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• 90153
  

  I am 61 years old. I plan to retire 12/30/09. SS tells me that I am to receive $750.00 a month at age 62. What % of that will I lose due to the windfall?

  Michael Volz Posted October 25, 2009 11:19 AM
• 88523
  

  Hi Tammy, On February 14, 2010, I complete my 25th year with VA. I am under CRSC offset. I am now 58 years old. I plan to stay until age 65 or longer. How does the offset work combined with Social Security. Will I recieve both at the same time? When I left the VA I drawed out the CRSC that I had paid in, but when I came back to VA I did not pay it back and have been back approx 15 years under the offset, paying both SS and CRSC. I need to plan for the retirement years so I need to know what I am up against. Thank you in advance for your help. Eva Barber

  Eva M BArber Posted October 6, 2009 10:00 AM
• 82357
  

  My husband has worked and paid in to SS for 35+ years. I'm a teacher and will be retiring after 32 years. Will my husband receive his full SS benefit when he's eligible or will his SS be reduced or eliminated due to my "state employee" teacher pension? I really don't understand why his SS would be reduced just because he's married to me. Should we get divorced??

  Jan Strand Posted July 12, 2009 5:33 PM
• 74512
  

  Is there a minimum benefit under Social Security for CERS, I don't think so, if your benefit is $50 a month after all the offsets then that's what you get. (assuming) the federal employee under CERS has 40 quarters.

  Peter Rosica Posted April 10, 2009 9:02 AM
• 60732
  

  I am retired police officer (33 yrs) collecting a city pension. Paid SS on the side jobs I worked and continue to pay SS on the jobs I work now. Have paid the 40 quarters plus. Will I get a SS benefit when I reach 62 or is all the money I paid SS thru the years gone. Did not pay SS on the City pension, only the side jobs.

  roy thompson Posted October 9, 2008 6:43 PM
• 54541
  

  I am a retired teacher. Have been retired 4 years after 25 years of teaching.

  I have tried to collect SS pension on my divorced spouses account.

  Offset penality forbids this. We teachers are considered state employees only when it is convienent for the state and US government.

  Mary Barnett Posted July 18, 2008 1:38 PM
• 52429
  

  I'd like to find out who is working toward making a change in this law, so those of us who have been married and assisted with the SS contribution of their spouse could receive their SS benefit just like any other individual in the country? Is their someplace where I can join the fight? My Uncle also a retired Civil Service employee who's wife just passed away get's absoluately zero from SS although he assisted her in the contributions just by being married for 50 plus years. Who is fighting to make this change happen?

  Katherine Young Posted June 16, 2008 2:20 PM
• 51930
  

  I would like to see the answers to the above questions. Where can we go to see these.

  Graciela Guillen Posted June 9, 2008 9:21 AM
• 51516
  

  Ms. Tammy, Thank you for your service you provide to retiree etc.

  I have three questions. 1. I was receiving about $900.00 Social Security based on my ex-husband, military officer prior to my retirement in August 2007 with 23 years of Government service under CSRS with small annuity. Immediately the Social Security benefit stopped. What is the difference between my status as Civil Servant vs. retired Civil Servant (annuitant)? 2. I am 70 years old and going back to Government position starting next pay period based on The Rehire of Retiree Annuitant. Do I go back to status to collect the Social Security or because the Auunity I receive under CSRS I will not be able to receive any Social Security like before? 3. When I go back to Government position as retiree annuitant, I know I will be contributing to Social Security tax, why am I forced to contribute to Social Security fund even if I know I will not get any benefit from it? Thank you.

  Song Zobrist Posted May 30, 2008 8:41 AM
• 49909
  

  I'm retired under csrs and i have 36 qts. with the social security system at a very little income (summer and xmas jobs). someone told me that i should complete may forty qts so that i can get the min. social security ($630 off set by 2/3= $210) is this correct thanks

  howard lohorn Posted May 2, 2008 9:48 PM
• 49888
  

  At the age of 62 I would have 0ver 30 Years of federal service under CSRS. I also have contibuted towards SS for over 40 quarters prior to joining government.

  1. Would it be better for me to start getting SS income at 62 or wait until 66, if I continue working under CSRS?

  2. My wife has contributed towards SS for over 40 quarters. Would her SS income be reduced if I continue working under CSRS?

