Federal civil-service annuitants and social security, December 1975

This article examines personal and work-related characteristics of a sample of the nearly 1 million Federal civil-service retirees who were receiving annuities based on their own wage records as of December 31, 1975. Employment patterns and subsequent annuities in civil-service careers have been related to corresponding experience in jobs covered under the old-age, survivors, disability, and health insurance (OASDIHI) program. With some exceptions, the review uncovered patterns generally similar to those found in a study of 1967 annuitants. About 2 out of 5 annuitants were entitled to OASDHI cash benefits in 1975. Most of these dual beneficiaries received benefits on the basis of their own OASDHI-covered earnings, but 11 percent were entitled as dependents or survivors of other workers. About two-thirds of the annuitants not currently receiving benefits had some OASDHI-covered employment during their work careers. In general, those with the shortest civil-service careers and lowest annuities were most likely to be entitled to OASDHI cash benefits.