Q: Can you explain CSRS Offset to me. In January 2011, I’ll have 25 years in civil service and I am thinking about retiring next year at age 63. I have paid in a lot of social security over the years and very little civil service retirement.
A: CSRS Offset employees are covered by CSRS and Social Security. When you retire, your CSRS annuity will be offset by the amount of Social Security benefit you earned while covered by CSRS Offset. The amount you receive will be the same; however, it will come from two different places, OPM and the Social Security Administration. Any additional Social Security credits you have earned outside of CSRS Offset will increase the amount of your Social Security benefit without affecting your CSRS annuity.
