A – Social Security is a social insurance program that is actually four programs in one. It provides retirement, survivors’, and disability cash benefits to persons who are insured and eligible. In addition it provides health insurance under Medicare’s four programs— Part A—Hospital Insurance, Part B—Supplementary Medical Insurance, Part C — Medicare Advantage, and Part D—Prescription Coverage.

A – That depends on your particular circumstances. If you were in a position covered under civil service, you do not have a break in your civil service employment of more than 365 days nor transfer into FERS, you are mandatorily excluded from Social Security coverage. On the other hand, all Federal employees hired after December 31, 1983 are mandatorily covered under Social Security.

Persons with prior civil service covered employment (other than reemployed annuitants continuing to receive their annuities) with a break-in-service of more than 365 calendar days are mandatorily covered under Social Security.

Employees who elected to transfer into FERS are also covered by Social Security.

There are certain other Federal employees who are mandatorily covered under Social Security as of January 1, 1984: “

Certain legislative employees who were not covered under civil service. ” All members of Congress, the President, and the Vice-President. ” Most political appointees, including noncareer members of the Senior Executive Service.

A – Social Security taxes are computed on every dollar earned up to the maximum taxable amount—in 2024, $168,600. The Medicare Part A tax is withheld on every dollar earned. This includes salary, overtime, bonuses, night differential, etc. This is different from civil service contributions, which are computed on base pay only.

A – The tax rate in 2024 for Social Security benefit coverage is 6.20 percent of all earnings up to $168,600. Therefore, the most tax that you will pay for the benefit program in 2024 is $10,453.20 plus the Medicare tax. If you are covered for Medicare only the tax rate is 1.45 percent of all earnings.

A – Yes, Social Security is an employment tax and is paid by both the employee and employer on a matching basis. Therefore, whatever you pay in Social Security taxes in any year, your employer will match that amount.

A – You can credit the overpaid taxes against any Federal income taxes you owe when you file your income tax return, or you can claim a refund of the excess taxes. Your employer(s) do not get a credit or refund.

A – Your self-employment income is subject to the Self-Employment Contribution Act (SECA) tax. You pay the SECA tax on your net annual income if it exceeds $400. Basically, net income is figured the same way as for income tax. However, you pay taxes on your earnings as an employee first. If you do not exceed the maximum taxable amount as an employee you then pay the SECA tax on the amount of your net income from self-employment that brings you up to the maximum taxable amount.

A – Having the necessary number of credits assures you of being eligible to receive a Social Security retirement benefit when you meet the other requirements (i.e., age 62). Merely having the credits has little to do with the dollar amount of your Social Security benefit.

A – From the onset of the Social Security program up through 1977 a credit was earned when you were paid at least $50 in wages covered for Social Security during a calendar quarter (January-March; April-June; July-September; October-December). If you worked only part of the year, the only way that you could get 4 credits during that calendar year was by earning the maximum taxable amount. However, beginning in 1978 the credit was put on an annual basis and the amount was increased: 1978—$250 = 1 credit, $1,000 earned any time during the year = 4 credits; for 2024, $1,730 = 1 credit; $6,920 earned anytime during the year equals 4 credits. Therefore, it is now easy to earn all 4 credits during a calendar year without actually working during all 4 calendar quarters. You can never earn more than 4 credits during the calendar year.

A – Yes, if you had military duty after 9/15/40 and prior to 1/1/57, the Social Security Act provides for noncontributory military wage credits equal to $160 per month being added to the calendar quarter in which the service occurred. These wage credits are treated as regular covered wages for credits for insured status purposes and for all benefit computation purposes if needed.

Further, there are deemed military wage credits granted to persons who served in the military after 1/1/57 to reflect the value of the “payment in kind” of food, shelter and other benefits. These credits were equal to $300 per quarter for any quarter in which the individual had military wages. In 1978, the deemed military wage credits were revised so that they are granted in $100 increments (up to a maximum of $1,200 per year) but only for each full $300 in annual military wages.

A – No, credits are based on wages earned in covered employment or from net income from self-employment. You may not voluntarily buy credits.

A – Yes, if you have worked under both systems you can receive a benefit from both systems. However, if you were not first eligible to receive your civil service benefit or you were not age 62 prior to 1/1/86, then your Social Security benefit will be reduced to take account of the Windfall Elimination Provision.

