Q. I have GEHA health insurance and primary and Tricare Standard as secondary coverage. When I reach age 65, my wife will be 64. Thus, how will Medicare apply to she and I? Must I keep my Federal Employees Health Benefits insurance until she is 65 to be covered by Medicare? I think my Tricare coverage will convert over to Tricare for Life at 65.
Browsing: SURVIVOR BENEFITS
Q. I am eligible to retire from the Postal Service under CSRS with 37 years of service at age 57. My husband retired on disability from the Postal Service and took out the survivor annuity for me. When I retire and start receiving an annuity, if my husband should die, will I also receive the survivor benefit from my husband and my own retirement check?
Q. My father-in-law is 82 and has been retired from the federal government for approximately 20 years. He had survivor benefits for his wife, who passed away nine months ago. He is now engaged to a new woman and wants to marry her in a few months. He seems to think he must marry her within 18 months of the time his first wife passed for her to receive his survivor benefits. Is this true?
Q. I retired from the Postal Service and receive CSRS annuity only with survivor benefits, not eligible for Social Security. My wife retired and now receives Social Security on her prior wages. When I die, my wife will receive my CSRS annuity at a reduced rate. Will it affect the amount of Social Security she now receives? I know if I was eligible for Social Security, it would be at a reduced rate.
Q. I am a 52-year-old widow of an employee who died while employed. He was 55 years old with 25 years under FERS. Am I now entitled to the special retirement supplement until age 60 if my earned wages are under the Social Security limit?
Q. I’m CSRS and will retire with 35 years of service. My spouse is CSRS Offset and will retire with 33 years of service. I have been told I would receive a full survivor annuity. Will it come from the Office of Personnel Management because I thought I would fall under the government pension offset with the Social Security part. My spouse should have no problem with receiving a survivor annuity from me, right?
Q. I worked for the Internal Revenue Service for more than 30 years. I receive a CSRS pension. Can I receive my deceased husband’s Social Security benefit?
Q. I am a CSRS employee who will retire at age 65 with 42 years of federal government service. Upon reaching age 65 when I retire, I will be eligible for Medicare. My wife will turn 65 about six weeks after I turn 65. She does not have any health care insurance other than my Federal Employees Health Benefits plan. When I retire, I will have been enrolled in an FEHB plan for 42 years. There seem to be a lot of supplemental plans through AARP and other providers that are less expensive. Why should I keep my FEHB plan?
Q. If a married couple — both federal employees (GS-14 and GS-15), under CSRS — retired, should they select survivor benefit? Full? I know it’s my decision. Just want your opinion what would you do if one of the employees were you.
Q. If I should marry after I have already retired from federal service, could I change my annuity status from not married, no spousal annuity selected, to married with a spousal annuity elected so my wife can receive some money after I pass away? Or is it too late once you retire and file as single?