Q: Can you tell me which retirement plan should I have been in? I was temporarily employed by the federal government in 1983 but became a permanent employee in 1984. Shouldn’t I be under the Civil Service Retirement System? And not the Federal Employees Retirement System? A: No, I can’t tell you. What I can tell you is this: If you had five years of creditable service under CSRS before Jan. 1, 1987, you would have been entitled to be covered by CSRS with the option of electing to be covered by FERS. Since the Office of Personnel Management has…
Monthly Archives: July, 2010
Q: I am starting a general service job soon, but am getting some conflicting messages about how much leave I will accrue. I am a member of the U.S. Army Retired Reserve – with about 14 years of active duty time. I will not receive military retired pay for another 12 years. Will my active duty time be creditable for leave in the civilian system? A: Yes, your active duty time will be considered to be creditable service for determining your annual leave accrual rate. It won’t be used in determining your years of service for retirement purposes or in…
Q: Will you please explain when the “earnings test” on the Social Security Supplement takes effect for Federal Employees Retirement System employees? What will be the effective date when the supplement is reduced and/or halted if you’ve exceeded the earnings limit? How are your after-retirement earnings reported, how often and to whom? Will the supplement be reinstated if your after-retirement earned income returns to below the earnings limit? A: For a good overview of how the Social Security earnings limit applies, including how things are handled if you retire in the middle of a year, go to www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10069.html. The Social…
Q: I am on medical retirement from the National Guard. Do I have to retire from my federal job? A: A: If you are a military reserve technician who is required to maintain a specific military grade in order to continue in your civilian employment, the answer is yes.
Q: I am 54 years old and just recently returned to the federal government. I have been placed in CSRS Offset and my time is running out to determine if I want to go to the Federal Employees Retirement System. I previously worked for the federal government for 10 years between 1982 and 1992, under the Civil Service Retirement System and have 22 years of substantial earnings in the private sector. Which retirement system would be the best choice based on my background? Also, do CSRS Offset employees earn Social Security substantial earning credits on their years, while employed with…
Q: Does service as a Peace Corps volunteer count toward the one year probationary period for federal service? A: No, an individual’s initial career appointment becomes final only after he has successfully completed a one-year probationary period. This period begins on the effective date of the appointment and ends one calendar year later.