By Reg Jones
Social Security, CSRS and survivor benefits
May 22nd, 2013 | Uncategorized
Q. I am a retired CSRS postal worker and have opted for a survivor benefit. I do not qualify for Social Security. My spouse has about 24 years of SS payments from her jobs. If I die, are her benefits, either CSRS survivor benefits or Social Security, affected? If she dies, am I entitled to any of her Social Security benefits?
Tags: annuity, CSRS, Government pension offset, SOCIAL SECURITY
Social Security benefits for survivor of CSRS employee
May 22nd, 2013 | Uncategorized
Q. I am a retired CSRS employee, not eligible for any Social Security benefits. When I die, will my spouse’s survivor annuity be reduced because she is receiving her own Social Security benefits?
Tags: CSRS, SOCIAL SECURITY, survivor annuity
CSRS, Social Security and annuity
May 21st, 2013 | Uncategorized
Q. I retired in 2001 from the FAA under CSRS. I have 33 quarters of Social Security. If I go back to work and earn an additional seven quarters and apply for Social Security benefits, will that same amount of money be subtracted from my annuity?
Early retirement and pension
May 15th, 2013 | Uncategorized
Q. In 2004, I resigned as a GS-0132 with 17 years of federal service. In 2009, I started drawing Social Security disability.
I am 57. I did not withdraw my retirement when I separated. Can I draw my FERS retirement early based on my Social Security disability, or will I have to wait until I am 62 to begin drawing it?
Tags: annuity, disability, Early retirement, FERS, SOCIAL SECURITY
Foreign citizen and FERS, Social Security
May 15th, 2013 | Uncategorized
Q. A little over three years ago, I retired under FERS.
I was a widower at the time, so no survivor benefit was being withheld from my pay.
I now intend to remarry a French citizen and will reside here in the states for a time, then move to France. I would like her covered by my FEHB, at least while we are in the U.S.
Can I sign up now for a full survivor benefit for her? How much will it cost me? I read somewhere that it costs 10 percent of my current annuity plus the difference between the new annuity and old annuities paid to me for the number of months retired, plus 6 percent interest on that money.
Since she is at least not yet an American citizen, when I die, can she still receive the survivor annuity, whether continuing to reside here or if she returns to France? Would she receive COLAs on her portion of the annuity? If she returned to France, would she be obligated to pay taxes in both countries? Of course, as part of FERS, I also receive a Social Security benefit, based on my length of service and work record. Would a new spouse be entitled as a beneficiary to any or all of my Social Security when I die? She, of course, has never worked here in the states and so has not contributed to Social Security.
Tags: annuity, FEHB, FERS, foreign citizen, SOCIAL SECURITY, Survivor benefits
Disability
May 14th, 2013 | Uncategorized
Q. The requirements for Social Security disability are much higher than for FERS disability retirement, so what happens to FERS if you are approved by OPM but denied by the Social Security Administration? Can you still receive your FERS disability retirement? Must you continue to reapply with SSA regularly? I have 15 years in FERS and am only 42.
Tags: disability, FERS, OPM, SOCIAL SECURITY
CSRS, Social Security and retirement
May 14th, 2013 | Uncategorized
Q. I plan to begin collecting Social Security at age 66 in CSRS. I have met my 40 quarters and 30 substantial salary requirements. Additionally, I took a two-year break to work in the public sector. When I retire at age 69 with 40 years’ service and begin collecting my CSRS annuity, will I be able to collect Social Security?
Tags: annuity, CSRS, SOCIAL SECURITY, windfall elimination provision
CSRS employment and Social Security
May 14th, 2013 | Uncategorized
Q. I retired under full CSRS (none offset) in January 2010 with 35 years’ federal service as a GS 14/10. I am 59 and don’t have the 40 credits required to receive Social Security benefits when I turn 62.
Is it worth it to take a part-time job just to get my 40 credits in, or will there be a reduction to my federal retirement that will hurt more than it will help? I haven’t earned very much in the private sector — just a few years before I became a CSRS employee in 1977, including the time I served in the Army, which I bought back to add to my CSRS time (included in the 35 years), but still paid a very small amount to Social Security while serving in the Army.
I have an opportunity to start a small business (~$10,000 per year).
Would it be better to have the business in my wife’s name to add to her Social Security rather than affect my CSRS? Or will I expect to see a small Social Security check when I hit age 62 if I get my 40 quarters in with Social Security?
