Can I collect FERS supplement and Social Security survivor benefits simultaneously from age 60-62?

I think the second rep is right. The FERS supplement is different from actual SS benefits. My brother-in-law collects both his FERS supplement and his deceased wife's SS survivor benefits. Been doing it for like 18 months now with no problems.

The confusion stems from misunderstanding the FERS Supplement's relationship to Social Security. The FERS Special Retirement Supplement (SRS) is administered by OPM, not SSA, and is designed to approximate the Social Security benefit you would receive at age 62 based on your FERS civilian service. To directly answer your question: Yes, you CAN receive both the FERS Supplement and Social Security survivor benefits simultaneously. They are considered different benefits from different sources. However, be aware that while the FERS Supplement is subject to an earnings test (which won't affect you since you won't be working), your survivor benefits will also be subject to the Social Security earnings test until you reach your Full Retirement Age. When you start your own Social Security at 62, your FERS Supplement will automatically terminate, and you'll need to decide whether to continue with survivor benefits or switch to your own record, whichever is higher (sounds like you already know your own benefit will be higher). I recommend getting this confirmed in writing from OPM regarding the FERS supplement rules. Good luck!

Just to add a bit to what @User2 said - I retired under FERS and had a similar situation. The FERS supplement comes from OPM, not SSA, so they're completely separate systems. The first rep you spoke with was incorrect. However, I strongly recommend visiting your local SSA office IN PERSON and asking them to document this in your file. I had an issue where even though I was legally entitled to both benefits, the computer system flagged it and temporarily suspended my survivor benefits. It took 3 months to resolve because the person who processed my survivor application didn't make a note about my FERS supplement. Also, make sure you understand how the survivor benefit amount might be affected by taking it at 60 vs. your Full Retirement Age. There's a reduction for claiming early.

My husbnd worked for post office for 30 years and I got widows bennies at 60 while he was getting his postal pension. SSA and OPM don't talk to eachother much so thats why you get different answers when you call. Nobody knows what there doing over there lol

I'm going through this EXACT situation right now and it's been a NIGHTMARE!!!! I've been to my local office TWICE and called the 800 number FOUR TIMES!!! Each time I get different answers! One rep even told me I'd have to PAY BACK all my survivor benefits if I was getting the FERS supplement! I was in tears!!! Finally I got a supervisor who actually knew what she was talking about. YES you can get both at the same time. They are NOT the same benefit type. The FERS supplement is NOT Social Security even though it's calculated similarly. BRING YOUR FERS BENEFIT LETTER that shows it's the supplement when you go to apply for survivor benefits. They get confused because it has "Social Security" in the description sometimes. I'm so angry at how difficult they've made this process!!!!!

I was having similar issues trying to reach SSA about my benefits overlap question. After getting disconnected 5 times and waiting on hold for hours, I finally tried using Claimyr.com to get through to a live person at Social Security. They called SSA for me and got me connected to an agent in about 10 minutes instead of hours. They have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU When I finally spoke with a knowledgeable agent, they confirmed that the FERS supplement and survivor benefits don't offset each other. The agent explained that confusion happens because both are subject to separate earnings tests, but they're administered by different agencies. The agent documented everything in my file so I wouldn't have issues later.

wait hang on im confused. are you talking about the FERS pension itself or the supplement? those are 2 different things. the supplement stops at 62 but the pension is forever right? sorry im not understanding your situation completely

One thing nobodys mentioned is the WEP and GPO rules. My friend got caught by this and had her SS reduced cause of her government pension. You should ask about that too while your there!!!

Thank you all so much for your helpful responses! I'm feeling much more confident now. I'm going to schedule an in-person appointment at my local SSA office and bring all my FERS documentation clearly showing it's the supplement. I'll make sure they document in my file that I'm eligible for both benefits simultaneously. It's frustrating that there's so much conflicting information out there, even from SSA representatives themselves. I'm glad I checked here before making any decisions. I'll update after my appointment in case it helps anyone else in a similar situation.

Best of luck with your appointment! You're doing exactly the right thing by going in person with documentation. Just to add one more tip - if possible, try to get the name and employee ID of whoever helps you at the SSA office. That way if any issues come up later, you can reference who provided the guidance. Also, consider asking them to print out or email you a summary of what was discussed/approved. I know it sounds excessive, but given how many conflicting answers you've gotten, having that paper trail could save you a lot of headaches down the road. Please do update us after your appointment - these kinds of real-world experiences are so valuable for others navigating the same waters!

I work at a local SSA field office and can confirm that you CAN receive both the FERS Special Retirement Supplement and Social Security survivor benefits simultaneously. These are administered by different agencies (OPM and SSA) and are considered distinct benefit types. The confusion often arises because some staff aren't familiar with federal retirement benefits. When you visit, specifically ask to speak with someone experienced in federal benefits or request a supervisor if needed. Bring your FERS benefit statement that clearly identifies it as the "Special Retirement Supplement" to avoid any confusion. One important note: make sure they understand that your FERS supplement will automatically terminate when you begin your own Social Security at 62, so there's no risk of long-term conflicts between benefits. Document everything during your visit and get the representative's name. If possible, ask them to make a case note in your file about the concurrent benefits being approved. This will help prevent future issues when your survivor benefits are processed.

