Gaming Social Security
Retirees are trying to improve their return on their past Social Security contributions. The author describes why any success that they have at doing this will come at the expense of Social Security’s long term solvency.
Social Security
Stay informed on Social Security updates that affect federal employees and retirees, especially those covered under FERS. Explore news and analysis on Social Security COLAs, benefit calculations, earnings limits, claiming strategies, and policy changes that influence retirement income. Find clear explanations of how Social Security integrates with FERS benefits, the FERS supplement, and long‑term financial planning. Keep up with legislative developments, inflation trends, and key rules that shape Social Security benefits for federal retirees.
CSRS Offset and Social Security Deductions
My husband’s personnel office just found out that he should have been in CSRS Offset after 21 years of coming from the DC Government. After his maximum SS tax was reached, his personnel office stopped the SS deduction. In the past, after the maximum was reached he has received the SS contribution in his paycheck. Was this done correctly?
The Federal Budget: When a Number is Just a (Meaningless) Number
Recent figures from the CBO suggest that Social Security contributed $877 billion to total revenue, but the author says that the CBO’s budget projections are misleading, especially as they relate to Social Security.
Buying Votes With Social Security Benefits
The author says that the most basic problem in Social Security over the last 80 years is the way that Congress can use the system to buy votes today at the expense of workers in the future.
Constructing a Retirement Income Plan
There are many factors to consider when constructing a strategy for retirement. Through the use of detailed examples, the author outlines some of the most crucial sources of income federal employees are most likely to have in retirement which they need to take into account when devising their own retirement income plans.
Confirmation of Special Supplement After 30 Years of Service
I’m retiring with 30 years of government service with the military and as a firefighter. Can you confirm my percentage of special supplement?
Sanders: No Chained CPI to Appear in Obama Budget
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) said Friday that the chained CPI will not be a part of President Obama’s next budget.
Confessions of a Social Security Mooch
The author says that Social Security is a financial system which basically takes a dollar in and ships a dollar out, and somebody has to make money if somebody else is losing money. He elaborates on this concept by way of a personal example.
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?
Taxes Federal Employees Will Face in Retirement
When a federal employee has retired, income taxes do not go away, they just change somewhat. Federal pensions, Social Security and distributions from the Thrift Savings Plan are all taxable to some extent. These are some taxes you can expect to incur in 2015 as a retired federal employee.
