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  Under the FERS retirement system, what needs to be provided to receive the SS supplement for those retiring before age 62?

  Larry J. Hall Posted March 21, 2008 8:17 AM
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  In another 3 years, I will be able to retire under CSRS only. I plan on leaving my husband a survivor's benefit. He works in the private sector and will be getting social security when he retires. If he passes before I do, will I be able to get a widow's social security benefit in addition to my CSRS benefits?

  Jean Ann Knedler Posted March 10, 2008 2:40 PM
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  I recognize this article could not cover all of the intricacies of Social Security Law; however, there were two places where the info seemed misleading. First, the young widowed mother and children scenario, if we igor the issues of a disabled child or of someone getting married, did not mention a mothers benefit ends when the last child attains age 16. The other problem was in he "Apply Yourself" section. It sounded as if SSA would just start sending out checks to workers when they reached age 70. SSA only pays checks to workers who have filed applications for cash benefits. So, a worker who did not apply at age 65, must apply before age 70 in order to receive checks. Also, if the worker applied for Medicare only at age 65, a second application, this time for cash benefits, must be filed before age 70 or SSA cannot pay checks.

  carol wade Posted March 10, 2008 10:49 AM
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  I wonder when the gov't is considering changing Social Security benefits what plans do they have to prop up FERS for us young people? Right now, social security is supposed to provide up to a third of our retirement income under the FERS plan. The pension benefit for FERS is hardly enough to account for a 30% loss in social security benefit, even with TSP.

  me Posted March 9, 2008 6:05 PM
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  I do not have SS of my own. I am 65 with 33 yrs tenure. My divorced spouse receives benefits and I was married for 22 years. If I file on his record, is the CSRS reduced by the amount of SS bnft or is the SS benefit reduced by the amount of CSRS. Is there an advantage to filing for benefits on his SS record?

  Helen P Worthy Posted March 8, 2008 11:49 AM
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  My wife is FERS employe and actually receives OWCP because job related injury. She was also awarded SSA disability which are offset in part because OWCP. She was also awarded OPM disability but does not receive because of OWCP. If I elect a survivor benefit will it be offset by OWCP? SSA will not offset but what about OWCP?

  Santos Mercado Posted March 7, 2008 9:57 PM
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  James - An offset only occurs when someone receives a pension for work that they did where Social Security taxes weren't withheld. Your mom shouldn't be offset for receiving your father's CSRS pension because the pension wasn't based on work she did. Check out the fact sheet entitled "Government Pension Offset" on SSA's website.

  Bill - You are eligible to receive benefits if you are at least 62 and have 40 quarters. However, there is an earnings limit before you reach full retirement age. That means that if you're still working full time, your earnings are probably too high to collect anything right now. Check out "How Work Affects Your Benefits" on SSA's website.

  Anna Johnston Posted March 7, 2008 3:13 PM
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  If a CSRS retiree leaves a survivor benefit for their spouse (or former spouse), this will not reduce that spouse's own earned Social Security benefit. Can someone explain this as I was told at a recent seminar my spouses Social Security benefit WILL BE REDUCED because she will receive my CSRS annuity. Ex; my mother paid in Social Security for 12 years, and has no government work time. She receives a CSRS survivor benefit from my fathers CSRS annuity, but her Social Security Benefits were reduce by better than 50%. I feel its bad enough for cutting my fathers social security benefit by better more 70%. Now my mothers is being punished on her social security benefit for collecting a CSRS survivor benefit. When you're promised if you pay in the system, we'll pay you this amount. Opps! I forgot we're talking about the government which is like a car salesperson saying trust me, they only drove it to church and home.

  James Lewis Posted March 7, 2008 11:46 AM
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  Question: I am in CSRS and will be 62 in August 2008. I have 39 credits for Social Security and I am working (part-time)now to recieve my 40th, to qualify for SS benefits. Am I eligible to receive benefits from SSA once I become 62 with 40 credits while I continue to work in the government? Your last bullet says one who "works past his full (i.e.66)retirement age". Do I have to wait to collect?

  Bill Lewis Posted March 7, 2008 9:22 AM
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  Tammy, Thanks for publishing the key information about Social Security. And special thanks for giving our online services a few plugs. We're really trying to make it much more useful and user friendly for everyone.

  Dan O'Connor Posted March 7, 2008 8:16 AM
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  I appreciate this article and information on Social Security. It is important to remember that Social Security is supposed to be a "retirement supplement"-this is to supplement pension or savings. Too many people "live for today"-freely spending and then cry about the low Social Security benefit. There has to be more personal responsibility and awareness that Social Security benefits should only be considered part of the retirement income. I think there should be a personal account for each individual so that we can manage our own money in Social Security-my payments today and going right out to current beneficiaries-this is a legalized Ponzi scheme and is falling apart since retirees are living longer and there are fewer new workers supporting increasing numbers of retirees!!

  Connie Maternick Posted March 7, 2008 8:03 AM