your record, because you may need a spouse’s work history to qualify. See health insurance for public retirees.
What to do next
- Open your my Social Security account at ssa.gov and count your covered years.
- Check your spouse’s record for spousal and survivor benefits.
- Add your pension and Social Security in the pension and Social Security calculator.
- If you are a few credits short, a part-time covered job can be enough to qualify.
Questions
Do teachers get Social Security in Colorado?
No. Colorado public school teachers do not pay into Social Security on their teaching pay.
Can a Colorado teacher still get Social Security?
Yes, with 40 credits (about ten years) of covered work from other jobs, or through a spouse’s record. Since the Social Security Fairness Act, that benefit is paid in full on top of the Colorado PERA (School Division) pension.
Do Colorado teachers get Medicare?
Teachers hired after March 31, 1986 pay the Medicare tax even without Social Security, so most qualify for premium-free Medicare Part A at 65.