TN 39 (10-23)

RS 01702.209 Disabled OPM Annuitant, Retired Before October 20, 1969, Applying for SS Retirement Benefits

A. POLICY

1. Retirement Before 10/20/69

Caution must be exercised when a disabled annuitant who retired from civil service prior to October 20, 1969, applies for SS retirement benefits. Such an annuitant may have had their OPM benefit computed under the guaranteed minimum 40 percent of salary provision which does not directly credit pre-1957 MS, thus permitting SS wage credits.

If the annuitant elected a reduced annuity with survivor benefits in order to provide for surviving spouse benefits upon death, the potential surviving spouse benefit is always based on the 55 percent of earned annuity formula, regardless of the basis for the annuitant's benefit. The earned annuity formula credits any pre-1957 MS; therefore, we may not grant wage credits for SS retirement (or any other benefit) purposes, even though the surviving spouse benefits will not be paid by OPM until the annuitant dies. It is the determination that such benefits are payable (even though not paid yet) that bars our wage credits.

2. Retirement After 10/19/69

If the disability began after October 19, 1969, any surviving spouse benefit has the same basis as the disabled retiree's annuity; thus, if the latter did not involve pre-1957 MS, neither will the former.

B. PROCEDURE

If an annuitant indicates a disability retirement from OPM on the SSA-2512,

  • inquire as to when the benefit began and if a survivor benefit election was made, and

  • list the answers in the “remarks” section of the SSA-2512.

NOTE: If the conditions are as explained above, pre-1957 MS wage credit cannot be granted and SSA-655-U2 development to OPM is not required, unless the wage earner is not sure when the annuity began.


To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0301702209
RS 01702.209 - Disabled OPM Annuitant, Retired Before October 20, 1969, Applying for SS Retirement Benefits - 10/06/2023
Batch run: 10/06/2023
Rev:10/06/2023