Q. I am a foreign service officer and plan to retire at age 51 under FSPS (similar to FERS). FSOs may retire as early as age 50 if they have at least 20 years of service. I had understood that the Social Security earned income limit (currently $14,160) would be applied to my annuity supplement (like FERS supplement) after my first year of retirement. However, another FSO who is already retired told me that her tax accountant told her that income over the $14,160 earned income limit does not reduce the FSPS annuity supplement until the retiree reaches 56 years…
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Q. I retired as a federal employee in 2007. I took an early-out and am receiving my pension. I was CSRS Offset. I am working full time at a local school district and am 58 years old. The way I understand what I’ve read so far is that when I turn 62, using the formula that has been in your other responses, Social Security will be paying about $550 of my annuity payment. I will have 28 years of Social Security payments when I reach 62. My Social Security benefit at that point, should I retire, will be 20 percent…
Q. I’m a CSRS/FERS hybrid federal retiree receiving Social Security and working part time. My earnings come close to but do not exceed the $14,000 limit. My employer withholds Social Security taxes from my earnings. Will my Social Security benefits ever increase because of my earnings? What if I earn in excess of the applicable yearly amount? A. If you are under full Social Security retirement age, your Social Security benefit would be reduced by $1 for every $2 you earn through wages or self-employment. In 2012, that limit is $14,640. In the year you reach full retirement age, your…
Q. I am retired from the Postal Service. I am turning 66. If I pick up Medicare Part B, can I claim it on my taxes? How much in yearly salary can I earn if I go back to work? A. If you have reached your full Social Security retirement age, there is no limit on the amount you can earn. However, if you were to return to work for the federal government, in most cases your salary would be reduced by the amount of your annuity.
Q. I’m 59 years old and have 38 years government service under CSRS. I have 39 quarters Social Security paid in. Do I only have to work one more quarter to qualify for Social Security by the time I’m 62? Someone told me I had to work so many quarters in the last 10 years. A. You only have to have 40 credits under Social Security to qualify for a Social Security benefit at age 62. Just be aware that if you are still working when you apply for that benefit, it will be affected by the annual earnings limit,…
Q. I am under CSRS Offset. My retirement plan has always been to retire and get a non-civil-service job. My idea was that the CSRS, even Offset, pension would be my bread and butter and the other job, probably part time, would be a supplemental. What I have read about CSRS Offset seems to indicate that it won’t work. As of age 62, I will get some money from CSRS and some from Social Security. But if I am working, won’t that stop me from getting the Social Security? A. If you are retired before age 62, when you reach…
Q. I am retiring with 30 years at age 56 as an Air Reserve Technician. I have been told that ARTs can make as much money as they want without affecting the special retirement supplement, because they are retired due to high year tenure. Is that true? Also, if an ART retires early, but is 56 and has 30 years in, can they make more than the $14,160 limit without losing their supplement? A. Whoever told you that was mistaken. Only retiring law enforcement officers, firefighters and air traffic controllers can receive the special retirement supplement before they reach their…
Q. As a CSRS Offset employee for retirement purposes, what are the dollar limits on either federal employment or private employment after retirement and receiving your pension? Are there tax implications? A. If you return to work for the federal government, in most cases your annuity will be reduced by the amount of your Social Security benefit. On the other hand, working in the private sector would have no effect on it. Note: When you are eligible for a Social Security benefit at age 62, two things will happen: First, your CSRS annuity will be reduced by the amount of…
Q. I am a GS-1811 law enforcement officer in FERS who is scheduled for mandatory retirement in December 2013. If I retire then or, say, retire before 62 (in the event I get another federal position), is there an earnings test on the Social Security supplement payable to me before I reach 62? A. If you retire before your minimum retirement age (not age 62), you’ll be able to earn as much as you want without it affecting your special retirement supplement. However, as soon as you reach your MRA, the earnings test will apply. MRAs range between 55 and…
Q. I retired on an early-out offer on Dec. 31, 2011, with 29.5 years of service at age 52. As a self-employed individual, I am paying both the employer and employee share (slightly reduced) to Social Security. Assuming another 15 years of work, that’s a tremendous amount to be paying into a retirement system with little or no benefit. I also have quarters from pre-CSRS employment. What, if any, Social Security benefit can I receive down the road? A. At age 62, you’ll be eligible for a Social Security benefit. Whether or not you apply for it at that time…