Q. I will be retiring in 2013 at my MRA, 56, with 34 years of service, 28 in the USPS and six in the military (I bought back my time). I am a FERS employee and thus will be eligible for the special retirement supplement. My OPM pension will be $2,000/month. My Social Security benefit estimate is $1,300/month.
Will I receive any of those benefits?
A. Having a CSRS component in your annuity won’t affect the amount of your special retirement supplement, which is paid by OPM and based on the amount of Social Security benefit you earned while a FERS employee. However, when you become eligible for a Social Security benefit, that benefit will be affected by the windfall elimination provision. The WEP will reduce that benefit if you have fewer than 30 years of substantial earnings under Social Security.