This thread has been incredibly informative! As someone approaching a similar situation (federal retirement with potential survivor benefits), I really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences. It's clear that the key takeaways are: 1) FERS supplement and SS survivor benefits are separate and can be collected simultaneously, 2) going in person with proper documentation is crucial, and 3) getting everything documented in your file prevents future headaches. @AstroAlpha - thank you especially for the insider perspective! It's so valuable to hear from someone who actually processes these cases. For those still navigating this, it seems like the consensus is that while the benefits don't conflict, the challenge is finding SSA staff who understand federal retirement benefits well enough to process everything correctly. Oliver, hoping your appointment goes smoothly and you get the clarity you need!

I'm in a very similar boat - federal employee planning retirement in the next few years and recently widowed. This thread has been a goldmine of information! It's both reassuring and frustrating to see that multiple people have successfully navigated this situation despite getting conflicting information from SSA reps. @AstroAlpha's insider perspective is invaluable - knowing that we should specifically request someone experienced with federal benefits could save a lot of headaches. I'm also taking notes on everyone's advice about documentation and getting case notes added to files. One question for those who've been through this: how long did it typically take from your SSA appointment to actually start receiving the survivor benefits? I'm trying to plan my timeline and wondering if there are any processing delays I should factor in. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this community is such a great resource for navigating these complex benefit interactions!

This entire discussion has been incredibly helpful! As someone who handles federal retirement cases regularly, I wanted to add a few practical tips for anyone in similar situations: 1. When scheduling your SSA appointment, specifically mention that you need to discuss "concurrent receipt of FERS Special Retirement Supplement and Social Security survivor benefits" - this helps them assign you to someone more familiar with federal benefits. 2. Beyond your FERS documentation, also bring a copy of your spouse's death certificate and your marriage certificate. Sometimes they need these on file even if you're not applying that day. 3. If you encounter resistance or confusion, don't hesitate to ask for a supervisor or request they contact their technical support line while you're there. I've seen cases resolved on the spot this way. 4. Consider applying for survivor benefits a month or two before you turn 60 to allow processing time, especially if your birthday falls near the end of a month. The key is persistence and documentation. These benefits absolutely can coexist - it's just a matter of finding staff who understand the distinction between OPM and SSA programs. Best of luck to everyone navigating this process!

As someone who's been following this discussion closely, I just want to say how incredibly valuable this thread has been for understanding these complex benefit interactions. The collective wisdom here - from people who've actually lived through these situations to professionals who process these cases - is far more helpful than what many of us are getting from official channels. What really stands out to me is how consistent the core message has been despite all the conflicting information from SSA reps: FERS supplement and Social Security survivor benefits ARE separate and CAN be received simultaneously. The challenge isn't the eligibility itself, but navigating a system where even the representatives don't always understand how federal benefits work. For anyone else dealing with this situation, this thread basically provides a complete roadmap: go in person with proper FERS documentation, ask for someone experienced with federal benefits, get everything documented in writing, and don't give up if you encounter initial confusion. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their experiences - you're potentially saving others months of stress and confusion!

This has been such an enlightening discussion! I'm not in this exact situation yet, but as a federal employee who's been paying into Social Security for years, I'm bookmarking this entire thread for future reference. What strikes me most is how the system seems designed to create confusion - you'd think there would be clear, standardized training for SSA representatives on how federal retirement benefits interact with Social Security programs. Instead, we're seeing people get wildly different answers from the same agency. The practical advice here is gold: bring documentation, ask for experienced staff, get everything in writing, and don't take the first "no" as final. I'm particularly grateful to @AstroAlpha for the insider perspective - it really helps to know that the benefits CAN coexist and that the issue is mainly staff knowledge gaps rather than actual policy conflicts. For those going through this process, you're not just helping yourselves by being persistent - you're also potentially educating SSA staff for the next person who walks in with the same situation. Keep fighting for accurate information!

This thread has been absolutely incredible! As a FERS retiree who went through a similar situation about 3 years ago, I can confirm everything that's been shared here. The key really is persistence and documentation. I wanted to add one more tip that helped me immensely: when I went to my SSA appointment, I actually printed out the relevant sections from the OPM website that explain the FERS Special Retirement Supplement and brought those with me. Having the official government explanation of what the supplement IS (and importantly, what it ISN'T - i.e., not actual Social Security) really helped the representative understand why there was no conflict. Also, for those worried about the process - once everything was properly documented and set up, I've had zero issues with both payments coming through reliably each month. The systems really don't talk to each other, which can be frustrating during setup but actually works in your favor once everything is running smoothly. @Oliver Zimmermann - you're asking all the right questions and taking the right approach. Don't let the initial confusion discourage you - you ARE entitled to both benefits, and with proper documentation and persistence, you'll get it sorted out. Looking forward to hearing how your appointment goes!