I didn't remember the answer they gave and that issue has already been recycled.

You have a nice day, too.

Ya know, why didn't you just answer the fellows question, ret'd 2/29/o4, instead of giving a pitch for NARFE's magazine? He would have to join NARFE, wait till his membership went thru, wait a couple of months for a magazine to arrive and MAYBE the answer MIGHT be in it. A minimum of 2 months.. I am a member of NARFE and the magazine is nice every month for only 1 reason, the q&a's. I think it is a money grubbing organization just like every other lobby group. But it is all that federal employees have. Much better and faster info can be found on the internet.

I would answer his question for him, but it has never come up in my life.

NARFE (Nat'l Assoc of Active and Retired Federal Employees) has a monthly magazine that addresses all these sort of questions. It's very handy and informative.

I still am confused. What is the minimal percentage amount I would have to take so my wife would receive health benefits if I died first?

Yes, but I can live with the WEP. For one thing, it's fair, even though I resent it being applied retroactively, in my case years after I switched from SS to CSRS.

The other thing is that it's still a great return for an annuity. I'll start getting SS at the end of this year and in less than 12 months I'll get back everything I ever paid into that system. For the next 30-40 years or whatever it's all gravy.

My wife only worked sporadically off and on, mostly part-time to help her mother with medical bills, and not at all since '91, and she also gets back everything she paid into it in the first year. You can't beat a return like that even if it doesn't amount to a lot of dollars.

But we really get screwed on the Social Security penalty...thanks Reagan !!!!!!

Correct ret'd 2,taxes,health insurance,etc. would all be lower thus a larger net dollar amount.
All in all,it's a great retirement !!!!!!

Which means, in the case of our household, my wife would get a survivor benefit of about 61% gross of what we'd be getting if I were still around, and net an even larger chunk of that because her health plan cost will go down. The "55% of unreduced gross benefit" means she'd be getting 63% of what we currently net. The bottom line is more than it appears.

The survivor deduction for the full,un reduced survivor annuity is based on 55% of gross monthly annuity!!

Check into that. I believe that although the survivor benefit for our pension is 55%, that's 55% of the annuitant's unreduced benefit, which should come out to about 60% of what the annuitant is actually drawing.

Joe B. Jr., go with the 100% which basically gives her 55% of your retirement if you die first. That will only reduce your retirement about
10% and you won't see that once it gets started. And you won't pay taxes on that amount. She will once she starts drawing it. And she will continue to be eligible for your health insurance for the rest of her life.

Edited by author 05-20-2009 06:10 PM
I am planning to retire soon. I am married ,I want to know what percent I need for survivor benefits for my wife to be covered under my medical benefit is 50% ok if I die first ? Or do I have to do More? I am under CSRS.

Now that I have time to take care of myself I'm more fit and in better health than I think I ever had been in my life. I work out every morning before breakfast and by the time I'm finished it doesn't matter if I get anything else done the rest of the day, I'm set physically and mentally.

Hi all,
  I retired in Nov.2007(on my 55th birthday) with 32 yrs.service and have never been happier!!
  I did work for 1 month for the P.O. during the Rural Route count,good money for p/t work!
 Take care all !!

I Want Out, I'm doing the same thing on getting the full twelve months
of unemployment since I did pay into it. It's golfing everyday than fishing for me but both are great activities for us old(I mean Ole) folks.