Q: I am a CSRS Offset employee. I plan to retire in the next couple of years. However, I was told that OPM contacts the Social Security Administration for my benefit information once I turn 62. OPM will then deduct from my retirement all, or a portion of, what I would receive from Social Security. It is more beneficial for me to wait until age 66 to apply for Social Security, but OPM will make the deduction when I turn 62. Is there a certain percentage of the Social Security payment that OPM will use in computing the deduction? Why can’t OPM wait until I apply for Social Security benefits?
A: As you correctly observed, if you are retired and at age 62 entitled to a Social Security benefit, OPM is required by law to offset your CSRS annuity by the amount of that benefit you earned while covered by CSRS Offset. It cannot wait until you decide to apply for a Social Security benefit.
2 Comments
I am in a situation like above, but continuing to work until age 70 hopefully. If I take Social Security now, at age 66, and CSR offset annuity at age 70; when will OPM compute my offset? And will they use my Social Security numbers from age 62, 66 or age 70 (when I retire)?
OPM will compute your offset on the day you retire. Therefore, if you retire at age 70, the Social Security number will be the one you would be entitled to as of that date.