Poll: Do you have a pension?

[MissMolly]

Although I have a state retirement pension, I was surprised to receive a letter a couple of years ago (when I turned 65) telling me I was now eligible to receive my pension from a company I worked more than 30 years ago. The company had been bought out by another which also was closed so I had no idea I had a pension out there. My choice was $84/month for my life or $12,000 after they withheld taxes. Since I would never notice the $84/month I chose the lump sum and split it between my kids. They were happy. I was happy. Found money is fun.

[MBAustin]

I didn't answer because I took a buyout of my pension before I started drawing it.

[Golden sunsets]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amethyst For those who envy the CSRS pension, keep in mind that it is taxed at ordinary income rates, unlike investment withdrawals and capital gains. Also, one doesn't get SS except in certain situations; unlike FERS, the pension contribution was 7% of salary in lieu of FICA.

There is actually a third type of government pension, called CSRS Offset. Example: DH spent 21 years under CSRS. He left federal service, but did not cash in his pension. He spent 10 years in the private sector. He then rejoined his old agency for an additional 8 years and became CSRS Offset, paying in to SS but continuing the same pension. So he ended up with a federal pension based on 29 years(actually 30 after adding all of his sick leave to his # of years) and another 20 years under SS.

His SS is not as large as it would have been if he had been in the private sector for his entire career, but it is not insignificant.

[unclemick]

small non COLA pension (55) and small CRP at the farm ends 2021. Early SS.

Portfolio is the heavy lifter ala 60% plus depending on expenses a given year.

Heh heh heh -

[Freedom56]

Corporate pension with level income that is reduced by the SS amount at age 62.

[latexman]

DW and I will each have a MC pension and SS. By the time everything is flowing, age 70, we’ll have about 100% of our current income.

[socca]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MissMolly ... I was surprised to receive a letter a couple of years ago (when I turned 65) telling me I was now eligible to receive my pension from a company I worked more than 30 years ago. ...

Same thing happened to me. I had written off the idea of receiving any kind of pension from the old megacorp, but they contacted me out of the blue and said I had a modest non-COLA pension coming. I can start it at any time, but it's worth 8% per year for me to delay until age 70. Currently, my pension would pay for an excellent 2-week annual vacation in some exotic locale. After a bout of hyperinflation, it may not pay for a bus ride. The primary contribution that my pension will make to my life after I start receiving payments is to remind me each month that I'm OLD ENOUGH to receive a pension.

[Walt34]

I have one of those disappearing fully COLA'd pensions with heavily subsidized health insurance. At last report a couple of months ago the pension plan was 99.5% funded so we sleep well on that score. It is from a county government, not state, and the county stopped offering that plan about 1983. It has been changed several times since. I was grandfathered into it because I started in 1973 and elected to stay in it.

In 1983 the pension plan participants were offered a deal. If they enrolled in the new pension plan they would get back 50% of all their previous pension plan contributions AND future pension contributions would be cut in half too. Of course, the new pension plan was not fully COLA'd (I think the cap is 3%) the payout is not nearly the same, and the medical coverage is not as good either. A lot of guys took the bait and bought new toys - cars, boats, etc. and later regretted it when they retired. One of the big red flags on this deal to me was that the decision to go into the new pension plan could be done at any time, even up to the last day before retirement, but once you signed on the dotted line the decision was irreversible. So I declined, and continued paying the high pension premiums. Now my former employer is eagerly awaiting my demise to get me off the books. I have every intention of setting a new record for longevity. We'll see how that works out.

There was (and remains) a downside to this deal. Remember the high inflation of the 1970's and '80's? When folks in private industry were getting 15% raises and more, we were doing well to get 2%. One year the pay increase was 1%. Annual bonuses? Never saw anything like that either. I figure it all more or less works out.

[LRDave]

I only voted once and I voted for government pension. DW get teacher retirement from the state of GA. About $2300, of which amongst the withdrawals is a direct monthly healthcare premium for a retirees plan - about $275 for a bronzish plan from BCBS. It is COLAed.

I get a monthly annuity payment from megacorp labeled as a "pension" - $395 - beer money........

[TheWizard]

No pension, per se, but I did pensionize (annuitize) my employer's contribution to my 403(b) with TIAA to the tune of around $8000 per month...

[tmm99]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom57 Small $400 per month corporate pension I have been collecting since 2001 from a 7 year employment at a German company in the US. DW gets $210 per month since 2002 for a 30 year employment at a major US bank.

Mine is like yours - $365/mo - corp pension (no COLA). It is so tiny but it is still much better than a kick in the butt .

I haven't spend any of it yet, and it's not in my retirement budget/calculations.

[street]

Yep, I took it in a lump.

[Gumby]

Quote:

Originally Posted by anethum No pension. I've sometimes felt that there should be parallel forums for folks w/pensions and those without. ....

I think we can all live harmoniously in a single forum, but it is a good reminder that it is basic human nature to look at things through the lens of our own personal experience. When I post, I try to keep in mind that my situation may not be like yours, but I'm sure I'm not always successful. The best we can do is try to be aware of the fact and how it might affect any advice we may be giving.

[WestUniversity]

Corporate pension. Did analysis on annuity vs lump sum. Took it in a lump sum…

[RetireBy90]

DW and I are both retired Army and DW draws a small school system pension.

[Puzzler]

Quote:

Originally Posted by pb4uski +1 but mine is $1,500/month. I set my federal tax withholdings from this one pension to cover our annual federal income tax bill so I don't have to make estimated payments and the remainder goes into checking.

That's smart! Thanks for the idea.

[calmloki]

No pension a-tall. Do collect $91.30/month in social security after they take out medicare and drug premiums. Our cat is most grateful, as that covers both food AND cat litter.

[retire202052]

Texas TRS (education) pension. About 70% of final salary.

[Drake3287]

CalPERS retirement and I'm embarrassed to say just how much it is, almost criminal. I also get 100% medical and dental for life for both myself and wife.

I never talk about my retirement benefits in front of family or friends. Most of my fellow retirees do the same simply because most people get angry over it.

[jollystomper]

Non-COLA corporate pension but relatively large compared to others. It is 39% of my final year base salary. It would have been higher had not megacorp restructured pensions in the late 1990s and then froze the salary component of the pension in the mid 2000s.

We went into retirement planning for it to cover all of our "basic living" expense level and over half of our "extravagant living" expense level, which has worked so far.