Q. I retired almost three years ago from a nonappropriated fund instrumentality of the Defense Department, at which time I was advised not to set up a spousal annuity for my husband because he worked for the Department of Veterans Affairs and would be getting his own retirement. It was explained to me that a person could not receive his or her own government retirement and a spousal annuity from a government agency at the same time. Is this true? My husband is planning to retire this summer and he has been advised that he can set up a spousal…
Browsing: spousal benefits
Q. Will I benefit from my husband’s Social Security pension once he applies for benefits at full retirement age? Beginning Jan. 3, I will begin collecting CSRS retirement. My husband (a retired lieutenant colonel) indicated that once he reaches full retirement age, he’ll apply for Social Security benefits and that I will be entitled to a spouse’s pension from his benefit. I think that, because my CSRS pension is so high ($75,000), my benefit will offset any benefit I would be eligible to receive from him. A. Because you are receiving an annuity from a retirement system where you didn’t…
Q. I am a combination CSRS/FERS 32-year employee of the Postal Service, age 54. I did not have health insurance through the post office because I was always covered by my husband’s health insurance. I only took my own health insurance because I was told I had to be in the program for five years to be eligible to keep the insurance after I retire (in case something happened to my husband or the place he worked at). I have been in the program for four years as of January and did not plan on retiring until January 2014, at…
Q. As I am about to start receiving Social Security benefits, I find myself confused in regards to Medicare. I am fully covered under my wife’s medical coverage for at least 10 more years, including dental, eye, etc. Can I refuse the government Medicare Part A and all of the other options if I choose to? If so, is the correct form CMS-1763? I have not received any payments thus far, as I opted to wait for full retirement at 66. A. While you can refuse Medicare Part A coverage, I’m not sure why you’d want to do that. It…
Q. I just turned 65 and have already applied for Social Security at 64. I am covered by my 64-year-old wife’s Blue Cross/Blue Shield through her employer. She plans to work until age 70, and we will both be covered by BC/BS until that time. Should I refuse Medicare A and B for now until she retires at 70? What are the consequences? A. Enrollment in Medicare Part A is automatic unless you decline that coverage. And it’s not clear to me why you’d do that because you have already paid for it through payroll deductions while you were working…
Q. I have been a retired NSA employee since 2000 and have a CSRS annuity paid to me monthly. My husband, age 62, and is now collecting Social Security. I also have enough quarters of private-sector employment to permit me to collect Social Security. Am I eligible to collect spousal Social Security monthly? A. Because you are receiving an annuity from CSRS, a retirement system where you didn’t pay Social Security taxes, any Social Security spousal benefit to which you are entitled will be affected by the government pension offset provision of law. The GPO will reduce that benefit by $2 for…
Q. I will turn 62 in September. My husband is drawing $2,000 a month in Social Security. I have retired from the Postal Service with a monthly pension of $1,803. Can I draw off his Social Security, as well as my pension? I was a CSRS employee, but I also have 40 credits, which will enable me to draw a small amount of Social Security on my own. Can I defer my Social Security and draw on his at 62? A. While you will be entitled to a spousal Social Security benefit, that benefit will be affected by the government…
Q. Can my wife and I use spousal benefits twice? I am a much higher earner and 3½ years older than my wife. My wife starts collecting benefits on her earnings at age 62. I simultaneously start collecting spouse benefits at age 65½. I start collecting benefits on my earnings at age 70 and my wife switches to spouse benefits at that time. Does this work? Will the earlier benefits based on wife’s earnings reduce the benefits based on my earnings at age 70? A. You’ll need to ask the Social Security Administration. Call them at 1-800-772-1213 and talk to one…
Q. I am a CSRS Offset employee. I worked full time with the Defense Department under CSRS from 1976 to 1984 and took my retirement with me when I left. That $6,100 has grown to over $33,000 that I will NOT be paying back. I have worked from 1995 until now (July 2011) in a permanent part-time position with the Labor Department. I am 56 years old with 24 years of service (eight not paid back and16 part-time) and am eligible for an early retirement currently being offered. I think that I will be hit with the CSRS Offset and…
Q: I understand that because I am a Civil Service Retirement System retiree, if my spouse should die I cannot get any of his Social Security. At one time I heard there was a law Congress was trying to pass to reverse this. Can you please explain this to me and let me know if there is anything being done about this law? A: Because you will be receiving an annuity from a retirement system in which you didn’t pay Social Security taxes, you will be subject to the government pension offset provision of law. The GPO will reduce any…