Ask Larry

Will I Be Able To Collect Part Of My Wife's Social Security If I'm Collecting A Civil Service Pension?

I am Collecting a Gov't Civil Service Pension My Wife Will Be Retiring At 66 years old. Will I Be Able To Collect Part Of Her Social Security Pension.

Hi,

The answer to your question depends on a number of factors. If you didn't pay taxes on your earnings while you worked for the government, then any Social Security spousal or survivor benefits for which you'd otherwise qualify would almost certainly be offset by 2/3rds of the amount of your civil service pension. If that's the case, then you'd only be able to draw benefits from your wife's Social Security record if your civil service benefit rate is less than 150% of the amount of your potential spousal or survivor rate.

The reason for the offset described above is the Government Pension Offset (GPO) provision (https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10007.pdf). Our software (https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/purchase) is fully programmed to handle benefit computations involving GPO, so you and your wife may want to strongly consider using our software to do your Social Security planning.

Best, Jerry

Posted: 
Jun 13 2020 - 9:29am
MaxiFi software running on a laptop
Get What's Yours!
Discover tens of thousands in extra retirement dollars with Maximize My Social Security software!
  • Find your maximized strategy
  • Unlimited what-ifs
  • Step-by-Step filing instructions
  • Our software's lifetime-benefit increase for an illustrative couple earning $65K each and planning to take retirement benefits at 62.

    Results will differ based on your specific case and filing strategy.

Getting Started is Easy
Web-based software. Works on ALL browsers. No download.