Q. I retired (CSRS) on April 30. I have 31 years creditable service. I am 65. I did not buy back my four years of military service. I know there is a 2 percent per-year reduction in annuity. I will receive 58 percent instead of 66 percent. I will be eligible for Social Security benefits in December. I will be 66 then. I had 40 quarters paid into Social Security before starting work for the government. Will there also be a reduction of the Social Security benefits? If so, how much?
A. Yes. Because you didn’t make a deposit for your years of active-duty service, your annuity will be reduced by 8 percent (2 percent for each of those four years). Further, because you will be receiving an annuity from CSRS, a retirement system where you didn’t pay Social Security taxes, your Social Security benefit will be subject to the windfall elimination provision. You can learn about the WEP by going to www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10045.html and calculate what the reduction would be at www.socialsecurity.gov/retire2/wep.htm.
