Can the FERS Supplement for a Spouse be Lost?

If an employee remains retired but the spouse works and makes more than 15k, does the FERS supplement drop out?

FedSmith.com author John GrobeBy Categories Q&A Leave a comment

Q: I am searching for a detail on the FERS Special Retirement Supplement – I understand that the employee loses some or all of the benefit once they retire if they return to work before reaching age 62. My question concerns the effect of a working spouse on the benefit – if the employee remains retired but the spouse works and makes more than 15k, does the supplement drop out?

A: No. It’s only your earnings.

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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.