Q. Can a CSRS retiree who earned enough credits to receive a Social Security benefit also receive a survivor’s benefit from his deceased spouse?
A. Under the government pension offset provision of law, your Social Security survivor’s benefit would be reduced by two-thirds of the amount of your government pension. For example, if you receive a monthly civil service pension of $600, two-thirds of that, or $400, would be deducted from your Social Security survivor’s benefit. For the full story, go to www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10007.pdf.