Q. My husband is 65 and started drawing Social Security benefits when he turned 64. I am 63 and would like to wait until I am at least 66 to retire. Can I draw benefits off my husband’s SS until I start drawing my own? A. To learn more about your options, go to www.socialsecurity.gov/retire2/applying6.htm.
Monthly Archives: August, 2011
Q. I am on Social Security Disability Insurance because of cancer and diabetes. I need to find some kind of part-time work to make ends meet. I know there are income limits for SSDI, but I was wondering if there are any other problems associated with working while on SSDI, at least as far as the Social Security Administration is concerned. A: For an answer to your question, go to http://ssa.gov/pubs/10029.html#part11.
Q. As a spouse of a federal retiree who has chosen not to purchase a survivor annuity, I am concerned about my health insurance. Iunderstand that I am covered after my husband’s death, however what is the procedure regarding my monthly payment? It is now taken out of my husband’s monthly retirement check, but how does that work after his death? A. If you aren’t receiving a survivor annuity, your coverage under the Federal Employees Health Benefits program will end.
Q. I am a federal employee with 10 years of consecutive service from 2001 to 2011. I would like to resign my position in August. What are my options for a deferred retirement? Please include every available scenario. A. There’s only one scenario. If you resign from your position and leave your contributions in the retirement fund, you can apply for a deferred annuity at age 62.
Q. I served as an Air National Guard full-time WG-12 technician from March 1993 until January 2003 when I was found no longer medically eligible to serve in the military capacity that is a prerequisite to holding a job as a civil service technician. I performed the same duties when doing military time as I did as a FERS employee but was given an OPM disability retirement because I lost my military status. I learned today that there is a special retirement supplement to disability payments for law enforcement and military reserve technicians that is intended to bridge the income…
Q. I worked in a federal job as a temporary employee from October 1979 to January 1987. I paid only Social Security since temporary employees were not allowed to participate in CSRS. I was hired as a career-conditional FERS employee in June 2010. I am looking to pay a deposit to get credit for my years of temporary service. Can any of that service give me a CSRS annuity component even though I never participated in CSRS? A. No.
Q. I need to know how to buy my military time back, how much it will cost and where to send the forms. A. Go to the Ask the Experts site, click on the heading “Read more” and on the right hand column click on “Creditable service: FERS,” then scroll down to “Counting military service toward retirement,” dated Oct. 25, 2010. If, by chance, you are a CSRS employee rather than CSRS, use a Standard Form 2803 instead of the 3108.
Q. I am a former CSRS employee who is receiving disability retirement from the government. I just turned 55. Will this change to regular retirement? ( I had the 30-year requirement).) If so, what is the difference? A. As a disability retiree under CSRS, you will continue to have to provide proof of your disability until age 60. At that point, you will be considered to be permanently disabled. Your disability annuity won’t be changed to a regular annuity.
Q. I am a civilian employee with Defense Department under the CSRS retirement system. I am also retired from the Army and drawing retirement pay plus I am a disabled Vietnam veteran drawing a disability. My wife and I both draw Social Security (wife is 71 and I am 72). What portion, if any, of mine or my wife’s Social Security be affected? A. When you retire from your civilian position, your Social Security benefit will be affected by the windfall elimination provision if you have fewer than 30 years of substantial earnings under Social Security. And any spousal Social Security…
Q. I retired from the Navy in 1998 (early retirement) with 16 years of service and am receiving military early retired pay. I’ve been employed by the Defense Department under FERS since 2000. Can I retire from DoD after 16 years? I will be 51 when I want to retire in 2016. Also, will I be eligible for the supplemental payment? If my command does a reduction in force, should I apply? What are the penalties if I do? A. You won’t be able to retire from your civilian position in 2016 because you won’t have the age and service…