Tags: annuity, CSRS, SOCIAL SECURITY, windfall elimination provision
Three annuities
May 8th, 2013 | Uncategorized
Q. I retired from the military with full retirement in 1995. I think I understand that I cannot buy back any military time without forfeiting retirement pay when I retire from my federal job with the post office. Since the money comes out of my pocket, I have a hard time understanding this. However, I will have 20 years of service with the post office in 2017, when I am 56. If I take retirement, then why will I have a MRA+10 reduction till age 62 if I can retire fully at 60 with 20? Why would it be 30 percent instead of only 20 percent? Also, with the military pension and postal retirement, if Social Security is still around, how will this affect my annuity? Will I be able to pull all three full annuities? Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: annuity, FERS, military buyback, military service, MRA+10, Postal Service, SOCIAL SECURITY
CSRS offset and annuity
May 8th, 2013 | Uncategorized
Q. I received a refund of my CSRS contributions when I separated from federal service in 1993. Four years later, I returned to federal service. I am CSRS offset. My question concerns the Windfall Elimination Provision.
Because I withdrew my contributions from CSRS, and federal service where Social Security taxes are withheld is not affected by the WEP, will withdrawing CSRS contributions change my Social Security benefit when I retire?
Tags: annuity, CSRS, CSRS offset, SOCIAL SECURITY, windfall elimination provision
FERS, disability and Social Security
May 7th, 2013 | Benefits Disability retirement High-3 Minimum retirement age SOCIAL SECURITY
Q. I am trying to understand the FERS disability retirement. My wife has 34 years of federal service but has not reached her MRA. I understand the high-3 and 60 percent the first year and then the 40 percent rule after 12 months and how it affects Social Security. If she applies now for FERS disability retirement and is approved, can she then go to Social Security and apply for her full disability entitlement? Also, if she receives her Social Security 100 percent disability entitlement within 12 months, how will her FERS retirement formulate? Will she still get 40 percent of her high-3 pay and 100 percent from Social Security?
Tags: disability, FERS, minimum retirement age, OPM, SOCIAL SECURITY
Special retirement supplement and earnings test
May 1st, 2013 | Earnings test FERS annuity computation law enforcement RETIREMENT SOCIAL SECURITY Special retirement supplement
Q. I am retiring at 57, the mandatory retirement under FERS for law enforcement. I know there is something called the first year rule; will the special retirement supplement I receive for approximately five years be subject to the earnings limit? I heard the supplement is not subject to it, but when I reach age 62 and the supplement ends, any Social Security I receive will be subject to it. Can you clarify if the supplement law enforcement officers receive under FERS if retiring at the mandatory retirement age is subject to earnings test? If so, when?
Tags: FERS, minimum retirement age, SOCIAL SECURITY, Social Security earnings test, special retirement supplement
FECA and Social Security
May 1st, 2013 | RETIREMENT SOCIAL SECURITY
Q. I retired Jan. 1, 1985, under CSRS with 25 years of federal service.
I also qualified for total and permanent disability under FECA benefits based on injury June 23, 1983. I had no employment under FERS.
I elected FECA benefits. Before my employment with the government, I also qualified for regular Social Security retirement benefits for work in the private sector with fewer than 15 years of substantial earnings. Can I receive full FECA benefits and Social Security retirement benefits at the same time? If so, would there be any reduction in the Social Security retirement amount?
Tags: CSRS, FECA, FERS, SOCIAL SECURITY
Deferring Social Security
May 1st, 2013 | FERS annuity computation Minimum retirement age RETIREMENT SOCIAL SECURITY Special retirement supplement
Q. At my MRA of 56 (with more than 30 years of federal service), I will be able to receive my FERS annuity, access my TSP and receive the special retirement supplement. The supplement is payable until age 62, at which time I will become eligible for Social Security.
Must I enroll in Social Security at age 62 if I’ve taken the special retirement supplement up until then? There are financial advantages to deferring Social Security. I understand the annuity will stop once I reach 62, but can I defer my Social Security to when my benefit will be greater? (I understand my overall income will drop after age 62 until I choose to start Social Security.)
Tags: FERS, minimum retirement age, SOCIAL SECURITY, special supplemental annuity
CSRS and Medicare
April 30th, 2013 | Medicare RETIREMENT
Q. I retired in 2009 under CSRS. I am close to 65, and the answer to one of the questions asked states that people in CSRS are not eligible for Medicare because they didn’t pay into Social Security.
