Almost all NHRS Group I (Employee and Teacher) members participate in Social Security; a small number of Group I employers don't (check with your employer). NHRS is not connected with Social Security: the NHRS pension isn't affected by when you take Social Security or how much you get. The Group I formula itself changes at full Social Security retirement age (1/60 to 1/66). NHRS page 'Social Security' (saved Nov. 12, 2026; modified July 22, 2026); NHRS page 'Service Retirement: Group I Tier A & B'
The one link: your full retirement age
Whether or not you claim Social Security, NHRS lowers your pension from 1/60 to 1/66 of AFC per year of service starting the month after you reach full Social Security retirement age. On $60,000 and 30 years that's $30,000 a year falling to $27,273. NHRS Service Retirement Booklet (Rev 7/2023), PDF p. 3, 'Could the pension amount change?'; NHRS page 'Service Retirement: Group I Tier A & B', Pension Recalculation; NHRS Legislative Changes 2007-25, 2023 session item 1 Details on the formula page.
| Born in | Full retirement age |
|---|---|
| 1954 | 66 |
| 1955 | 66 and 2 months |
| 1956 | 66 and 4 months |
| 1957 | 66 and 6 months |
| 1958 | 66 and 8 months |
| 1959 | 66 and 10 months |
| 1960 or later | 67 |
Full retirement age ('retirement age') depends on the calendar year the person attains early retirement age (62): before 2000, 65; 2000-2004, 65 plus 2 months for each year after 1999; 2005-2016, 66; 2017-2021, 66 plus 2 months for each year after 2016; 2022 or later, 67. SSA: if you were born on the 1st of the month, your full retirement age is figured as if your birthday was in the previous month; born on January 1st, refer to the previous year. 42 U.S.C. 416(l)(1)-(3); SSA web page 'Retirement Age and Benefit Reduction' (saved Nov. 12, 2026, copied from data/ri/source/ssa/)
- Almost all NHRS Group I teachers pay into and earn Social Security; a small number of employers don't participate, so check with yours. Your NHRS pension doesn't depend on when you take Social Security or how much you get.NHRS page 'Social Security'
- Your Social Security full retirement age matters to your NHRS pension anyway: that's when the formula drops from 1/60 to 1/66.NHRS page 'Service Retirement: Group I Tier A & B'
NHRS's Social Security page (modified July 22, 2026) still describes the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset, for Group II members. We say nothing about WEP/GPO, since it concerns Group II and our sources don't address its current status.
NHRS page 'Social Security'
For your Social Security amount, use your own Social Security statement. For the NHRS side, see the calculator, which shows both amounts and the month of change, and one more year for timing. Taxes: taxes on your pension.
Questions
Do New Hampshire teachers get Social Security?
Almost all NHRS Group I teachers pay into and earn Social Security. A small number of employers don't participate, so check with yours.
Does taking Social Security change my NHRS pension?
No. NHRS isn't connected with Social Security. But the NHRS formula itself drops from 1/60 to 1/66 when you reach full Social Security retirement age, whether or not you claim Social Security.
Source: NHRS Group I (Employee and Teacher) Member Benefits summaries, Tiers A, B and C, Rev. 10/2024. Also: NHRS member web pages (saved Nov. 12, 2026); NHRS Service Retirement Booklet (Rev 7/2023); NHRS Legislative Changes 2007-25; 42 U.S.C. 416(l). Last reviewed .