If you’re already receiving Social Security benefits, it’s still worth checking because of the potential boost to your benefit! Image: J.J. Gouin/Shutterstock.com
By: FEDweek StaffOne often overlooked benefit that federal retirees might be eligible to receive involves Social Security credit for time spent in military service. If you have such service, check your Social Security earnings records well in advance of retirement to be sure that it is included; you can do that at a Social Security office or through an online account at www.ssa.gov. That time may qualify you for Social Security benefits if you are a CSRS employee with relatively little time under the Social Security system.
If you are a FERS or CSRS-Offset employee, the military-related Social Security time could increase the Social Security benefit you already stand to receive. The earnings of people who serve in the military services on active duty or on active duty for training have been covered under Social Security since 1957. Inactive duty service in the armed forces reserves (such as weekend drills) has been covered by Social Security since 1988. People who served in the military before 1957 did not pay into Social Security directly, but their records are credited with special earnings for Social Security purposes that count toward any benefits that might be payable.
Additional earnings credits are given to military personnel depending on when they served. Social Security taxes for military service since 1957 have been paid in the same way as for civilian employees. Those taxes were deducted from your military pay and an equal amount paid by the government as your employer. You earned Social Security credits in the same way as well.
Note: If you’re already receiving Social Security benefits, it’s still worth checking because of the potential boost to your benefit.
More broadly, a sometimes overlooked aspect of federal retirement policy involves capturing credit for military service after 1956, for your federal annuity not just Social Security. The military began deducting Social Security from military wages on January 1, 1957. Congress enacted a law in 1982 giving employees the opportunity to make a deposit into their civilian retirement system for active military time served after 1956.
Individuals who make the deposit are entitled to credit for the military service under both the Social Security system and the applicable civilian retirement system.
If you are retired military, you may combine your active duty military service and civilian service for one annuity. This requires a deposit into the civilian retirement system for the active military service and you generally must waive your military retired pay effective with the beginning of the civilian annuity. You can read more about that here.
Agency RIFs, Reorganizations Starting to Take Shape
Order Formally Launches ‘Schedule Policy/Career,’ Adds Category of Appointees
Top 10 Provisions in the Big Beautiful Bill of Interest to Federal Employees
A Pre-RIF Checklist for Every Federal Employee, From a Federal Employment Attorney
Work Longer or Take the FERS Supplement Now: Which is Better?
See also
Alternative Federal Retirement Options; With Chart
Primer: Early out, buyout, reduction in force (RIF)
Retention Standing, ‘Bump and Retreat’ and More: Report Outlines RIF Process
