Q. I retired in 2002 with 32 years of service and receiving a CSRS annuity. I am 65 and do not have the required 40 quarters to collect Social Security. My retirement annuity is being reduced for “full surviving spouse’s annuity.” Will my wife, who is 61 and plans to draw Social Security next year (over $600 a month), be able to draw her full Social Security and the CSRS survivor annuity even though I was not eligible for Social Security, if I pass away before her? A. Yes, she would be able to receive both with no reduction in either…
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Q. I am collecting a pension under CSRS. My wife, who has worked and contributed to Social Security, plans to start collecting her Social Security pension this year at age 62. I have opted for survivor benefits under CSRS. How will my wife’s Social Security pension change in the event of my death — and, vice versa, will my federal pension change because of her passing? A. If you died, your wife would be able to receive both her earned Social Security benefit and a CSRS survivor annuity, with no reduction in either. If she were to die before you,…
Q. I retired from the federal government under CSRS. I also paid back my military time. Since I retired, I have been working and paying Social Security. I have met my 40 quarters. When I turn 62, I was thinking of applying for Social Security. Will I receive Social Security, or will they offset my retirement? A. Because you are receiving an annuity from CSRS, a retirement system where you didn’t pay Social Security taxes, you’ll be subject to the windfall elimination provision. The WEP will reduce, but not eliminate, your Social Security benefit.
Q. My wife retired last year from the U.S. Forest Service under CSRS. She is covered under my FEHB self and family health insurance coverage. I work for NASA (37-plus years) and am planning to retire soon and will retain my FEHB coverage (I definitely meet the five-year requirement). I attended a NASA retirement planning course several years ago and was told I would have to take a survivorship option for my wife to continue coverage under FEHB if I die. A few months ago, a co-worker retired from NASA (CSRS) and kept the FEHB coverage. His wife still works…
Q. I will be retiring next year after 31 years from CSRS. I am not eligible for Social Security. Am I eligible for Medicare parts A and B at age 65? A. While you aren’t eligible for Medicare Part A, you will be able to enroll in Medicare Part B.
Q. I retired under CSRS in 2010 and came back in August 2011 under the rehire program. I’m not a senior official, and there’s no offset with my pension — which is nice, but HR says regarding Social Security, too bad: I have to pay into the program, which seems unfair, knowing I’ll never get Social Security income. Do you have any suggestions on how I could recover what they’ve been taking out for Social Security and/or stop this withdrawal? A. Too bad, but that’s the law and there is no way around it.
Q. I am a CSRS employee with 40 years in the government. What percent of my check will I get if I retire? A. Assuming you have exactly 40 years of service, your annuity will equal 76.25 percent of your high-3. Each additional month of service will increase it by 1/6 of 1 percent. Further, if you have unused sick leave, every 174 hours will increase that amount by an additional 1/6 of 1 percent.
Q. I am a CSRS USPS employee (age 56 with 35 years’ service) thinking about retiring at the end of the year. Do the same dates hold true for postal workers as federal employees? To maximize my benefits, I believe Dec. 29 is the best date. USPS pay periods do not follow the same as federal. Does this affect the retirement date? A. To maximize your benefits when you retire, you need to do only two things: 1) retire no later than the end of the leave year and 2) retire before Jan. 3. That way you’ll receive a lump-sum…
Q. I am a wage grade employee contemplating retirement under CSRS. I work with explosives and draw hazard pay. Is hazard pay included in my high-3 or does it affect my retirement calculations? A. Hazardous duty pay isn’t included when determining your highest three consecutive years of average salary.
Q. I was covered under CSRS full time for a little more than five years and left the government more than 25 years ago and took a refund. I was later rehired under FERS. When I retire, assuming the necessary age and service requirements are met, I understand my annuity will have CSRS and FERS components if I pay back the refund. Will the CSRS high-3 calculation come from my highest three FERS years if they are my highest income years? A. The CSRS component of your annuity will be calculated using the same high-3 used for your FERS calculation.…