Do you know – The Pre-Social Security Benefit is a temporary one??

Many employees in the Employees’ and Uniformed Retirement Systems will have a retirement benefit that is made up of two portions - their Base Benefit and their Pre-Social Security Benefit (Pre-SSB).

A member’s base benefit is the amount of their pension that will start at retirement and continue until his or her death - or even beyond - for those who arrange a joint and last survivor benefit for their spouse.

A large majority of employees will receive an additional, temporary benefit from the System in addition to their base benefit. This benefit, in the Employees’ and Uniformed Systems, is called the “Pre-Social Security Benefit” (Pre-SSB). The calculated amount of the Pre-SSB is roughly half of the base benefit amount for members of the Employees’ System. In the Uniformed System, where retirement tends to occur at an earlier age, thus extending the length of time the Pre-SSB is paid, the benefit amount is somewhat lower. When a member reaches the age for which he or she is eligible for REGULAR (unreduced) Social Security benefits, the temporary Pre-SSB ceases. This period of time falls between a person’s 65th and 67th birthday, depending on the year of their birth. For instance, an individual born in 1940, will be eligible for regular, unreduced Social Security benefits at the age of 65 years and 6 months.  The Pre-SSB will cease at that age for this particular individual. For an individual born in 1955, his or her Pre-SSB will stop at age 66 and 2 months.

For members of the Employees’ Retirement System, the Pre-Social Security Benefit is calculated by multiplying an individual’s Final Average Salary (FAS) by 1% and then by the person’s years of service. That total is then increased by 3%. See the Fairfax County Employees’ Retirement System Active Employee Handbook for more information on how your benefit is calculated. 

For members of the Uniformed Retirement System, the Pre-Social Security Benefit is calculated by multiplying an individual’s FAS by 0.3% (Plan C, D & E members) or 0.2% (Plan A & B members) and then by the person’s years of service. That total is then increased by 3%. See the Uniformed Retirement System Handbook for Active Employees for more information on calculating your benefits.

“Pre-62 Benefit” still exists for a small number of Uniformed employees. This supplemental amount is based on the primary Social Security benefit a retiree would have received if he or she were age 65 at retirement. This Pre-62 Benefit stops at age 62.

Individuals may apply for Social Security benefits any time beyond age 62, and that decision will NOT affect his or her Pre-SSB from the County. Keep in mind, however, that any reduction in an individual’s Social Security benefit is a PERMANENT reduction. Financial decisions should only be made after careful consideration.

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