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.

Hey, Redeye, I remember you, too. I think I'm just going to milk this unemployment thing for as long as I can, now. I start Social Security in less than 3 years anyway. Getting 'laid off' was a good thing for me right now. Think I'll go fishing every day for a while.

ret'd 2/29/04, part-time workers put into the unemploy funds for their state and that entitles you to unemployment benefits. I also got unemployment compensation. Don't matter if you have independent income. If they take from you, you get it back when laid off. All states do that as I know of. I retired 01/06 and drew conpensation for last 12 months after my lay off of a part-time job. And I remember you "I Want Out" and
glad you are enjoying your retirement. I love mine and life is good.

Interesting. It hadn't occurred to me that one with an independent income could also draw unemployment after losing his job.

Hey, remember me? I VER'd December, 2004, with nearly 32 years. I took a part-time job shortly after retiring, just for something to do. I just got laid off again. This is the SECOND time I am going on unemployment compensation. Makes you wonder how folks without a federal pension actually get through their life...