Community Chat

[NYCLatinaMe]

It's not garbage, it is real but affects I would guess very few people.  People who had government jobs that contributed to pensions and NOT to social security in their gov't job

IF that person held ANOTHER job where it contributed to social security AND because of that qualifies for social security in addition to the government benefits.

Those folks had a reduced social security benefits if they qualified, and a new law states they get whatever full social security benefits they qualified for.  No reduction.

The way media is spreading the word, they make it sound like it applies to a large number of people.  Percentage-wise, I would guess not.

There are people who only worked government jobs with pensions that never contributed to social security.  I think they eliminated those jobs (allowing people to NOT contribute to social security), I think sometime in the 1980s.  I knew people in that position.  I think you could continue that way or opt into social security as well.  More than 10 years of work paying social security PLUS govt job that did not pay social security, gets the windfall because their pensions had been reduced.

[pdlinda]

@Q-Checker Yes, I did read about the program you're referring to and, no, I don't qualify to receive any reimbursement.  

Even with the Fed govt being $36 TRILLION in debt, I'm glad people like you are being reimbursed (whether you need it or not) for monies you paid into the system but never received; however, I'm going say unequivocally and unconditionally, that I would not be accepting any "surprise" checks from the govt as there would be no rationale for me to be receiving more than what I already receive after working for 50 years of my life!  I'm glad I receive what I dol

[pdlinda]

@Love my grandkids   

Oh, yes, I was just using the term "check" in a generic way. 

I worked for the govt for many years and always had direct deposit as I do for my S.S. payments.  

[patbz]

@spumoni99 : You are correct, the only Federal employees are former CSRS retirement system employees. Those hired around 1980 or later are under FERS refinement system ( they paid SS taxes on their earnings and therefore didn't miss out on SS  benefits).

[pdlinda]

@Wsmom  LOL...Your theory was the basis for my post..in the back of my mind was the thought that if the govt mistakenly disbursed $$ to me, they would want it back, so I better not spend it!  

[patbz]

@Wsmom : My Dad, retired Civil Service under CSRS, eventually received SS and years of back pay, as the spouse of my Mom ( who received SS based on her career as a Master Teacher in MD. When she retired in 1967, since she was obviously a woman, my Dad had no right to a spousal SS benefit.  Eventually the Government changed this policy and my Dad go years of retroactive SS benefits plus a monthly benefit check. My Dad having worked for Feds for many years thought this change must be a mistake. He opened a separate account for this money and never spent any of it. When he passed in 1998 there was over $150,000 in that account ( my brother and I split it).

[Wsmom]

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@patbz wrote:

@Wsmom : My Dad, retired Civil Service under CSRS, eventually received SS and years of back pay, as the spouse of my Mom ( who received SS based on her career as a Master Teacher in MD. When she retired in 1967, since she was obviously a woman, my Dad had no right to a spousal SS benefit.  Eventually the Government changed this policy and my Dad go years of retroactive SS benefits plus a monthly benefit check. My Dad having worked for Feds for many years thought this change must be a mistake. He opened a separate account for this money and never spent any of it. When he passed in 1998 there was over $150,000 in that account ( my brother and I split it).

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Wow, @patbz , nice surprise if you and your brother didn't know it was there.  I totally get why your dad was hesitant to touch it.

[I am still oxox]

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@Q-Checker wrote:

@I am still oxox I should have clarified that those people hired under the old CSRS were permitted to choose to stay under that system when FERS was  implemented. Your husband was not hired under the old CSRS system, so many of these posts do not apply to him. Again, if interested, more information about FERS, can be obtained online.

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@Q-Checker Why do they not apply to him he collects Social Security. I am really confused what you are trying to say. Thank you 

[UpNorthGorgy]

A friend of mine who was in Law Enforcement in Illinois received one, direct deposit. 

[CrazyTimes]

I know retired police officers who received checks. The FOP (Fraternal Order of Police) has been lobbying and working to make this happen for many years. A lot of people don't understand the situation and scream about double dipping. It's not double dipping if you earned those SS benefits.