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?
Browsing: Windfall elimination provision
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?
Q. I retired in June 2011 at age 56 with 32 years at the Postal Service under CSRS. When I turn 62, will I be able to apply for Social Security benefits without reducing CSRS benefits? I have enough quarters to draw a small amount from Social Security.
Q. I retired in 2006 after 39+ years of federal service. I’m still working and have the necessary time to qualify for Social Security benefits. If I apply for Social Security benefits, will the amount I receive reduce my CSRS retirement amount?
Q. I am a 62-year-old CSRS Offset retiree receiving Social Security survivor benefits. I have been informed that my annuity will be reduced by $773 per month since I am now eligible for Social Security benefits. When I applied for Social Security benefits on my own earnings, I was told that I could not receive both my benefit and the survivor benefit I was already receiving. It was my understanding that I would receive a reduced Social Security benefit equal to the amount of the offset to my annuity and that I was also entitled to keep my Social Security…
Q. I have retired after 42 years of federal service. I was on CSRS with no offset. How does Social Security affect my benefits? Before starting my career with the federal government, I had amassed enough quarterly hours to qualify for a small Social Security benefit. Am I still entitled? Will my CSRS be subjected to offset? Or does Social Security really not affect my CSRS benefit but because I received much more than I would as a recipient receiving SSI benefits, SSI really doesn’t exist as far as I am concerned?
Q. Can a CSRS retiree collect half of a spousal benefit under Social Security to get a higher benefit than he would receive under the windfall elimination provision? My Social Security check was reduced nearly 50 percent. If I could collect half of my wife’s benefit, I would come out a few hundred dollars ahead every month.
Q. Is there any legal way around the windfall elimination provision if you have only the 40 quarters of Social Security. My pension was reduced nearly 50 percent because of this act. My wife collects Social Security. Could I get half of her benefit and give up mine? She gets over $1,300 a month while I am now getting $349 monthly. I had over 38 years under CSRS with the Postal Service.
Q. I am one of many in the offset program. I am also one of the few who have paid in full to both CSRS and Social Security. As such, I should not be expected to have an offset to my retirement. Right?
Q. Can I reduce or eliminate the windfall elimination provision reduction by continuing to work? I am now 62, and about to receive a modest deferred CSRS Offset pension. I also have 24 years of substantial earnings in Social Security. If I continue to accumulate substantial earnings, can I get up to 30 years, at which point the WEP penalty disappears? That is, if I don’t apply for Social Security until I’m 70, will they calculate the WEP based on my earnings record as of age 62? Or will they wait until I apply for Social Security?