04 Mar Will survivor benefits from federal pension lower my Social Security?

Q. Will a surviving spouse who receives a Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) survivor benefit get a reduction in his or her own Social Security payment — not from the deceased spouse’s work.
— Retired

A. These rules can be complicated, so we’re glad you asked.

The Civil Service Retirement System is a contributory retirement income plan for certain federal employees.

Typically, those employees who contribute to the CSRS do not also contribute to the Social Security Retirement System, said Nicholas Scheibner, a certified financial planner with Baron Financial Group in Fair Lawn.

As a spouse of someone who was receiving a CSRC pension, you are entitled to survivor benefits from that system, he said.

We can assume that since your spouse contributed to the CSRC, they did not have any Social Security Retirement benefits, and that you are not entitled to any Social Security spousal benefits, he said.

There are two programs that offset Social Security income: The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO).

“WEP will reduce benefits if you receive a pension based on work that you did — not your spouse,” Scheibner said. “GPO would reduce Social Security spousal or survivor benefits, not your own retirement benefits.”

Therefore, because the pension is not based on your work and you would be applying for Social Security benefits on your own record, and not spousal benefits, we would not expect a reduction in your Social Security due to your CSRC survivor pension, Scheibner, said.

You should contact the Social Security Administration for full details on the benefits to which you are entitled.

Email your questions to .

This story was originally published on March 4, 2022.

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