There are other exceptions. They are as follows:
President Bush asks Educators "Leave no child behind"
Offset /Windfall asks Congress "Leave NO
SENIOR Behind"
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Legislation was enacted in 1977 to prevent government retirees from collecting both a government annuity based on their own work and social security benefits based on their spouse's work record. The new law became effective with government employees who were first eligible to retire in December 1982 and later. The law provides that two-thirds of the government annuity offsets whatever social security benefits would be payable to the retired government worker as a spouse (wife, husband, widow, widower). For example, a spouse who receives a civil service benefit of $900 a month based on his/her own earnings applies for a social security widow (er)'s benefit The widow (er)'s benefit is $500. Two-thirds of his/her annuity, or $600, totally offsets the social security widow (er)'s benefit He/She, therefore, receives no widow ( er) , s benefit from social security .
| There are approximately 305,000 beneficiaries currently affected by the GPO and that number grows by about 15,000 annually. |
| The GPO does not apply to survivor annuitants who are not government
retirees themselves. There are other exceptions. They are as follows: |
| Anyone eligible for a government annuity before December 1982, and who meets the 1977 law requirements (a divorced woman ' s marriage must have lasted 20 years; a husband or widower must have been receiving one-half support from the wife). |
| Anyone who is a federal survivor annuitant (not a federal retiree). Neither the survivor annuitant's own Social Security nor the widow's benefit from the husband's Social Security is affected. |
| Anyone eligible for a government annuity before July 1, 1983, and who received one-half support from the male or female spouse. |
| Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) employees and annuitants, and Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) or annuitants who transferred to FERS. |
| Former CSRS employees rehired beginning January 1st, 1984, following a separation of one year or more, are also exempt- |
| Effective January 1st, 1995, the GPO does not apply to military reserve pensions. |
| Anyone
over the age of 65, still working for the federal government. The GPO will not
become effective until the person retires and begins to receive an annuity.
President Bush asks Educators "Leave no child behind" Offset /Windfall asks Congress "Leave NO
SENIOR Behind" |
SOCIAL SECURITY WINDFALL ELIMINATION PROVISION (WEP)
The Social Security Amendments of 1983 include a provision that greatly reduces the social security benefit of a retired or disabled worker who also receives a government annuity based on his/her ~ earnings. It applies to anyone who becomes 62 ( or disabled) after 1985 Congress provided for a five-year phase-in on the reduction so that the maximum effect would not be felt until 1990 .Those who became 62 in 1990 or reached that age after 1990 (and were not eligible for a federal annuity until after 1985), may have their social security benefit decreased by as much as 60%. An additional 20% is deducted for taking the benefit at age 62.
There are approximately 515,000 beneficiaries currently affected by the WEP, and that number grows by about 60,000 annually.
There are several exceptions to the Windfall Elimination Provision. They are as follows:
· Anyone eligible to retire before January 1. 1986 or who became 62 or disabled before 1986.
· Anyone who has 30 or more years of substantial earnings under Social Security
· Anyone who is a federal survivor annuitant. The survivor annuitant's own Social Security is not affected.
· Anyone whose only pension from non-covered employment is based on Railroad Retirement-covered work.
· An individual whose pension is based only on non-covered employment before 1957.
· Any federal worker first hired after December 31, 1983, or a federal worker performing service January 1,1984 who became mandatory covered under Social Security January 1, 1984.
· Anyone employed December 31, 1983 by a non-profit organization that became mandatory covered under Social Security on that date.
· Anyone over the age of 65, still working for the federal government. The WEP will not become effective until the person retires and begins to receive an annuity.
President Bush asks Educators "Leave no child behind"
Offset Windfall asks Congress "Leave NO SENIOR Behind"