Q: I’m a CSRS Offset employee. I was wondering if I retire immediately and start my Social Security payments if my total annuity amount would be less than if I waited until I was 66 to start collecting Social Security. Or will my total annuity remain the same regardless when I start my Social Security? A: Your CSRS annuity will be offset automatically at age 62 by the amount of Social Security benefit you earned while covered by CSRS Offset. The total amount you receive will be the same; it will just come from two different places, OPM and the…
Monthly Archives: August, 2010
Q: I am a CSRS employee working for the Air Force and I have a question about military buyback. I was first employed by the federal government in 1975 and am eligible for retirement in September 2010 when I turn 55. From everything I’ve heard, when I become eligible for Social Security I will take a reduction in my annuity for my time in the military because I did not buy it back. A: Because you were first hired before Oct. 1, 1982, you’ll receive credit for your period of active duty military service when your annuity is computed. However,…
Q: I retired on full CSRS disability from the U.S. Postal Service in 1991. I am 64 years old. When I turn 65 will I get or apply for regular Social Security retirement, or do I just get the federal disability until I die? A: You would only be eligible for a Social Security disability benefit if you had the required number of Social Security credits and were judged by SSA to be disabled for all gainful employment. If you didn’t meet that last definition and had at least 40 credits under Social Security, you would be eligible for a…
Q: Do partial years of service count toward one’s FERS benefit? As I understand it, if I work exactly 22 years in federal service, am at least 60 years old and my high-3 is $60,000, my benefit is equal to 22 x 1.1% x $60,000 = $14,520. If I work exactly 22 years and three months, is my benefit equal to 22.25 x 1.1% x $60,000 = $14,685? As I understand it, partial months are dropped, so if I work exactly 22 years, three months and 18 days, my benefit would still be $14,685. I really did try to find…
Q: My father retired from active duty in 1961. He then went into government service until 1980. He served in the Korean War and World War II. He is now 93 and has Alzheimer’s, so he doesn’t know who we are. My mother is 84 and takes care of him. She gave me a piece of paper that has dad’s retirement information. She asked me what the $22.08 that comes out every month from dad’s check is for. It says “post retirement basic life insurance”. She said dad has paid this since 1961, but she has no idea what it…
Q: In 1985 I was injured and was covered under worker’s compensation. In 1996 I switched over from worker’s compensation to OPM disability pay. In 1999 I returned to duty as a federal agent and was placed under CSRS-Offset. I have been told that I am under offset because I was off the government payroll for more than a year before returning to work. As I was getting paid by OPM and worker’s compensation for on-duty injuries during the whole period I was off, I am concerned that I am not in the right retirement program. A: What you were…
Q: I was employed as a GS-9, then promoted to GS-11 for an eight-year period. I took some time off from civil service but I have recently been contacted and offered another position in civil service. I was active duty military for four years and during my first employment as a civil servant I did not buy back those four years of active duty military. Am I allowed to buy those four years of active duty back when I am reinstated into civil service? A: Yes.
Q: I receive a FERS annuity, military retirement and in four months will be eligible to receive Social Security at age 62. Will my Social Security be reduced due to the windfall elimination provision? A: No, the windfall elimination provision only applies to retirees who are receiving an annuity from a retirement system where they didn’t pay Social Security taxes, such as CSRS. Neither the military retirement system nor the FERS system fit that definition.
Q: We have a situation where management wants to force an employee on leave without pay because he cannot perform any duties as a result of a stroke. The employee has exhausted all accrued leave, but refuses to request leave without pay because he is two months short of completing 18 months of service so that he can apply for disability retirement. Do you know of any situation when management can force leave without pay upon an employee? We don’t think so, but we want to show the customer in writing. We have recommended that they place the employee on…
Q: I can retire at 55 with 32 years under CSRS in the Postal Service. I have worked part time all this time. Last year I was sent what my retirement would be based on retiring at that time. I will only get about $10,000 a year. My husband has been self-employed, but will become a full-time rural carrier after being a substitute for 18 years. He has checked with Social Security, and so far he could receive $2,000 a month. When he becomes a full-time carrier he will be in FERS. I know about the windfall elimination and all,…