Retirement & Social Security

[CCSO602]

This is a question mainly for the LE retirees out there. I retired from a police department under a hazardous duty retirement with 20 years service. During that 20 years I did not have to pay into Social Security. I retired and started work for a Sheriffs Department and I am now paying into Social Security, as I did prior to being hired by my previous department.

I have heard of the Social Security Government Pension Offset and that it may affect my Social Security benefits when I become old enough to start drawing it. I had 10 years of paying into the system before I became a LEO and I will be paying at least another 10-15 years before I hang it up for good. Can any other retirees out there explain if this has effected their retirement and if so, how? Any information is appreciated. I looked at the Social Security web site and it might as well have been written in Romulan.

[L-1]

You might start here:

http://www.calpers.ca.gov/index.jsp?bc=/member/retirement/planning/understandssoffset.xml&pst=RETIRED&pca=ST

[SgtCHP]

This is a question mainly for the LE retirees out there. I retired from a police department under a hazardous duty retirement with 20 years service. During that 20 years I did not have to pay into Social Security. I retired and started work for a Sheriffs Department and I am now paying into Social Security, as I did prior to being hired by my previous department.

I have heard of the Social Security Government Pension Offset and that it may affect my Social Security benefits when I become old enough to start drawing it. I had 10 years of paying into the system before I became a LEO and I will be paying at least another 10-15 years before I hang it up for good. Can any other retirees out there explain if this has effected their retirement and if so, how? Any information is appreciated. I looked at the Social Security web site and it might as well have been written in Romulan.

When I turned 62 I decided to draw my SS benefit that was supposed to be about $525.00 a month. I applied and was awarded the great sum of about $225.00. Seems that the Offset cost me roughly 60%. To top that, when I turned 65 and started in the medicare program it cost me $87.00. Then on Jan 1 of the following year it went up to $98.00 and this last Jan went over $100.00. My SS take home is now about $140 or so. Hardly seems worth the effort to cut a check. Not to worry, the school teachers unions have finally had enough and they are actively trying to get all of that overturned - well, they have for the past five years or so! Perhaps, when you reach retirement age it will all be taken care of in the positive.

[CCSO602]

Thanks for the info guys! I was afraid that was what I was going to hear. Hopefully before I reach 62 they will have changed the law. Once again, thanks and stay safe!