Retirement Income : CSRS vs FERS...What's The Social Security Impact ?

[Stoplight]

All,

Just posted in an interesting thread about the "early years" of the TSP. One question I still have for us retirees to discuss, so I thought I'd bring it here !!!

For those of you who retired under CSRS, and now collect Social Security as well (assuming you qualify ?)...what percentage of your CSRS monthly income is your SS benefit ?

Here's why I ask : It was my understanding that CSRS did NOT pay SS taxes on their paycheck...us FERS people did. I guess most people worked their 40 quarters or whatever to qualify for SS anyway, before or after working for the Feds, but I would assume (and you know what they say about that !) that their earnings history, and thus, SS payment, would be lower.

When I was crunching the numbers, trying to decide if I could "afford" to retire at age 57, I was curious to see how things stacked up between if I had been CSRS, vs. FERS....glutton for punishment, I guess Anyway, I came up with the following :

- My basic monthly FERS pension is approximately 55% of what my CSRS pension would've been.
- Add in the FERS SS "Supplement" (until I reach age 62) and SS after I reach 62, and my monthly income is ~ 82% of my CSRS pension (although actual SS benefit is going to be more than the supplement, based on SS estimate ; just checked, and it actually kicks it up to 93% ! :nuts: )

Now, that's a really basic review, and doesn't take into account the "potential" income if I was CSRS and invested the money that WASN'T deducted for SS, or the fact that I THINK we had a smaller deduction for our basic pension than the CSRSer's did, etc etc....blah blah blah...leave that for the true "financial planners". Besides...I never would have invested it anyway !

So...in my specific case...right now...the SS benefit is worth an additional 27%. TSP more than makes up the difference ; FERS + TSP was a good thing for me !

What's your "story" ???


Stoplight...

 

[nnuut]

If I had it to do over and switch to FERS I would not, but I would have invested the max into the TSP!

 

[Bquat]

Good questions Stoplight. I have one. I'm under FERS and none of it counts against the earnings limit of SS. Do CSRS people lose $1.00 for every $2.00 for every dollar earned over $23,500 from SS because CSRS was not SS based? IE: $43,000 - $23,500 = SS benefit - $9,750 or $60,000 - $23,500 = SS benefit - $18,250

 

[Stoplight]

If I had it to do over and switch to FERS I would not, but I would have invested the max into the TSP!

Agree, Nut ! Although I didn't say that, it seems like a CSRS pension, coupled with maxing out a TSP contribution (even without a match !) was an AWESOME deal for you Guys !!! I think NASA went that route...sweet !!!



Stoplight...

 

[Stoplight]

Good questions Stoplight. I have one. I'm under FERS and none of it counts against the earnings limit of SS. Do CSRS people lose $1.00 for every $2.00 for every dollar earned over $23,500 from SS because CSRS was not SS based? IE: $43,000 - $23,500 = SS benefit - $9,750 or $60,000 - $23,500 = SS benefit - $18,250

WOW ! GREAT QUESTION, Bquat ! Never thought of that, either !!!

CSRSers that get SS benefits ?? Care to weigh in ?


Stoplight...

 

[nnuut]

I get SS benefits, but mine was cut 60% because I had less than 30 years payed in. They cut all CSRS SSA by 60% if you have less than 20 years then prorate it to 30 Years and there is no deduction. I paid for 18.5 years and they give me 40% of what a FERS would get.

 

[nasa1974]

I get SS benefits, but mine was cut 60% because I had less than 30 years payed in. They cut all CSRS SSA by 60% if you have less than 20 years then prorate it to 30 Years and there is no deduction. I paid for 18.5 years and they give me 40% of what a FERS would get.

Isn't this because of the government pension (CSRS) offset (penalty) that Reagan signed way back when? I don't remember the exact name of it though.

I will be eligible for SS only because I have worked part time outside the government; 4 years Air Force, 8 years coaching high school soccer, 10 years at Best Buy and however long I want to work as a contractor. My CSRS retirement DOES NOT include social security. But because I have a government pension my SS will be reduced (when I decide to collect it).

 

[Frixxxx]

Isn't this because of the government pension (CSRS) offset (penalty) that Reagan signed way back when? I don't remember the exact name of it though.

I will be eligible for SS only because I have worked part time outside the government; 4 years Air Force, 8 years coaching high school soccer, 10 years at Best Buy and however long I want to work as a contractor. My CSRS retirement DOES NOT include social security. But because I have a government pension my SS will be reduced (when I decide to collect it).

Your SS benefits are based on your contributions, not your retirement plan. Sign on to SS web site to get your participation rates and expected payout. www.ssa.gov

Edit: you may want to check the WEP notes on the site. Make sure youre earnings meet the qualifications.

 

[Bquat]

Your SS benefits are based on your contributions, not your retirement plan. Sign on to SS web site to get your participation rates and expected payout. www.ssa.gov

Edit: you may want to check the WEP notes on the site. Make sure youre earnings meet the qualifications.

Yes you are right there. I was just pointing out that retirement income from a retirement plan that doesn't have a SS tier to it counts toward annual income for the SS limit test.

 

[nasa1974]

Your SS benefits are based on your contributions, not your retirement plan. Sign on to SS web site to get your participation rates and expected payout. www.ssa.gov

Edit: you may want to check the WEP notes on the site. Make sure youre earnings meet the qualifications.

So what your saying is that more than likely the SS credits earned outside the government won't have a WEP penalty but will be calculated on the years worked and paying into SS. The last pamphlet I got from SS (maybe 2012) did show how much I would make per month at 62.

 

[Frixxxx]

So what your saying is that more than likely the SS credits earned outside the government won't have a WEP penalty but will be calculated on the years worked and paying into SS. The last pamphlet I got from SS (maybe 2012) did show how much I would make per month at 62.

The WEP basically calculates what was put in and if it is qualifying contributions. If you had a part time job but didn't put in enough "qualifying" funds, then there would be an issue. But I think the pamphlet, as best as I could make out, says it best.