A – Social Security no longer sends the Personal Earnings and Benefit Estimate Statement to you each year (it is now on a 5-year basis) unless you are 62 and beyond and not receiving Social Security benefits.  You now will need to go to www.ssa.gov.  There is lots of information available at the site; however, to get a benefit estimate: Set up “My Account.”  You will then have access to the same information that you previously received in the mailings.

A – Social Security benefits are computed based on (1) a full work lifetime (never more than 35 years) earnings under the Social Security program, and (2) on the actual earnings after indexing. Therefore, it is difficult to give a quick estimate of your Social Security benefit without knowing the specifics of your case. If, as is the case for many Federal employees, you do not have 35 years of wages, which were covered for Social Security, the wages that you do have will be averaged over your work lifetime.

A – Social Security retirement benefits are payable as early as age 62. If you elect to draw your benefit at 62, or any time before the full retirement age, your benefit will be actuarially reduced.

A – An actuarial reduction takes account of the fact that you will be drawing your benefit for a longer period of time. The reduction is 5/9ths of 1 percent for each of the first 36 months and 5/12ths of 1 percent for all additional months that you receive your benefit prior to the full retirement age.

A – For anyone born before 1938, the age at which one can retire and receive Social Security benefits, on an unreduced basis, is 65. However, the full retirement age will gradually increase by 2 months per year of birth 1938 to 1943. Beginning with year of birth 1943 through 1954, the full retirement age is 66. It begins to increase by 2 months per year of birth 1955 through 1960 when it is 67.

A – No, once you have elected an actuarially reduced benefit the reduction stays with you unless you do not receive benefits for any month. Your benefit is actuarially reduced by 5/9ths of 1 percent for each of the first 36 months you receive your benefit prior to the full retirement age and 5/12ths of 1 percent for each month beyond 36 up to the full retirement age.

A – Having your 40 credits merely guarantees you that you will get a Social Security benefit. Remember that if you need 40 credits to be insured, your benefit will be computed using 35 years of your highest earnings under Social Security.

A – Social Security benefits are paid when there has been a loss of income due to retirement, disability, or the death of the wage earner. Therefore, there is a provision in the Social Security law called the earnings or retirement test. For 2024 it allows a beneficiary under age 65 to earn $22,320. Once the beneficiary under 65 has earnings, which exceed the exempt amount, they will then lose $1 in benefits for each $2 of earnings above the exempt amount. A beneficiary 65 but not yet the full retirement age can earn $56,520 before they lose $1 in benefits for each $3 over the exempt amount. A beneficiary the full retirement age and over may earn all they are capable of and there is no reduction in the Social Security benefit.

  A – Yes, even when you are receiving your Social Security benefit, if you work in Social Security covered employment, the additional wages will be used to automatically recalculate your benefit, if it would increase your benefit. 

A – You can do the application process online by going to www.ssa.gov.

A – You should apply 3 months before you want your benefits to begin. If you are applying for an actuarially reduced benefit your benefit will begin with the month you apply, there is no retroactive actuarially reduced benefit. However, if you do not apply until 6 months after the full retirement age you can receive 6 months of retroactive benefits.

A – You can get a benefit, as can your spouse, ex-spouse, and child or children. However, before any of the auxiliary beneficiaries can receive a benefit:

(1) you as primary beneficiary must have applied for your Social Security retirement benefit; and

(2) the auxiliary beneficiaries must meet certain qualifications.

Finally, if your spouse or ex-spouse has an earned right government pension based on employment not covered for Social Security, their unearned Social Security spouse’s benefit will be offset by two-thirds of their earned government pension.

A – You will receive both benefits; however, your Social Security benefit may be reduced to eliminate the windfall.

A – A windfall benefit represents a comparatively high return on Social Security taxes for workers who spend less than a working lifetime in employment covered under Social Security. The Social Security benefit formula has been weighted in favor of the low lifetime earner.

The weighting in the formula was intended to benefit workers with low earnings throughout their entire work lifetime. However, in the past there was no method of determining whether someone truly had low lifetime earnings or whether they had only part of their work lifetime under Social Security (i.e., civil service and other noncovered government employment).

