Q. I retired under the CSRS with approximately 33 years of government service, and I qualified for Social Security under other jobs. How will my CSRS monthly pension be affected when I begin to qualify for Social Security?
A. Qualifying for a Social Security benefit would have no affect on your CSRS annuity. On the other hand, because you’d be receiving an annuity from CSRS — a retirement system where you didn’t pay Social Security taxes — your Social Security benefit would be subject to the windfall elimination provision. WEP reduces the Social Security benefit of anyone like you who has fewer than 30 years of substantial earnings under Social Security.
4 Comments
My CSRS was reduced when I turned 62 because I was eligible for SS. When I file at 66 for SS will my SS also be reduced. I thought it was one or the other.
When you turned 62, your CSRS annuity was automatically reduced by the amount of Social Security benefit you earned while a CSRS Offset employee. When you apply for a Social Security benefit, it will be based on your entire work history under Social Security, not just your time under CSRS Offset.
I am eligible to retire under CSRS with currently 37 years (SCD JUL 1982). I am still working and plan to for a couple of more years, however, I became eligible for full social security January 2019, for work employed outside of CSRS. Would my CSRS pension (when I retire) be reduced by this amount if I were to sign up for it or is it the social security amount that will be reduced or eliminated? Thank you so much.
If you have reached the age when you are eligible for a full Social Security benefit (between 65 and 67 depending on your year of birth), you can earn as much as you want without it having any affect on your Social Security benefit. And when you retire, your Social Security benefit will have no affect on your CSRS annuity.