Q. I am 61 years old and have been retired from the fire service. I have, according to Social Security, 39 units which were not earned at fire service. If correct, I need one unit to earn Social Security at age 62, and I need this unit also to be eligible for Medicare at age 65? Is there any other way to get this one quarter other than going to get a job for three months?
Browsing: Benefits
Q. I will be 52 years old March 9. I am covered under FERS, and I have 31 years of federal service. If my base offers an early-out this year, I plan to take it. I have a substantial balance in the Thrift Savings Plan and would like to withdraw it in its entirety when I take the early-out so I can invest it in my daughter’s business. 1. Will I be penalized for withdrawing my TSP funds early? If so, how much? I know I will be taxed, and I am OK with that. My husband plans to keep…
Q. I applied and was just approved for disability retirement, and I am waiting for them to determine my final benefits. I have received a check for back pay for $4,677.44 for six months from the day I retired. I understand they take 100 percent of Social Security Disability Insurance out the first year, but I did not receive SSDI payments during that period of back pay. I did not receive my first SSDI payment until Feb. 11. I have been off work due to illness since March 2013 and retired July 2013. I read that back pay starts from…
Q. Will the Social Security office recalculate the amount I am getting monthly from Social Security? I worked 10 years and earned 40 quarters to qualify for Social Security after I retired under CSRS. I feel that I should be getting more than the $140 I receive from Social Security every month. How do I request a recalculation of the amount I receive presently from Social Security? I retired under the CSRS in March 1994 with 28 years of federal service. I was age 47 at the time and I took an early retirement because of base realignment and closure.…
Q. My husband is a retired federal employee receiving a CSRS pension. I have been paying Social Security taxes based on my own employment earnings since before we were married. 1. As the wife of a federal employee who is receiving a federal pension, will I receive my full Social Security benefit when I reach retirement age? 2. If I outlive my husband, how much of his federal pension would I receive, and would I also continue to receive my full Social Security? 3. Will he receive Social Security benefits based on employment earnings in nonfederal jobs he held prior…
Q. I will be 70 years old in October 2015. I understand if I wait to collect Social Security benefits until that time, my monthly benefit will approximate $3,030. As of August 2010, I started working for the federal government as a GS-13. I plan on retiring under FERS in September 2015, at which time I will have completed 60 months of continuous civilian service. I understand that my monthly FERS annuity will approximate $500. Is there any offset to either Social Security or FERS monthly annuity benefits based on receiving both of these benefits simultaneously? Assuming continuation of excellent…
Q. I received notice that as of this month, Medicare will be deducting about $104 a month from my Social Security. My wife is 55 and employed. I am on her coverage. Must I have Medicare now if I am covered by my wife’s plan for another 10 years?
Q. I served three years on active duty from 1966 to 1969. I was hired as a federal employee in 1970. I retired in 2009 at age 61 and not eligible at that time for any Social Security benefits. I did not buy back my military service because of the provision under section 22A5.1-3G of the CSRS/FERS Handbook, where it states that “employees who retired prior to age 62; and are not eligible for Social Security at age 62; continue to receive credit for the post-1956 military service even if they become entitled to Social Security at a later date…
Q. I am having half of my Social Security benefit reduced because I have a CSRS retirement and I earned enough Social Security credits separately for a Social Security benefit because of Army Reserve service. Will the amount of my Social Security benefit be reduced because of the windfall elimination provision? Will it can count on my IRS Form 1040 as taxes paid or a deduction?
Q. I am 64 years old with 28 years in the post office, all FERS. I would like to retire in March. How long will it take for my Social Security checks, my Thrift Savings Plan account and my Postal Service pension checks to begin? I would like to continue my current health plan and apply for Medicare ASAP. I would also like to keep my current life insurance plans.