Evening star., 1945-11-05

fortunately, this option Is available
only for those retiring directly from
Government service because of age
that Is, over age SIS with 80 or
more years of service or over 81
with Is years. Even though the
dependents of a disability annuitant
are apt to need this protection most,
they cannot get it. The reason is
probably that the single-life annuity
would be cut too sharply when the
joint and survivor annuity was de-
termined on an actuarial" basis.
@. How are the reductions for
joint and survivor benefits deter
mined?
A. The reduced annuity is COM
puted by actuarial factors which, on
the average, balance of the pay
ments to the survivor by the smaller
amounts paid to the employe an
nuitant while he is alive. There is
thus taken into account their rela-
tive ages as well as the possibility
that the beneficiary may die first, in
which case no increase in the an
nuity is made. In other words, this
option is not intended to pay out
more benefits but only to redistri-
butte their time and manner of pay
ment.
Comparison With Social Security.
@. How do the civil service and
social security plans compare for
survivors protection for annuitants?
A. The civil service method of sur
vivor insurance-if such limited
provision may be so called-is just
the reverse Of the relatively FULL
fledged program of the Social Sc
curity Act where the presence of
dependents has the effect of in
creasing benefits rather than cut
ting them. Also, under the civil
service system, even though there
are several dependents to be taken
care Of, only one can be named as
the survivor annuitant. If that one
should die before, or shortly after,
the employe annuitant, the other
dependents would be left out in the
cold. Under similar circumstances,
the social security plan provides
benefits for each dependent inde-
|pendently.
Payments to Fund When Out of
Service.
@. Can service credit be purchased
or refunds redeposited while I am
out of Federal service?
Voc c,,ch oytr y,,oxy no
made at any time before retirement
in fact even while the claim is be-
ing alphabetically those who have
at least five years of service and were
in service after January "a, 1912. II
you desire to make such payments
write to the Civil Service Commits
sion, which will inform you of the
amount due and the manner OF
making remittance. Installments at
intervals are allowed.
@. What about voluntary deposits
under the savings program?
A. Voluntary deposits refunded
on separation from service cannot
be returned to the fund while out
Of service nor can additional vol.
untary deposits be made then. But
when the claim is actually being
processed or on return to service
voluntary deposits up to 10 per cent
of all past wages back to August
1920, may be made even though vol.
untary deposits had previously beer
refunded. In this way you can
practically speaking, redeposit a re.
fund of voluntary deposits.
Receipt of Both Civil Service and
Social Security Benefits.
@. Can I collect annuities from
both civil service and social Sc.
curity systems at the same time?
A. Yes, these systems are com.
pletely independent. Thus you car
also draw your civil service annuity
and be employed in job under tht
social security coverage. If yol
qualify under that plan too, you viii
get two annuity checks each month
when you retire completely.
The six articles comprising the
original series of explanations Of
civil service retirement benefits
have been issued by radio station
WMAL as a single pamphlet. Copies
are obtainable without charge or
written request to the station.