A – The WEP only affects governmental employees whose primary employment was not covered for Social Security because they are the only persons who could have earnings outside the Social Security system. All other employment, including military service, has been covered for Social Security and their Social Security wage records will represent their work lifetime.

A – You will not be affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision if any of the following occurred prior to January 1, 1986: you were 62; or became disabled; or were first eligible to receive a pension based on noncovered employment.

Note that you need not actually receive the pension based on noncovered employment prior to January 1, 1986, you only need to be eligible to have received the pension. Additionally, new hires and persons mandatorily covered for Social Security as a result of the 1983 Social Security Amendments are also exempt from the Windfall Elimination Provision.

Finally, you will not be affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision if you have 30 years of substantial work under Social Security.

If you do not fall into one of the above categories you will be affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision.

A – If you have 30 years of substantial Social Security earnings you are exempt from the Windfall Elimination Provision. If you have more than 20 years, up to 30, the reduction caused by the Windfall Elimination Provision will be lessened.

Factor for first If you have:

30 or more years ………………………….. 90%

29 or more years ………………………….. 85%

28 or more years ………………………….. 80%

27 or more years…………………………… 75%

26 or more years…………………………… 70%

25 or more years…………………………… 65%

24 or more years…………………………… 60%

23 or more years…………………………… 55%

22 or more years…………………………… 50%

21 or more years…………………………… 45%

20 or fewer years………………………….. 40%

A – Years of substantial coverage are determined as follows:

Year	Wages Needed to Count as a Substantial Year
1937-1950	$900
1951-1954	$900
1955-1958	$1,050
1959-1965	$1,200
1966-1967	$1,650
1968-1971	$1,950
1972	$2,250
1973	$2,700
1974	$3,300
1975	$3,525
1976	$3,825
1977	$4,125
1978	$4,425
1979	$4,725
1980	$5,100
1981	$5,550
1982	$6,075
1983	$6,675
1984	$7,050
1985	$7,425
1986	$7,875
1987	$8,175
1988	$8,400
1989	$8,925
1990	$9,525
1991	$9,900
1992	$10,350
1993	$10,725
1994	$11,250
1995	$11,325
1996	$11,625
1997	$12,150
1998	$12,675
1999	$13,425
2000	$14,175
2001	$14,925
2002	$15,750
2003	$16,125
2004	$16,275
2005	$16,725
2006	$17,475
2007	$18,150
2008	$18,975
2009	$19,800
2010	$19,800
2011	$19,800
2012	$20,475
2013	$21,075
2014	$21,750
2015	$22,050
2016	$22,050
2017	$23,625
2018	$23,850
2019	$24,675
2020	$25,575
2021	$26,550
2022	$27,300
2023	$29,500
2024	$31,275

A – You may be, there is a guarantee provision, which is designed to protect workers with low pensions based on noncovered employment. This guarantee provides that the reduction in Social Security benefits can never exceed more than one-half of the amount of the pension based on noncovered work.

A – Yes, since the auxiliary benefits are a percentage of your primary insurance amount (PIA) your spouse’s benefit will be lower because your PIA will be lower. However, your survivor will not be affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision even if she/he is getting a civil service survivor’s annuity.

A – Basically, yes. The provision to which you are referring is the Government Pension Offset (GPO). The Social Security law has always provided for a dollar-for-dollar reduction of a spouse’s benefit whenever both are covered for Social Security based on their own work in covered employment.

The spouse does not get his or her own earned Social Security plus a Social Security spouse’s benefit; they receive an amount equal to the higher of the two. Since Social Security benefits are earned right benefits, the person gets their own Social Security benefit and any difference if the unearned benefit is higher.

Under the GPO a spouse’s Social Security benefit is reduced by two-thirds of the earned government pension based on employment not covered by Social Security. This is similar to the treatment that has been provided when both parts of the couple are covered under Social Security.

A – No, your CSRS benefit will not reduce you spouse’s earned Social Security benefit. In fact, if you provide a CSRS Survivor’s benefit for your spouse and predecease him/her, your spouse will continue to receive their earned Social Security and the CSRS survivor’s benefit which But, remember if your Social Security covered spouse dies first, you will likely not see any Social Security survivor’s benefit.

