Q. I’m a current civil service employee under CSRS with almost 40 years of employment. I may retire next year and am currently 64 years old. My question is, can I collect my deceased husband’s Social Security benefits? He worked in the private sector. If not, please explain why?
A. If you are still working, you’d be entitled to a reduced Social Security survivor benefit at age 60; however, when you retire, you’d be subject to the government pension offset provision of law. The GPO will reduce that survivor benefit by $2 for every $3 you receive in your CSRS annuity.
