Q. I worked for the government (Department of Defense Dependents Schools) as a teacher overseas in Germany from January 1969 to June 1984. I am receiving a government pension (my retirement) of $629 per month. I was told at the Social Security office that my Social Security benefits would be reduced by two-thirds because I worked for the government. Until 1984, DoDDS employees were not allowed to pay into Social Security. I have paid into Social Security by working at other teaching positions and other types of work. Is what the Social Security administrator said correct? Am I penalized because…
Browsing: substantial earnings
Q. I am a 51-year-old with 32 years of service under CSRS. I am eligible to retire in 2016 when I reach age 55. I have also worked and paid into Social Security for about the same number of years. Am I eligible to receive both Social Security and my civil service retirement pension? I would also like to know how a buyout works. If one is offered before I reach age 55, what is the payout, and will I receive my current benefits such as life and health insurance coverage?
It’s easy to make mistakes when you are planning to retire. Some of the biggest mistakes apply to all employees; a few apply only to CSRS or FERS retirees. All can be costly. Here they are and what you can do to avoid them: Retiring on the spur of the moment. It can be disastrous, for two reasons. First, if you hand in your retirement application at the last minute, it may contain errors that delay processing or even cause it to be rejected. Second, decisions made in haste often come back to bite you. Once committed to a course…
Q. I will be 63 this month. I worked at the Postal Service from 1969 to 1981 as a letter carrier. I took the CSRS money out when I left in 1981. I worked in the private sector from 1981 to 1989. I came back to USPS in 1989, paid back the CSRS money and am now in CSRS offset. I have about 37 years in USPS and plan to work here another three years. Where can I find some info to help me decide whether to retire from USPS now and work in private sector or keep working at…
Q. I have 34 years of service in CSRS and still work. I have 17 years of substantial payments in Social Security and starting collecting at age 66. Is there a maximum amount that my Social Security can be reduced by the windfall elimination provision, or is it possible to lose my entire Social Security payment upon retirement from government?
Q. Husband, age 54, is retiring under Voluntary Early Retirement Authority on Dec. 31. He has 31 years with the Postal Service under CSRS and three years with the military and did not pay back his military time. He has 19 quarters earned for Social Security. He does not intend to earn the full 40 quarters of Social Security prior to age 62. If he earns the full 40 quarters after age 62 — say, at age 64 — what will happen?
Q. I am under CSRS. My service computation date is Nov. 13, 1983. I have 34 Social Security quarters paid. Can I pay the remaining Social Security quarters in lump sum, or do I have to work to contribute? Will this be to my advantage?
Q. I retired from CSRS but did not buy my military time (six years) due to misinformation/misunderstanding. Now they are taking away what little Social Security I was receiving. If I go back to work, under Social Security payments, will I be able to build that up and then be eligible for Social Security benefits?
Q. When determining the number of substantial years of contribution for Social Security purposes, is it when one actually enrolls for benefits or when one is eligible for benefits? I will be subject to the windfall elimination provision due to a small pension from CSRS. At age 62, I will have 28 years of substantial contributions. If I wait until my full retirement age, I will have 34 years of substantial contributions. Will there be any reduction of Social Security benefits?
Q. I am a CSRS Offset employee who retired in 2007 from the Postal Service. I just turned 62 and the Office of Personnel Management started reducing my annuity due to eligibility to SSA. I also applied for Social Security. After receiving one full check, they too have reduced my check under the windfall elimination provision for the same exact amount as the OPM reduced it. Is this possible?