40 Percent of US Public School Teachers Aren't Covered by Social Security

About 40 percent of public school teachers aren't covered by Social Security. In other words, teachers in 15 states aren't covered by Social Security. In these states, teachers don't pay Social Security taxes, and instead rely on state-run pensions.

However, if these teachers have some work experience in the private sector, they may qualify for Social Security benefits. However, they must be aware of the "double dipping" provisions in Social Security called the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset, which can cut into Social Security survivors benefits.