Q: I retired in December 2010 with 34 years of federal service under the CSRS plan. My wife is a state government employee who has paid into Social Security her entire 32-year career. If my wife should predecease me, will I be eligible to receive Social Security as her survivor?
A: Because you would be receiving an annuity from CSRS, a retirement system where you didn’t pay Social Security taxes, you would be subject to the government pension offset provision of law. Under the GPO, any spousal or survivor Social Security benefit to which you were entitled would be reduced by $2 for every $3 you received in your CSRS annuity.
