Q: I am trying to help my dad find answers to a letter he received from the Social Security Administration which states that it is stopping his widower’s benefits after 13 years. He receives a government pension. He is given the option to appeal; does he have grounds, or is this a change in law that he must accept? A: Because you haven’t given me much to go on, I’m going to have to guess that your father’s Social Security survivor benefit was affected by the government pension offset provision of law. The GPO reduces that benefit for anyone who…
Browsing: SOCIAL SECURITY
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: For those covered under the law enforcement provision of the Federal Employees Retirement System, is the Social Security earnings test applied toward funds received from their Thrift Savings Plan if those amounts exceed the earnings test for the special law enforcement officer/firefighter Social Security supplement after their minimum retirement age? A: No. The Social Security earnings test only applies to earnings from wages or self-employment.
Q: I am a retiree under the Civil Service Retirement System. I had five years of military time which I did not make the deposit for and 26 years of federal service. I am not eligible for Social Security at this time. I have been told that if I return to work and qualify for Social Security, on my 62nd birthday my annuity will be recomputed and my five years of military service will be removed. Also, I was told my Social Security would be reduced to zero. Is all this true? A: The post-1956 military service rules are simple:…
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 have checked your Q&A and have asked several people about the special retirement supplement (SRS) and can’t seem to get an answer. I’m a 56-year-old Postal Service employee with 22 years of service. Rumor has it there will be another Voluntary Early Retirement Authority (early out). My two questions are, if I go out on VERA, will I be able to take money out of my Thrift Savings Plan account without early withdrawal penalties even though I`m not 59 1/2 years old? I know I will be eligible for SRS. Will the fact that I will be getting…
Q: I retired under a medical retirement. I am married and got my Federal Employees Retirement System and Social Security Disability Insurance. If this combined income is not enough to live on, is it possible for me to apply for Supplemental Security Income for my spouse and myself? A: You can always apply for Supplemental Security Income. Whether your request would be approved depends on a number of factors. I suggest that you go to the Social Security Administration website at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/pub/11000.html and review the criteria. Information about how to apply for benefits is also provided on that site.
Q. I started getting a disability pension in 2006, and my understanding was that I also get supplemental Social Security. When I started receiving my check it was for more than $800, and without explanation, it has gone down to $717. A: I have no way of knowing why the amount of your benefit went down. You’ll have to discuss this with a representative at the Social Security Administration. You can do that by visiting your local Social Security office or calling the agency at 800-772-1213. Representatives are available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Q: I was employed by the Department of the Army in 1968 and retired with a disability annuity in 1974. I have never been restored to full capacity and I still receive my annuity of approximately $1,060 per month. I have worked in a part-time capacity at various jobs over the years and have earned 20 Social Security points. In December 2010, I will turn 62, and I understand that my annuity will be recalculated. I do not know my three highest years of earnings and do not fully understand how the annuity will be recalculated. I have looked at…