Social Security Benefits -- FederalSoup.com

Informed Investor: GAO accuses Social Security Administration of giving incomplete information

At a time when many employees and retirees are serious about starting to receive their Social Security retirement benefits, the Government Accountability Office found that Social Security applicants were given incomplete, insufficient, and in some instances incorrect information by Social Security Administration personnel. This week’s column discusses the main issues brought up in the GAO study. View More
Informed Investor: Annuitants and Social Security recipients to get lowest COLA ever in 2017

Effective Jan. 1, 2017, CSRS and FERS annuitants and Social Security recipients will receive the lowest cost-of-living-adjustment (COLA) on record. The COLA will be 0.3 percent. This week’s column discusses how the annual COLA is determined and how the diminished COLA will affect many CSRS annuitants and higher income FERS annuitants who are enrolled in Medicare Part B. View More
Employee groups condemn 2017 mini-COLA

The Social Security Administration on Tuesday announced a meager 0.3 percent cost-of-living adjustment for 2017. View More

What is the Windfall Elimination Provision?Feb 11, 2015

If you receive an annuity from a job where you didn’t pay Social Security taxes, such as from the Civil Service Retirement System, and you also have enough Social Security credits to be eligible for Social Security retirement or disability benefits, a modified formula may be used to figure your benefit amount. View More
What is the Earnings Test?Feb 11, 2015

It is a benefits reduction that can apply to those receiving Social Security retirement or survivors benefits and still earning income. View More
Is a Social Security benefit calculated in the same way as a FERS or CSRS benefit?Feb 11, 2015

No. The Social Security benefit involves a longer working period and adjustments of actual earnings over that time, with a multi-layered formula designed to favor lower-income earners. View More
What is the Government Pension Offset?Apr 06, 2014
What types of benefits does Social Security pay?Apr 06, 2014
What is the Social Security definition of disability?Apr 06, 2014
Which federal employees are covered by Social Security?Apr 06, 2014