Q: I am potentially facing a medical disability retirement because of a heart condition under NFPA 1582. I am 33 years old and have both previous active duty Air Force fire (six+ years) and currently am an Army GS civilian (seven years). If I do go out on medical retirement, will I be able to collect my Social Security supplement right away or at all down the road? Should I buy my military time back even though I may be separating later this year? Can I buy military time back after I go out on disability? Can I withdrawal from…
Browsing: SOCIAL SECURITY
Q: I am a firefighter for a large city that has an employee-based pension system (not Social Security). I have also been a member of the National Guard and operated a private business for 30 years on which I paid Social Security tax. Several places on the Internet use the term “30 years of substantial earnings under Social Security” in reference to Government Pension Offset (GPO). My Social Security earning sheet shows $2,464 “Your Taxed SS Earning” in 1977 and runs $3,000 to $10,000 though 2006. What does “substantial” mean, and how will WEP and GPO affect me? A: You’ll…
Q: I am a retired military service member and a federal employee under the FERS retirement system. I have been told by others that when I retire from civil service and get ready to draw Social Security that my Social Security would be decremented anywhere from 40 percent to 60 percent. Supposedly this is due to the drawing of three government checks, Military Retirement, Civil Service Retirement and Social Security. I have spoken to my HR people and they tell me this is not true because Social Security is part of the FERS retirement plan. I spoke to a Social…
Q: I am a 50-year-old air traffic controller. I am preparing to retire in the next month or two. Can you please tell me if my Social Security supplement is subject to the earnings test, between now and the time I turn 56? A: No, it isn’t. The Social Security earning test will only be applied when you reach your minimum retirement age (MRA).
Q: I am 57 with 28 years in FERS. My MRA is 56. If I retire and postpone until age 60, will I still get a Social Security supplement until age 62? A: No one who retires under the MRA+10 provision is eligible to receive the special retirement supplement, regardless of when his or her annuity begins.
Q: My wife has been on disability retirement from the IRS for about 11 years. She was a FERS employee. She is also on Social Security retirement. I understand that when she reaches age 62 that her FERS (and, I assume Social Security) annuity will be recomputed. My question is will this likely result in an increase, a decrease or no change to her total (FERS and Social Security) income? A: At age 62, her disability annuity will be converted to a regular annuity, using her high-3 on the day she retired, increased by any cost-of-living increases from then until…
Q: I am 52 years old with 27 years with the Postal Service (FERS). How would it affect me if I accepted the Voluntary Early Retirement Authority (VERA)? Would I get the Social Security Supplement upon acceptance? A: No. You wouldn’t receive it until you reached your minimum retirement age, which in your case would be 56.
Q: Can a person with full retirement eligibility at 66 retire with 65 years and 4 months and receive full Social Security benefits? A: No, they would be slightly reduced.
Q: I am a FERS employee. I work for the USPS. I was 55 in August 2009. I had 33 and 1/2 years as of April 30, 2009. I have an accepted OWCP injury that occurred in 2007. I was looking into disability but was told by a lawyer that there was no need because at this point I would not receive more than what my immediate retirement would be. If I was on disability until I was 62 years old, wouldn’t that increase my years of service by seven years, hence giving me more money when figuring out the…
Q: I worked for the Department of Defense for 37 years and have more than 40 quarters. If I were to collect Social Security today I would get a little less than $350. If I wait until I am 65 years old, I could collect more than $700 in Social Security. I was married for 14 years. My former husband receives Social Security disability as well as VA 100 percent disability. I am remarried and my new husband receives twice as much as my former husband in Social Security. Which would be the best route to take here? If I…