Q: I am a retired CSRS federal employee (Navy civilian) with 35 years service. I also earned 40 quarters under Social Security and receive about half of the Social Security benefit I would get if I were not getting CSRS retirement pay. My wife did not work enough to have 40 quarters, but I understand that she is entitled to half my Social Security benefit. Question: Is she entitled to half my non-reduced Social Security, or half my reduced Social Security? A: She is entitled to half of your unreduced Social Security benefit.
Browsing: CSRS
Q: I worked for the federal government covered by CSRS prior to 1985; after a break in service I was re-employed as a CSRS Offset. I understand that when I am eligible for Social Security at age 62 my CSRS annuity will be reduced and a Social Security benefit based on work done while I was covered by CSRS Offset will be added. Am I correct in thinking that the total of the two benefits will equal the original CSRS benefit? Am I required to take the Social Security component at 62 or could I delay for a larger benefit later? I am eligible for a…
Q: I would like to know the current rules on getting a federal job as a retired federal employee on CSRS. I specifically want to know if I can apply for federal jobs and not lose any of my annuity, and further if I receive a full salary minus the difference between my annuity and the subject salary. I have heard there are new rules out, and I cannot find the new ruling if that is the case. A: A few agencies, and, in particular, the Department of Defense, have special authority to hire non-disability retirees with no offset to…
Q: I am a 56-year-old CSRS employee of the Navy. I have 37 years of service and was removed last week for a discipline issue. Am I entitled to a retirement or do they just hand me the $80k in my retirement fund? I applied via SF2801 on the day of the removal. Please let me know since I have MS and need my health insurance badly. A: Because you meet the age and service requirements, you are eligible to retire on an immediate annuity. The fact that you were removed for a disciplinary issue will have no adverse effect…
Q: My understanding is that when Social Security was created in 1935 the federal government did not include federal employees as participates in the Social Security system. The decision was based on the fact the federal government already had such a system for its employees (that was more generous). States, cities, counties, etc., were given the option of participating. But if they had an existing system they were not allowed to participate. Thus, a segment of the federal government’s “Civil Service Retirement System” (CSRS) is essentially a Social Security-like segment. Many states now exempt social security from state income tax while fully taxing…
Q: I am a retiree under CSRS who cannot get Social Security benefits. My questions are: Are the COLAs for both the federal retirees and the Social Security beneficiaries determined under the same law? If so, why are they not both subject to the “hold harmless provision” in that law? For the past two years there have been no cost-of-living allowances, yet my Medicare Part B premiums have risen both years while those on Social Security benefits haven’t. A: There are two separate laws at work here. While both laws protect retirees from having their benefits reduced when the numbers go…
Q: I am a retiree under the CSRS who cannot get Social Security benefits. Are the COLA’s for federal retirees and Social Security benefiiciaries determined under the same law? If so, why are they not both subject to the “hold harmless” provision in that law? For the past two years, there have been no cost-of-living allowances, yet my Medicare Part B premiums have increased both years while those on Social Security benefits haven’t. A: There are two separate laws at work here. While both laws protect retirees from having their benefits reduced when the numbers go negative, only the Social…
Q: If I retire CSRS after 41 years and 11 months of service, can I get an excess retirement contribution refund or purchase additional annuity over 80 percen?. Do I use entire contributions for the additional annuity calculations or just the amount over 80 percent? A: Only the excess contributions may be used to purchase additional annuity. OPM will provide you with the exact amount when they process your retirement application.
Q: My Aunt passed away in October. She was never married and had no children. She was retired under the CSRS, and I was named with two others (one is deceased) as a beneficiary to receive a lump-sum retirement payment. How is the lump-sum amount calculated, and will it be divided equally between the two living beneficiaries? A: The lump-sum payment would consist solely of those retirement contributions your aunt made to the retirement fund that had not already been returned to her in her annuity payments. If anything does remain, it would be divided equally among the still-living beneficiaries…
Q: I worked for the federal government for 13 years as a civilian contractor for the Army, from 1981 to 1994. I just returned to work for the federal government as an auditor in May. I took a lump-sum payment when I retired in 1994 and would like to buy back into the retirement system. What forms do I need in order to do this? To complicate matters, I am a veteran. I was in the Army from 1959 to 1962. A: Because you took a refund of your retirement contributions after March 1, 1991, you’ll have to redeposit that…