Social Security and CSRS Earnings

In calculating the 35 highest earnings years for WEP and Social Security, indexed for inflation, does that include the earnings that a CSRS retiree earned while employed in their federal positions?

Q: In calculating the 35 highest earnings years for WEP and Social Security, indexed for inflation, does that include the earnings that a CSRS retiree earned while employed in their federal positions? I am assuming it does since the “penalty” is being exacted in cutting the first multiplying factor in half.

A: Sorry, but it does not.  It only includes money earned in Social Security covered employment.  Our earnings for those years come up as “0” in our Social Security earnings record.

Agencies can request to have John Grobe, or another of Federal Career Experts' qualified instructors, deliver a retirement or transition seminar to their employees. FCE instructors are not financial advisers and will not sell or recommend financial products to class participants. Agency Benefits Officers can contact John Grobe at johnfgrobe@comcast.net to discuss schedules and costs.

About the Author

John Grobe is President of Federal Career Experts, a firm that provides pre-retirement training and seminars to a wide variety of federal agencies. FCE’s instructors are all retired federal retirement specialists who educate class participants on the ins and outs of federal retirement and benefits; there is never an attempt to influence participants to invest a certain way, or to purchase any financial products. John and FCE specialize in retirement for special category employees, such as law enforcement officers.