  Raj Malhotra Posted May 2, 2008 1:05 PM
• 49845
  

  I am divorced and would like to know if I am entitled to part of my divorced husband's Social Security. We were married for 35 years. He has retired and was a Government employee under FERS. I am a CSRS employee and will be 62 in August.

  Thank You

  Freddie T Richardson Posted May 2, 2008 8:28 AM
• 43790
  

  Aside from working my Gov't job, I have worked part time jobs for the past 20 years and have paid into Social Security, not to mention the years worked prior to my Gov't career which began in 1976. Is the majority of money I paid into Social Security to be lost under the WEP as well as the "Offset Penalty"?

  Byron Burks Posted February 19, 2008 7:42 AM
• 43702
  

  I have over 30 years of paying social security tax plus I am a CSRS employee, but what about this signario? I was an Air Reserve Technician for 22 years where I was forced by a condition of employment to be in the Reserves and was controlled in my opportunity to make substantial income. Substantial income limits should be lowered in my opionion for military, reserve, and national guard members who represented our country in fuu time and part time duty situations. Our reserve and guard members are be utilized more and more every day. Adjustments are needed in this area to my family and me for my sacrafices I have made to protect our country.

  Thomas C. McGehee Posted February 15, 2008 12:45 PM
• 41773
  

  I am in CSRS Offset. Initially, I worked from 1974 to 1983 and then left Civil Service, withdrawing my retirement funds. I returned to work in a temporary position in 1992 and stayed temporary for three years before being eligible to pay into retirement again. I have since paid my redeposit and deposit for the periods of service worked prior to 1995. When making the deposit, I paid the full amount of CSRS retirement instead of the difference between Social Security and CSRS. I also paid full Social Security during that time. My personel office has told me that my CSRS pension will be offset for that period, even though I have paid Social Security and full CSRS deposit. Is this correct? Is there any recourse?

  Thank you.

  Sharon Smith Posted January 17, 2008 5:00 PM
• 41469
  

  Hi Tammy, My situation is similar to Bonnie O'Neill. I am 52 and have been working as a part time teacher for the last 6-7 years. I am not yet vested. I have been wondering whether or not to quit teaching before 10 years. I too worked in the private sector up until 1996. My husband has contributed the maximum into social security and I am concerned about the effects of windfall elimination and the government offset. What can you tell me about my position?

  Colleen Sipich Posted January 14, 2008 5:13 PM
• 40875
  

  I am a CSRS employee who had both active duty and reserve military service. During much of my military service I was required to pay Social Security taxes. I qualify for a reserve retirement and will soon retire from civil service. I also had several quarters of Social Security deposit from a consulting business and work in private sector. Am I just out the minimum social security benefit from offset or do I get some portion of it anyway due to the required federal reserve retirement deposits?

  Robert Anderson Posted January 7, 2008 6:55 AM
• 36941
  

  I'm a later-in-life teacher (age 52) and have been teaching in CT for 3 years after working for 25 years in the private sector and paying SS. In CT I understand that I am not vested in the retirement system until I have 10 years of service, but currently must pay 7% of my income into it. IF I quit and go back to the private sector before the 10 years, will I avoid the SS offsets problem with my own and my surivvor benefits (if nmy husband dies)?

  Bonnie ONeill Posted November 8, 2007 8:59 PM
• 27785
  

  I'm a federal disabled under FERS and my social security is pending on which 100% of the social security once awarded for the first year of retirement will have to be given to the goverment and after that I will only get 40% from social security and 40% from the post office, is this part of the so call Offsetting penalty that has been address or we postal employees do not fall on this category even though our social security disability benefits are been taken?

  Luis Franceschi Posted July 6, 2007 2:41 AM
• 18524
  

  Hi Tammy, In most scenarios dealing with the "Offset Penalty" mine is usually not included. What about CSRS employees that have maintained a small business on the side during their entire career (32 Years). I have my 4 quarters easily. Let's say I earned an average of $5000.00 a year in my Drafting Service. I'm afraid I know the answer, but will I be penalized with an offset. Thanks, I enjoy your columns, Tom Wade

  Tom Wade Posted September 1, 2006 7:51 AM