Social Security and CSRS Survivor Benefit

My husband is retired from the military. He will receive military retired pay and social security pay. Would his social security annuity be reduced if he receives my CSRS as a survivor benefit?

Q: My husband is retired from the military. He will receive military retired pay and social security pay. Would his social security annuity be reduced if he receives my CSRS as a survivor benefit? I am trying to decide if I should elect SBP or if I should just take $$ to invest each month instead. I can’t see paying for SBP if his social security would be decreased.

A: His Social Security will not be reduced due to his receiving a survivor benefit (either CSRS or FERS). First, you are paying for that benefit by a deduction in your pension after you retire. Second, reductions to Social Security based on CSRS service apply only to the CSRS retiree, not to their spouse.

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.