Short answer: yes. Wisconsin law covers all teachers under Social Security and Medicare, so you earn Social Security on top of your WRS annuity. Your WRS benefit itself isn't subject to Social Security or Medicare tax. If you retire before Social Security starts, the accelerated payment option can even out your income. See payment options, taxes and early retirement, or try the calculator, which has a Social Security field.
Coverage
All state employees, all teachers and the participating employees of all WRS participating employers are included under OASDHI (Social Security and Medicare), with listed exceptions. Wis. Stat. s. 40.41 (4)
Your WRS benefit is not subject to Social Security or Medicare taxes. ET-2119 (6/18/2026), p. 18, Tax Liability
The accelerated payment option
Available if your annuity begins before age 62 and your For Annuitant's Life Only after-age-62 payment meets the minimum. You get a lifetime payment plus a temporary payment that ends after the month you reach 62 (if you turn 62 in December, January is the last higher payment). The monthly cost is your projected age-62 Social Security amount times the factor for your age; subtract it from the Life Only amount, apply the option factor, and add back the Social Security amount for the before-62 total. ET-4107 (rev 3/5/2025), p. 4, Accelerated Payment Options
ETF's printed option, accelerated and money purchase factors are dated January 1, 2020. ETF says some factors changed for benefits starting January 1, 2026, and it hasn't published the new tables in the booklet we use. Amounts that use these factors may be a little off.
What we use: the factors printed in ET-4107 (rev 3/5/2025)
ETF estimates Social Security from tables that assume a full career (30+ years) under Social Security unless you send your own SSA estimate. ET-4107 (rev 3/5/2025), p. 4, Accelerated Payment Options
See every option with acceleration on the payment options page.
What the sources say
- Wisconsin teachers are covered by Social Security: the statute puts all teachers and WRS participating employees under OASDHI.Wis. Stat. s. 40.41 (4)
- ETF doesn't contact Social Security for you; apply about three months before 62.ET-4116 (rev 6/12/2026), p. 12, Frequently Asked Questions
Questions
Do Wisconsin teachers get Social Security?
Yes. Wisconsin teachers are covered by Social Security, so you pay into it and can get it on top of your WRS annuity.
Is my WRS annuity taxed for Social Security?
No. WRS benefits aren't subject to Social Security or Medicare taxes.
What's the accelerated payment option?
A way to even out your income if you retire before 62: extra money each month until 62, about the size of your Social Security, and a lower amount for life after that.
Your own Social Security estimate is at ssa.gov. ETF doesn't contact Social Security for you.
Source: Your Benefit Handbook (ET-2119), 6/18/2026, with Calculating Your Retirement Benefits (ET-4107, rev 3/5/2025), ET-2119 p. 18; ET-4107 pp. 4, 9, 11; ET-4116 p. 12; ET-4117 pp. 5, 6; Wis. Stat. s. 40.41. Last reviewed .