A – No, there are some exceptions: 1. You transferred into FERS before July 1, 1988. 2. You transferred into FERS after June 30, 1988 but are under FERS for 60 months. 3. You are or were in the Offset Civil Service Retirement System. 4. You were eligible to receive a government pension before December 1982 and could meet the requirements for Social Security spouse’s or surviving spouse’s benefits in effect in January 1977, or 5. You were eligible to receive a government pension before July 1, 1983 and you were receiving at least one-half support from your spouse. If you cannot meet the above exceptions your unearned Social Security spousal benefit will be subject to the GPO.

A – Yes, it is possible for one person to be affected by both. First, the individual must have an earned right government pension based on employment that was not covered for Social Security purposes. Second, they must have a small-earned right Social Security benefit based on limited coverage—(this could be subject to the WEP). Third, they would be eligible for a larger unearned Social Security spouse’s benefit. (They would not get both their earned Social Security and an unearned Social Security benefit in full. But they would get an amount equal to the higher of the two.) The difference between their earned Social Security benefit and their unearned Social Security spouse’s benefit would be subject to the GPO.

A – No, only earned income and self-employment income count for the earnings test.

A – In 2024, a beneficiary under age 65 may earn up to $22,320 before they lose $1 in benefits for each $2 of earnings. A beneficiary beyond age 65 but not yet full retirement age may earn up to $59,520 before they lose $1 in benefits for each $3 of earnings. A beneficiary the full retirement age and beyond may earn all they wish with no reduction in their Social Security benefits.

A – You are so severely physically or mentally impaired that you cannot perform any substantial gainful activity and the impairment is expected to last 12 months or result in death.

A – To be fully insured you need 1 credit for each calendar year after 1950, or after the calendar year in which you attain age 21, whichever is later, up to the onset of disability. To be currently connected to the covered workforce you need a specific number of credits within recent years. For example, a person who becomes disabled after age 31 generally needs Social Security credit for at least 5 years of work under Social Security out of the 10 years ending with the onset of disability, in addition to meeting the fully insured status.

A – After you have met all of Social Security requirements you would have a 5 full calendar month waiting period before your benefits would begin. For example, if you became disabled on June 2—July through November would constitute the 5 full calendar month waiting period; June does not count because it is not a full calendar month. Your first check would be for December but would be delivered in January.

A – The formula for computing all Social Security cash benefits is basically the same. The variable is the number of years you must use in the computation.

A – No, any impairment that meets Social Security’s definition of disability when the other requirements are met qualifies the individual for disability benefits.

A – Yes, when you are entitled and have completed your 5 calendar month waiting period your spouse, ex-spouse, child or children can be eligible for Social Security benefits based on your Social Security wage record. However, keep in mind that these auxiliary beneficiaries are subject to the earnings test and must meet other eligibility requirements.

A – You apply for your Social Security disability benefit at your local Social Security office. You will need to take several pieces of information with you: proof of age, your Social Security number, documentation of your last 2 years of covered wages, and a listing of the names, addresses and phone numbers of the doctors, clinics and hospitals that have treated you. You will be subject to a medical examination in most cases.

A – Social Security has a number of provisions, which encourage disability beneficiaries to return to work. ” Referral for rehabilitation services (if you refuse the rehab services without good reason you could lose your benefits), and ” Trial work period—If you are still disabled, you can continue receiving benefits while testing your ability to work. There are additional provisions to assist disabled persons in returning to work.

A – Yes, but how frequently your case is reviewed will depend on the nature and severity of your condition, the possibility of improvement and other factors. The frequency can range from 6 months to 7 years.

” Improvement expected—If medical improvement can be predicted when benefits start, your case will be reviewed somewhere between 6-18 months.

” Improvement possible—If medical improvement is possible but cannot be predicted, your case will be reviewed about every 3 years.

” Improvement not expected—If medical improvement is not likely, your case will be reviewed only about every 5-7 years.

A – When you die if your spouse, ex-spouse, child, children or dependent parent meet the eligibility requirements, do not have a larger earned Social Security benefit nor a large earned government pension, they will receive a Social Security survivor’s benefit.