I was in CSRS before the change to FERS and stayed with CSRS. I had Medicare deductions taken from my pay from 1983-84 till I retired in 2009.
Do the Medicare funds I paid since 1983 make me eligible for Medicare or just part of it?
So which is right? I need to know so I can do what needs to be done — enroll or not. I’m currently insured under federal BCBS.
Tags: CSRS, FERS, Medicare Part A, Medicare Part B, SOCIAL SECURITY
CSRS and Social Security
April 30th, 2013 | annuity reduction CSRS annuity computation Military service deposits RETIREMENT SOCIAL SECURITY Windfall elimination provision
Q. I am retired under CSRS. I am 60. I have four years of military time that I have not paid back.
I have 22 quarters of Social Security. If I start working in the private sector, I will not acquire 40 credits by my 62nd birthday. Can I still have my CSRS retirement reduced if I acquire 40 credits after my 62nd birthday?
CSRS, Social Security and WEP/GPO
April 30th, 2013 | annuity reduction CSRS annuity computation Government pension offset RETIREMENT SOCIAL SECURITY spouse benefits SURVIVOR BENEFITS Windfall elimination provision
Q. My husband worked for the government for 25 years under CSRS and receives a pension. When he retired, we applied for spousal benefits because I had no qualifying employment. He then went to work in the private sector and will complete his 30 years of substantial earnings for Social Security next year. When he retires, he will receive another pension from his private job. As we understand it, we should not be affected by the windfall elimination provision. However, we are confused by the government pension offset. Will he not be entitled to draw his full Social Security at age 66 or later? How will it affect my half of his Social Security payments? How will it affect my spousal benefit of his federal pension should he die before I do? Am I correct in understanding that the pensions are not considered earned income and should not reduce the Social Security amount?
Tags: annuity, CSRS, Government pension offset, pension, SOCIAL SECURITY, windfall elimination provision
Windfall elimination provision
April 30th, 2013 | Disability retirement RETIREMENT SOCIAL SECURITY Windfall elimination provision
Q. I retired on disability in 1981. I have 30 years of Social Security, 27 substantial. I understand the windfall elimination provision does not apply to me, as I retired on disability before this law took effect, in 1984.
Tags: disability, SOCIAL SECURITY, windfall elimination provision
USPS survivor annuity and Social Security
April 24th, 2013 | Benefits FEHBP HEALTH INSURANCE part-time Postal Service SOCIAL SECURITY spouse benefits SURVIVOR BENEFITS
Q. My husband died at age 51 in 2000. He worked 28 years for USPS, plus four years in the military, for 32 years (he paid no Social Security taxes for the 28 years in USPS). I have received widow’s death benefit annuity payments since his death, in addition to purchasing the USPS medical insurance plan. I worked full time in the medical profession until his death and have worked part time since 2000. I would like to take my Social Security at age 62 (in 3 years). Am I still eligible to receive the USPS death benefit annuity (and insurance option) once I start collecting my Social Security?
Tags: FEHB, military service, Postal Service, SOCIAL SECURITY, survivor annuity
CSRS offset and not collecting Social Security
April 23rd, 2013 | annuity reduction CSRS annuity computation CSRS Offset RETIREMENT SOCIAL SECURITY spouse benefits SURVIVOR BENEFITS Windfall elimination provision
Q. I am under CSRS offset. I am going to retire in three years at age 62. I know my government pension will be reduced by $213 when I turn 62. According to my Social Security statement, I should receive $888 if I collect at age 62. It states: “At your current earnings rate, if you continue working until 66, you will receive $1,366 a month.” What happens if I don’t collect Social Security at age 62 and wait until full retirement age? Will I receive $1,366 a month minus the $213 offset reduction, minus the windfall elimination provision? (I will have only 20 years under Social Security.) Or will the $1,366 be recalculated since I won’t be paying Social Security from age 62 to age 66? Also, I am divorced and not remarried. My ex-spouse is retired military and under FERS. He has remarried, but I am still entitled to his Survivor Benefit Plan under his military retirement plan. If something happens to him and I start receiving SBP, will my Social Security be affected?
Tags: annuity, CSRS, CSRS offset, divorce, military survivor benefits, SOCIAL SECURITY, WEP