Q. I have been retired (CSRS) for more than 15 years. Because I had enough quarters from moonlighting as a teacher, I also collect Social Security with the windfall reduction. Since retirement I have worked as an educator and may soon reach 30 years of substantial contributions to SSA. My questions are, upon reaching this 30-year milestone:
1. What impact, if any, will it have on my CSRS retirement payments?
2. What impact, if any, will it have on the SSA payments made to me?
3. How will this affect survivor benefits?
A. Having 30 years of substantial earnings under Social Security won’t have any impact on your CSRS annuity nor will it affect your Social Security benefit. The windfall elimination provision permanently reduced the amount of your Social Security benefit, which has, however, been increased annually to account for your additional Social Security contributions. Any CSRS or Social Security survivor benefits will continue to be the same as they always have been.