A – The lump-sum death benefit is $255 payable to a survivor who is eligible for a Social Security survivor’s benefit. It is no longer paid to any person who pays the burial expenses.

A – Yes, Social Security beneficiaries under full retirement age are subject to the earnings test. Therefore, the amount the survivor could earn without a loss of benefits would depend on their age.

A – Yes, a survivor does not fully receive both an earned and a Social Security survivor’s benefit. They would receive an amount equal to the higher of the two. But it would be computed based on the survivor’s own wage record first then any additional amount would be added to equal the higher of the two benefits.

A – Yes, a survivor is subject to the GPO. Two thirds of the survivor’s earned right government pension would be taken into account before paying any unearned Social Security survivor’s annuity.

A – No, if your spouse has their own Social Security benefit and you elect a civil service survivor’s benefit for him/her, upon death your spouse will receive both the earned Social Security and the civil service survivor benefit with no reduction in the Social Security benefit.

A – The Social Security survivor’s benefit is computed very much as Social Security retirement benefits are computed. They are based on your Primary Insurance Amount. In order to compute your Primary Insurance Amount, you need to know your earnings history because your Primary Insurance Amount is based on your Average Indexed Monthly Earnings. The main difference between computing the Social Security retirement and survivor’s benefit is the number of years used in the computation. For example, a person who dies at age 35 would need only 8 years of highest earnings in the computation.

A – No, this is the one exception to an actuarial reduction being permanent. If when you die your survivor is the full retirement age the survivor’s annuity will be 100 percent of your Primary Insurance Amount.

A – Yes,

Part A—Hospital Insurance,

Part B—Supplementary Medical (Out-patient) Insurance,

Part C—Medicare Coordinated HMO, and

Part D—Prescription Coverage.

A – By paying the Medicare Part A tax you are providing the hospitalization insurance at age 65 for yourself, your noncovered spouse, members of your family who suffer from end-stage renal disease, and to yourself at any age if you become disabled.

A – Medicare does not pay all medical expenses. There are deductibles and coinsurance amounts, which you or your private insurance plan is liable to pay. But for the amount that Medicare does cover, it pays at age 65 unless you become disabled.

A – If you are continuing to work beyond age 65 and continuing to participate in an employer sponsored health insurance plan, you can sign up for Part B penalty-free when you retire or stop participating in the health plan that is tied to employment, either your own or your spouse’s.

A – You pay a monthly medical insurance premium in 2024 of $174.70 per person per month. It will be withheld from your Social Security benefit or your federal retirement after you have elected coverage or if you are not getting a Social Security benefit you will be billed quarterly. The Part B premium can now be based on your income, therefore it can be between $174.70 and $594.00..

A – The answer depends on whether or not you are continuing to be employed: “

Age 65 and over and working for the employer who is providing health insurance coverage—Your FEHB is primary payor and Medicare is secondary. ” Age 65 & over and retired—Medicare is primary and FEHB is secondary. This applies to Medicare A and B only if you have elected the Part B.

A – No, Medicare does not cover anyone when they are outside the 50 States and the territories (U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and Puerto Rico). There are some exceptions for Canada.

A – At age 65 whether you are retired or continuing to work you may sign up for both Part A and B of Medicare. You should sign up for Part A at age 65, and by continuing to work and continuing to participate in your employer sponsored group health care plan you are avoiding any penalties for not signing up for Part B.

A – There will be no penalty for the Part A but there will be a penalty for the Part B. The penalty will be 10 percent times the number of years you are beyond age 65 at time of application, times the monthly premium in effect for the year. This penalty is due each month that you participate in Medicare Part B.

A – Yes, there is an exception but you must do each of the following: ” Continue to be employed, and ” Continue to participate in an employer sponsored group health care plan. If you do the above you will be allowed to enroll in Medicare Part B penalty-free during an 8-month period that begins when you retire or stop participating in the employer sponsored group health care plan.

A – No, as long as your FEHB plan has prescription coverage equal to or better than the Medicare Part D coverage, you do not need Medicare Part D. Further, if you later (beyond age 65) wanted to enroll in Medicare Part D you could do so without a penalty.

A – The penalty, for anyone who should have enrolled in Medicare Part D and did not, is 1% for each month that the enrollment was delayed. It is not a one time penalty.