Understanding the CSRS Offset Pension and Coordination with the Windfall Elimination Provision

How does the Windfall Elimination Provision apply to CSRS federal employees?

In this article, we will dive into the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) Offset pension and how CSRS Offset coordinates with the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP). Over the years we have found that CSRS offset employees are generally left confused about how their pension is offset and the calculation WEP uses to reduce Social Security. It is important to have a clear understanding of how both the CSRS offset retirement pension and the Social Security system will affect your bottom line numbers in retirement. 

Overview of the Civil Service Retirement System 

The Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) is a defined benefit, contributory retirement system for federal employees who were hired before January 1, 1984. Employees share in the expense of the annuities to which they become entitled.

CSRS-covered employees contribute 7%, 7.5%, or 8% of pay into CSRS and do not pay for or receive Social Security. However, CSRS employees do pay for Medicare tax (currently 1.45% of pay). CSRS employees may contribute to TSP, however, they will not receive a TSP government match.

The CSRS retirement pension calculation is included below:

Years of ServiceWhat You Receive
First 5 years of service1.5 percent of your high-3 average salary for each year
Second 5 years of servicePlus
1.75 percent of your high-3 average salary for each year
For all years of service over 10Plus
2 percent of your high-3 average salary for each year.
Source: OPM

CSRS Eligibility to Retire on Full Pension:

AgeYears of Service
625
6020
5530
Source: OPM

Overview of CSRS Offset

CSRS Offset was created in 1987 and generally applies to employees who:

  • Had a break in federal service after 1983 that lasted longer than 1 year and had at least 5 years of civilian service as of January 1, 1987
  • Employees who were hired into a civilian job before 1984, but did not acquire retirement coverage until after 1984 and had at least 5 years of service as of January 1, 1987

CSRS Offset employees are covered by both CSRS and Social Security. You earn retirement credit under CSRS, while also earning credits under Social Security.

When you retire from the government, your retirement benefit is computed in the same way that CSRS benefits are computed. However, when you become eligible for Social Security benefits (usually at age 62), your CSRS retirement benefit is offset by the value of the Social Security benefit you earned while working for the government. 

The amount CSRS Offset employees pay for retirement is the same amount that CSRS employees pay, however, it is reduced, or offset, by Social Security taxes (6.2 % of pay). CSRS Offset employees may contribute to TSP, however, they will not receive a TSP government match. 

Pro Tip: if you are working under CSRS offset and of full retirement age (FRA) you can receive Social Security with no penalty or reduction.

FERS Replaces CSRS in 1987

The Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) for Federal employees replaces CSRS starting January 1, 1987. Federal employees who first entered covered service on and after January 1, 1987, would be placed in the FERS retirement pension. FERS employees who contribute to the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) can receive up to a 5% TSP government match.

To make matters even more complicated, some Federal employees are considered FERS Transfers. There was an open season for CSRS employees in 1987-88 and 1998 that allowed CSRS employees with at least 5 years of CSRS service the option to transfer to FERS during the open season.

CSRS Offset Pension Calculation

Retiring before age 62

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) will contact the Social Security Administration (SSA) to obtain an entitlement determination when you are close to age 62 (the normal age of Social Security eligibility). If you are eligible to receive Social Security benefits, SSA will provide OPM with information concerning your Social Security benefits.

Please note that even if you do not apply for Social Security benefits when first eligible, the reduction in your annuity must still be made if you are entitled or would on proper application be entitled to Social Security benefits.

The offset reduction is subtracted from the annuity rate to become your new gross annuity rate. The offset reduction is the lesser of:

  1. The difference between the Social Security monthly benefit amount with and without Federal earnings; OR
  2. The product of the Social Security monthly benefit amount, with Federal earnings, multiplied by a fraction where the numerator (top of fraction) is the employee’s total CSRS Offset service rounded to the nearest whole number of years and the denominator (bottom of fraction) is 40.

Example

David joined Federal service on 1-1-78. David worked under the CSRS system until 1-1-1985 and then departed for the private sector. Years later, David joined Federal service again on 1-1-1990 as a CSRS offset employee. He decides to retire at age 60 with a total of 30 years of service: 5 years of CSRS and 25 years of CSRS Offset. To compute David’s CSRS pension amount, OPM will contact the Social Security Administration (SSA) to determine his Social Security amount at 62.

  • Eligible Social Security amount at 62 = $2,000
  • Social Security benefit earned as CSRS Offset (25 years) = $1,500
Flow chart showing how to calculate CSRS Offset pension before age 62

Starting the month David turns age 62, his CSRS pension will be reduced by $1,250 a month.

Retiring after age 62

If retiring after the age of 62, the calculation is different. OPM will contact the Social Security Administration (SSA) to obtain an entitlement determination on the day of retirement. The eligible Social Security amount is not at 62, but the age that you retire.

