Q: I am retired from 24 years of active-duty military service. I also receive Concurrent Retirement Disability Pay from the VA. If I work as a GS employee for five years, I understand that makes me eligible for a small Federal Employees Retirement System pension at age 62. At age 62, would I be eligible for my military pension, CRDP, FERS pension and Social Security? Would there be any offset to any of the payments?
A: We are only qualified to answer questions dealing with federal civilian benefits. That said, after as few as five years of creditable civilian service, you would be able to retire and receive an annuity at age 62. To the best of my knowledge, that would have no impact on your ability to continue receiving your military and VA pay. Any Social Security benefit to which you were entitled would be based on all the years that you were covered by Social Security.
2 Comments
Thanks for your work and advice! I was just informed that If I waive my military pay (in order to increase my GS, FERS retirement pay), I would not receive my CRDP. Their reasoning, CRDP is considered part of my military retirement pay, waiving one is waiving both. Tell me this is incorrect.
I checked with OPM and here’s what they had to say:
CRDP is a benefit paid to military retirees. These benefits are not paid by OPM. If you have more questions about CRDP you should contact the Department of Defense. If the employee is in receipt of CRDP; unless the military retired pay was awarded based on a service connected disability incurred in combat with an enemy of the United States; or caused by an instrumentality of war and incurred in line of duty during a period of war as defined by section 1101 of title 38, the employee must waive military retired pay for CSRS or FERS purposes, even if it has been waived for other purposes (such as VA benefits) in order for the military service to be credited in the CSRS or FERS annuity.