In some cases, Social Security law provides for what is known as a spouse benefit. If your spouse has earned a Social Security benefit and you have earned little or no benefit, you can receive an additional Social Security benefit based on your spouse's Social Security benefit. If you begin taking this benefit at age 65, it will amount to one-half (50%) of the amount your spouse receives. If you start receiving this benefit at age 62, it will amount to a little over one-third (37.5%) of the amount your spouse receives.

Example: Your spouse receives a monthly check from Social Security in the amount of $1,200. If you begin receiving Social Security benefits as a dependent of your spouse at age 65, you will receive a monthly check from Social Security in the amount of $600. If you begin receiving your spousal benefit at age 62, you will receive a monthly check from Social Security in the amount of $450.

If you retire from the Federal service under CSRS and are also eligible for Social Security benefits as a spouse, former spouse, or survivor, your Social Security benefit will be reduced. It is reduced because you are receiving a pension from the Federal Government based on earnings that are not covered by Social Security. For every $3 you receive from your CSRS annuity, your Social Security spousal benefit will be reduced by $2. This is called the Government Pension Offset.

Example: Using the above example where you were eligible for a $600 Social Security spousal benefit, suppose you were also receiving a CSRS benefit that amounted to $1,200 a month. The Government Pension Offset would be two-thirds of your monthly $1,200 CSRS benefit, or $800. Since the offset amount is larger than your $600 Social Security benefit, your Social Security benefit would be eliminated.

Employees who transfer and work at least 5 years under FERS before retiring are exempt from the Government Pension Offset.

Spousal Benefits
Note: While the following benefits are expressed as a percentage of an employee's benefits, their payment does not reduce the employee's benefit. For example, the spousal benefit [in (1) below] can be paid in addition to the employee's Social Security benefit.

1. Married to the employee for at least 1 year, or, if less than 1 year, is the parent of the employee's child, and meets one of the following age requirements:
   a. Any age, with entitled child under age 16 or disabled in care (payment rate is 50% of employee's full benefit).

   b. Age 65 (50% of employee's full benefit).

   c. Age 62-64 (50% of employee's full benefit, permanently reduced for each month of entitlement prior to age 65).

   Divorced spouse, married to the employee at least 10 years, and meets one of the following age requirements:

   a. Age 65 (50% of employee's full benefit).

   b. Age 62-64 (50% of employee's full benefit, permanently reduced for each month of entitlement prior to age 65).

Updated 26 May 1998