Q: I am currently receiving military retirement pay for service with the U.S. Navy from 1960 to 1980. I began drawing my full Social Security pay at 65 years and 10 months. I began working under CSRS in 1980 and am planning on retiring in 2013 or 2014. My question: Since all of my time for my Social Security was from my military service and not CSRS service, will I be under either the GPO or WEP provisions when I do retire from CSRS? Can I receive all three of my retirements without any penalties of GPO or WEP? A:…
Browsing: SOCIAL SECURITY
Q: I was hired and worked for the DoD for about 30 years. I’m currently collecting retirement under the CSRS system, however I have slightly more than 40 quarters paying into Social Security. I worked prior to my stint in the government. I keep receiving notices I’m about to receive $691 in my annual SS letters. I know very well I will not receive much money from them but I wonder if the Windfall Elimination Provision applies or the Government Pension Offset applies to my situation. I think I might receive some money. I was born in February, 1946. A: You…
Q: I worked for the government from 1966-1972 (six years) and withdrew my CSRS retirement at that time. From 1972 to 1988 I worked in private industry and paid Social Security. I returned to civil service in 1990 and was automatically enrolled into CSRS Offset. I retired June 30, 2010 with 26 years of credited government service and applied for my federal pension and Social Security. When the Social Security Administration calculates my offset, is my service outside government taken into consideration? The papers I received showed only 20 years of government service for their calculations, so I’m assuming that…
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.
Q: The Social Security website on the windfall elimination provision, at http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10045.html, contains a list of exceptions to the applicability of the WEP. The first one states, “The Windfall Elimination Provision does not apply to survivors benefits.” It also does not apply if you are a federal worker first hired after Dec. 31, 1983. What is the nature of the exception for federal workers first hired after 1983? I accrued a Social Security exempt pension entitlement prior to first becoming a federal employee in 2007. Does that mean the WEP will not apply to my Social Security benefits when I…
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 will begin my first federal job soon under FERS. I turned 60 about one month ago. Must I work until age 65 to be eligible to receive Social Security or Thrift Savings Plan payments? I will have approximately four years and nine months of creditable service. A: To be eligible for a FERS annuity, you would need to have five years of creditable service and be at least age 62. To receive a Social Security benefit, you would need to have 40 credits, which equals 10 years of contributions to Social Security. Because you will have reached your full retirement age at…
Q: My husband retired from the fire department, and now he is disabled. He falls under the windfall rule. His pension will eliminate any Social Security benefits. My question is, could he still apply for Medicare disability? He has worked enough credits under Social Security, but not in the last 10 years. A: He can still apply for Social Security disability. However, to be considered, he would need to have been covered by the Social Security system for a certain period of time just prior to the onset of his disability. You’ll need to check with the Social Security Administration…
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…