Q: My husband recently began receiving Social Security in addition to his military retirement. I will be retiring under the Federal Employees Retirement System within the next couple of years and want to know whether there is a limit to what a “family” can receive in Social Security, or will both of us be allowed our benefits without regard to what the other is receiving? If my husband passes away, will I receive a portion of his Social Security in addition to my own? A: Both of you will be able to receive the Social Security benefit you earned based…
Browsing: Benefits
Q: I understand that because I am a Civil Service Retirement System retiree, if my spouse should die I cannot get any of his Social Security. At one time I heard there was a law Congress was trying to pass to reverse this. Can you please explain this to me and let me know if there is anything being done about this law? A: Because you will be receiving an annuity from a retirement system in which you didn’t pay Social Security taxes, you will be subject to the government pension offset provision of law. The GPO will reduce any…
Q: I am 65 years old and have applied for and expect to receive Federal Employees Retirement System disability retirement benefits. In October, I will turn 66 and will begin receiving Social Security retirement benefits. Will my FERS disability benefits be reduced by my SS retirement benefits? A: Because you are already age 62 or older, if you are approved for disability retirement and have fewer that 20 years of service, you’ll receive your earned annuity based on the standard FERS formula: 0.01 x your high-3 x your years and full months of service. If you have 20 or more…
Q: If I retire with 30 years of federal service under the Federal Employees Retirement System at my minimum retirement age of 56 and I go back to work outside of the federal government, will I lose my Social Security supplement? A: If you exceed the Social Security earnings limit, your special retirement supplement will be reduced by $1 for every $2 you earn. In 2010, that limit is $14,160.
Q: I am a Vietnam veteran with a disability rated at 40 percent. I will be 64 in September and plan on drawing my Social Security retirement benefits at that time. Will either one of these government plans be affected by the other? Also, do I receive any extra credit in my Social Security earnings for the 16 quarters served on active duty from 1966 to 1969? A: You will be able to receive both your Veterans Affairs Department disability pay and your Social Security benefit. Your Social Security benefit will be based on the number of credits you earned…
Q: I am 65 years old and will have 30 years with the federal government as of January 2012. I previously worked for 15 years in the private sector and am covered by Social Security. I will be 66 in January 2011 and have been told that I can draw my full Social Security benefit while I am still working. Is this true? Besides taxes, is there a downside to drawing your Social Security while you are still working? A: There is no limit to the amount you may earn after you reach your full retirement age. The only downside…
Q: I am a 63-year-old CSRS federal employee. My husband is retired and drawing Social Security. Am I eligible for the Social Security spousal benefit if I am still employed under CSRS? A: Yes, you are eligible for a spousal Social Security benefit while still working; however, once you retire you will be subject to the government pension offset provision of law. The GPO will reduce that spousal annuity by $2 for every $3 you receive in your CSRS annuity.
Q: After 11 years working for the Defense Department, I left my government job in 2000 and worked in the private sector. I would like to know if am eligible to receive my pension benefits. If yes, how is my pension calculated? I am 57. When am I eligible to start receiving benefits? A: As a former FERS employee, if you left your contributions in the retirement fund, you would be eligible for an deferred annuity now under the MRA+10 provision of law (minimum retirement age with at least 10 but fewer than 30 years of service). However, your annuity…
Q: I am a 63-year-old disabled woman. I was married in 1970 and divorced in 1990. My ex-husband was a police officer and did not pay Social Security taxes while he worked in law enforcement. He did pay into Social Security for a few years before he began working for law enforcement, but his pension would be very small. He is 64 and is still living. In 2000, I married for a second time. My husband is 73 and also disabled. He did work and paid into Social Security, his benefit amount is $1,651.40. In 1965, I began working for…
Q: You answered a question with the following: “A: According to OPM, you only need to complete your 80-hour work week to get credit for any annual and sick leave earned during that pay period.” I cannot find this clarification at the OPM website. The “popular” opinion amongst co-workers is that you must be employed for the entire pay/leave period if you have a standard Monday-Friday work week in order to receive annual leave credit for that period. Specifically, if I retire on Dec. 31, 2010, with 80 hours worked, will I receive credit for pay period 26, or must…