Q. I have 38 years under CSRS and have not paid back my four years of military service. I am 63 years old and am thinking about retiring this year. I have 40 quarters under Social Security. When I retire, am I eligible for a partial Social Security annuity, along with my federal retirement pension?
A. You’ll get full credit for your active-duty service in determining your length of service. However, when you reach age 62, your annuity will be recomputed without those four years, which will reduce your annuity. While you’ll be eligible for a Social Security benefit, it 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.