Q. I am age 65 with 35 total years of Veterans Affairs Department service despite a seven-year interruption in the private sector. I am in CSRS Offset. I have been told by human resources department that my Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance contributions count toward the 30 years of substantial earnings and that the windfall elimination provision will not apply (as I have 30+ years of substantial earnings). This would mean I would receive my full Social Security and Veterans Affairs Department pension. Is this correct? Are there other elements of my retirement and pension benefits under CSRS Offset…
Browsing: Windfall elimination provision
Q. I am in CSRS Offset and will retire next year at age 60. I plan to start collecting Social Security as soon as I am eligible at age 62. As I will have only 23 years of substantial earnings, my Social Security will be subject to the windfall elimination provision. Is the offset to my CSRS pension at age 62 calculated on the Social Security amount before or after the WEP reduction?
Q. I am a 33-year Postal Service employee. Thirty-three years ago, union officials told me that the government was working on eliminating CSRS Offset and the windfall elimination provision all civil service employees. As of today, they are both still in place. I feel lied to and cheated by my government. Politicians can collect multiple pensions, yet if I try and collect my Social Security benefits, though I have worked enough quarters, I would be penalized. Then, if my spouse dies, I am not entitled to her Social Security benefits, as I understand it. Is there a chance that these…
Q. I am a retired CSRS federal employee. I understand that my Social Security benefits will be reduced under the windfall elimination provision. But will my spouse (who never worked and will get Social Security only because of me) have her amount reduced, too? In other words, if my Social Security monthly benefits would be $1,500 a month, but this is reduced to $1,200 a month, will my spouse’s Social Security benefits be $750 or $600?
Q. I am planning to retire under CSRS next year with 38 years’ service. My husband retired from private industry and receives Social Security. If my husband predeceases me, will I receive his survivor annuity, or will it be subject to the windfall elimination provision and be drastically reduced?
Q. I am a CSRS employee who will be retiring Oct. 31 and would like to know how my Social Security check will be affected. I am 67 years old and receiving $945.
Q. I retired in 2006 after 39 years of federal service under CSRS. I receive a retirement annuity every month. I’m doing some contractor work and have over 10 years under Social Security. If I apply for Social Security benefits, will my CSRS monthly annuity be decreased by the Social Security amount? If so, what benefit is it to pay Social Security taxes if I won’t ever apply to receive them? Also, do you have to pay this tax?
Q. I retired in 2011 as a CSRS annuitant at age 55 with 32 years of federal service. During those 32 years, I also had a part-time job, where I contributed minimally into Social Security. I have enough SS quarters to get a small amount at some point. Do I have to apply for Social Security, and at what age should I apply if I have to? Will I get more from Social Security if I wait until 70 and will my CSRS annuity be automatically reduced at some age?
Q. The Windfall Elimination Provision states: “The only work you did where you did not pay Social Security taxes was before 1957, or you have 30 or more years of substantial earnings under Social Security.” Are these statements separate or combined? What does the year have to do with it? What is the formula for calculating substantial earnings? Take into consideration that at the time, single mothers with three dependents did not earn “substantial earnings.” By the way, how much is substantial? It seems to me that the date I began work eliminates the windfall, along with my almost 30…
Q. I retired in 2001 from the FAA under CSRS. I have 33 quarters of Social Security. If I go back to work and earn an additional seven quarters and apply for Social Security benefits, will that same amount of money be subtracted from my annuity?