Example

David from the example above decides to retire at age 67 now. He has 5 years of CSRS and 32 years of CSRS Offset. David is eligible for $3,000 a month at age 67.

Flow chart showing how to calculate CSRS Offset pension after age 62

If the monthly CSRS amount is $8,000/mo, the pension will be reduced by $2,400/mo leaving David with $5,600/mo.

CSRS Offset Applying for Social Security

CSRS Offset annuitants can receive Social Security. It is important to be aware of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP). WEP has the potential to reduce Social Security benefits in a big way.

Understanding the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP)

The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) is a provision in the Social Security Act that affects individuals who receive a pension from a job where they did not pay Social Security taxes, such as CSRS employees.

The WEP applies to individuals who have both a CSRS retirement pension and a Social Security benefit based on work in other jobs where they did pay Social Security taxes. Commonly, individuals who left Federal service and were employed in the private sector for a number of years, worked part-time in a private sector job while simultaneously being employed as a Federal employee and small business owners.

Explanation of the WEP

The Windfall Elimination Provision reduces the amount of Social Security retirement benefits that a person can receive based on their earnings history and years of substantial earnings covered by Social Security. It is intended to prevent individuals from receiving a windfall in the form of a higher retirement benefit due to both their Civil Service Retirement System pension and their Social Security benefit.

The WEP was established to address concerns about fairness in the Social Security system. Individuals who did not pay Social Security taxes throughout their careers, but rather contributed to a government pension plan like CSRS, were receiving higher retirement benefits than those who paid into Social Security throughout their working years.

The basis of WEP is based on your number of substantial earnings into Social Security. Below are two charts that show how to calculate the WEP reduction if any. If you have more than 30 years of substantial earnings then you will have NO reduction due to WEP.

Years of Substantial Earnings
ELY<= 2021222324252627282930
2017442.5398,3354.0309.8265.5221.3177.0132.888.544.30.0
2018447.5402.8358.0313.3268.5223.8179.0134.389.544.80.0
2019463.0416.7370.4324.1277.8231.5185.2138,992.646.30.0
2020480.0432.0384.0336.0288.0240.0192.0144.092.048.00.0
2021498.0448.2398.4348.6298.8249.0199.2149.499.649.80.0
2022512.0460.8409.6358.4307.2256.0204.8153.6102.451.20.0
2023557.5501.8446.0390.3334.5278.8223.0167.3111.555.80.0

*Choose the year you retired on the left column and the number of years of substantial earnings on the top row. The figure chosen will be the maximum monthly amount your Social Security benefit will be reduced due to WEP.

YearSubstantial EarningsYearSubstantial Earnings
1937-1954$9001994$11,250
1955-1958$1,0501995$11,325
1959-1965$1,2001996$11,625
1966-1967$1,6501997$12,150
1968-1971$1,9501998$12,675
1972$2,2501999$13,425
1973$2,7002000$14,175
1974$3,3002001$14,925
1975$3,5252002$15,750
1976$3,8252003$16,125
1977$4,1252004$16,275
1978$4,4252005$16,725
1979$4,7252006$17,475
1980$5,1002007$18,150
1981$5,5502008$18,975
1982$6,0752009-2011$19,800
1983$6,6752012$20,475
1984$7,0502013$21,075
1985$7,4252014$21,750
1986$7,8752015-2016$22,050
1987$8,1752017$23,625
1988$8,4002018$23,850
1989$8,9252019$24,675
1990$9,5252020$25,575
1991$9,9002021$26,550
1992$10,3502022$27,300
1993$10,7252023$29,700
Years of substantial earningsPercentage
30 or more90%
2985%
2880%
2775%
2670%
2565%
2460%
2355%
2250%
2145%
20 or less40%

*The charts above show what would qualify for substantial earnings in the corresponding year.

The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The information in this material is not intended as tax or legal advice. Please consult legal or tax professionals for specific information regarding your individual situation. The opinions expressed and material provided are for general information and should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. Securities and advisory services offered through Osaic Wealth, Inc., member FINRASIPCOsaic Wealth is separately owned and other entities and/or marketing names, products or services referenced here are independent of Osaic Wealth. Representatives may not be registered to provide securities and advisory services in all states. Branch address: 10701 Parkridge Blvd, Ste 130, Reston, VA 20191. Branch phone: 571-543-2783.

About the Author

Brennan Rhule, co-founder of PlanWell Financial Planning, is focused on empowering federal employees to retire with confidence. PlanWell is committed to providing financial education to Feds on a national level, delivered through weekly articles, webinars, and personalized guidance. Sign up to attend our Federal Retirement Webinars – we hope to see you there!