Q. I receive a generous (approximately $100,000) CSRS annuity. I’m self-employed. Considering that the windfall elimination provision may not allow me to collect Social Security benefits, do I have to pay Social Security taxes I will never collect? A. You are required by law to pay Social Security taxes on earnings from wages or self-employment. Fortunately, the windfall elimination provision won’t eliminate any Social Security benefit you are entitled to. It will only reduce it if you have fewer than 30 years of substantial earnings under Social Security. To see how it might affect you, go to www.ssa.gov/pubs/10045.html.
Browsing: CSRS
Q. I am with the USPS and am in CSRS. I began working in 1973 and quit in 1977, at which time I withdrew my retirement money. I returned to the USPS in 1983 and am still there. Do I need to redeposit the money I withdrew to get credit for 33 years of service? If I do not redeposit the money, will my annuity be decreased? A. Because you got that refund before Feb. 28, 1991, you’ll get credit for that time in determining you total years of service. However, if you don’t redeposit that money, plus accrued interest,…
Q. I paid Social Security tax on my “SS statement earnings record,” from 1963 to 1974, and in 1985. I have 27 out of the 40 credits. My retirement number is 66 (I will turn 66 in August). I am still employed. Will I be eligible for Social Security retirement pay (no windfall elimination provision), even though still employed through this year? A. I’m assuming that you are a CSRS employee. If so, you are subject to the windfall elimination provision. However, since you don’t have 40 credits under Social Security, you won’t be eligible for a Social Security benefit.…
Q. The minimum retirement age under FERS is 56 in my case (date of birth May 15, 1956). My PS Form 50 states my retirement plan as A – FERS FROZEN. Do I still qualify for the MRA+ 10? A. According to the Office of Personnel Management, “When a CSRS employee elects to become covered by FERS, the SF 2806 must be ‘frozen’ or ‘redesignated.’ Whether the SF 2806 is ‘frozen’ or ‘redesignated’ depends on whether the employee had enough prior service to have a CSRS component in a future annuity.” Thus, the FERS FROZEN designation has no affect on…
Q. I am a retired Postal Service worker under CSRS. My wife is covered under my Federal Employees Health Benefits plan. I will become eligible for Medicare in March. She will not be eligible for six more years. Should I get Medicare Part B for myself now even though I couldn’t adjust my FEHB plan for six more years? A. As I’ve said many times before, the decision about whether to enroll in Medicare Part B is a personal one. Only you can decide what’s best for you.
Q. A buddy and I both retired from military service recently and now work as civilians for the federal government (in different departments). We both “bought back” our academy time (just under four years) and they will now count toward our civilian careers. However, my department also counted these years for leave accrual, such that I have been earning six hours per pay period. My friend’s department did not count these years for leave accrual, so he is only earning four hours per pay period. It seems to me that his department only referred to 1-6 of this reference: http://www.opm.gov/feddata/gppa/gppa06.pdf…
Q. My agency committed an error by moving me from CSRS to FERS. After 18 months and senatorial support, it was finally resolved; the agency satisfied the debt; and I retired Dec. 29. I have since received W2-Cs for past three years. I am looking at a decrease of approximately $17,000 in Social Security taxes withheld for those three years. Those monies were pulled back and put into my CSRS account. If the Internal Revenue Service determines that there is now a tax liability after filing my amended returns, can I make an appeal to the Office of Personnel Management…
Q. According to my leave and earnings statement, my service computation date is Feb. 28, 1971. So on Feb. 28, I will have 42 years of continuous federal government service. I am under CSRS and have paid back my military contribution. So I reached my maximum annuity based on actual service that’s allowed under law: 80 percent. How is this annuity computed? I know it is based on my high three grades, but how is the high-3 established? Is there a certain amount of time required between these grades? Also I have been told that after 42 years of service,…
Q. I am retired under CSRS and have Federal Employees Health Benefits coverage. In June, I will begin drawing my Navy Reserve retirement and will be eligible for Tricare. What is the best way to handle both coverages together? I have heard that if I am covered under FEHB, that has to be the primary and Tricare will be secondary. A. You are correct that your FEHB enrollment would be primary and Tricare secondary. Whether you should keep both enrollments or suspend your FEHB coverage is a matter you’ll have to decide.
Q. I am a 52-year-old FERS clerk working for the Postal Service. I was been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in November 2005. I am wondering about a disability retirement and how the money I am paid, if approved, is taxed or not? A. The Internal Revenue Service considers CSRS and FERS disability annuities taxable income. If you were also approved for a Social Security disability benefit and judged by them to be totally disabled for any gainful employment, then your benefits would be tax-free.