Q: I have been unable to identify if there is an exception to the windfall elimination provisions that will allow me simultaneous entitlement to a CSRS annuity and to full or non-reduced Social Security benefits. I assume that Social Security benefits are not subject to reduction under the windfall elimination provisions if the credits earned were earned as a federal employee and during the time period (15 years) in which the credits were earned, I made no payments into any other retirement system. I think that benefits earned under the CSRS system were earned during a time period (20 years)…
Browsing: Windfall elimination provision
Q: I am a 55-year-old recently retired postal employee and I receive a CSRS annuity every month. I plan to collect Social Security benefits when I reach age 62. I have been working part time and paying into Social Security as well as working my full-time position for approximately 30 years. What will the reduction to my Social Security be because I am a CSRS retiree? A: Because you are receiving an annuity from a retirement system where you didn’t pay Social Security taxes, you’ll be subject to the windfall elimination provision. The WEP will reduce your Social Security benefit…
Q: I worked four years in a supermarket and another 20 years in the U.S. Air Force, bringing my U.S. Social Security years worked up to 24.I returned to Spain and began working and now have 20 years in the Spanish Social Security system which gives me another retirement. I paid taxes on my U.S. earnings at the time and now pay taxes on my Spanish earnings. If you are paying taxes does the WEP come into play? A: Yes, you will be subject to the windfall elimination provision if you have fewer than 30 years of substantial earnings under…
Q. I’m a Civil Service Retirement System Offset employee with 18 years, 6½ months, under straight CSRS; 12 years, 7 months, at retirement (April 30, 2012); and with at least 40 quarters earned under Social Security before federal service. I had an appointment the other day at the Social Security Administration to see what my benefits, offset amount and windfall amounts would be. The person who I talked to had no idea about the CSRS Offset and kept calling the windfall elimination provision (WEP) an offset. She insisted she never had to consider/calculate the offset amount for the Office of…
Q. My wife started working under the Civil Service Retirement System in July 1982 and continued to work under CSRS until August 1989. She is re-entering the government workforce. She plans to stop working in eight years when she will be 57, and will have 15 years of government service. It appears she would be eligible for deferred retirement benefits at age 62. How will her benefits be calculated? A: It all depends. When she returns to work for the federal government, she’ll be covered by CSRS Offset (CSRS and Social Security), with the option of transferring to the Federal…
Q: I am a GS-13 planning to retire at 70 with 19 years in CSRS, 11 years in CSRS Offset, and 19+ other substantial years under Social Security. No matter how many times I read the other questions and answers, I keep thinking they say my total retirement will be the sum of my CSRS retirement reduced by the net Social Security benefit after WEP reduction, PLUS the net Social Security benefit after WEP reduction. In other words, Total = (CSRS – (SS-WEP)) + (SS-WEP) = CSRS as if Social Security doesn’t exist. Am I confused? Can you straighten me…
Q. Does the windfall elimination provision apply to anyone in CSRS Offset who is 55 or older and has 30-plus years of service upon retirement? A. The windfall elimination provision applies to anyone who is receiving an annuity — in whole or part — from a retirement system where he didn’t pay Social Security taxes and has fewer tha 30 years of substantial earnings under Social Security.
Q: I had 13 years of Social Security employment (max contribution) before entering CSRS Offset in 1991. My salary was always maximum Social Security contribution. I am 64 and considering retirement at age 66. Do CSRS Offset years count in meeting the 30 year requirement to avoid WEP? A: All years of Social Security-covered employment in which you had substantial earnings count toward the 30 years needed to avoid the windfall elimination provision.
Q: I am getting ready to retire. I worked for the government from 1968 to 1972, then worked in the private sector and earned my 40 quarters in Social Security. I returned to work for the federal government in 1984 as a Civil Service Retirement System Offset employee. I was told that because I earned my 40 quarters from the private sector that my government annuity would not be reduced: I will get a full government annuity and a full Social Security check. Is that right? A: By law, your CSRS annuity will be reduced at age 62 by the…
Q: I had 13 years of Social Security employment (max contribution) before entering the Civil Service Retirement System Offset in 1991. I am 64 years old and considering retirement at age 66. Do CSRS Offset years count in meeting the 30-year requirement to avoid the windfall elimination provision? A: All years of Social Security-covered employment in which you had substantial earnings count toward the 30 years needed to avoid the windfall elimination provision.