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What does SSA Exempt mean?

What does SSA Exempt mean?

Social Security Act (SSA) exempt means the worker did not pay Social Security taxes and is not eligible for Social Security benefits based on that employment.

The most common recipients of retirement and pension benefits from SSA exempt employment include:

  • Police and firefighter retirees
  • Some federal retirees covered under the Civil Service Retirement System and hired prior to 1984
  • Some state and local government retirees

Note: Federal retirees hired since 1984 and those covered by the Federal Employees’ Retirement System are covered under the SSA and are not SSA exempt.