Q: I was hired by the USPS on Jan. 5, 1985, as a casual. Two weeks later, on Jan. 19, 1985, I was converted to career status. I was told at the time that was because of a new retirement system going into effect, and I have been in FERS my entire career. My question(s): Is there a significance to the date Jan. 19, 1985? If FERS did not become effective until Jan. 1, 1987, was I placed in the wrong retirement system? If that is the case is there anything that can be done at this point in time to…
Monthly Archives: November, 2010
Q: For retirement purposes my date of “separation” is planned to be Jan. 1, 2011. I chose this date so that I would accrue leave for the last pay period. I am, however, concerned if I will lose my “use or lose” leave balance if I retire/separate on Jan. 1, 2011, as opposed to Dec. 31, 2010. A: Don’t be concerned. You can either retire at the close of business on Dec. 31, 2010 or on Jan. 1, 2011, which is the end of the leave year, and get paid for the leave you accrued in the last pay period.…
Q: I am a DoD civilian stationed in Europe and receive the full benefits (housing, overseas post allowance, etc.). My wife transferred from a U.S. Government civilian agency in the states and continues to work for the same agency in Germany. She only receives the base salary and no other benefits. My question is is she entitled to receive overseas post allowance? Currently I receive the family post allowance rate but would gladly switch to the single rate for her to receive her overseas single rate post allowance as well (we have no dependents). Her agency says that they do not have to pay any type…
Q: I am a letter carrier with the Postal Service and am under CSRS. In 2006 I received a divorce and as part of the settlement my ex-wife will receive a portion of my retirement. I became eligible to retire at the end of 2008 when I reached 55 years of age. However, for financial reasons I cannot afford to retire at this time. Can my ex receive her share of my retirement now even though I continue to work and am not retired? A: As a rule, we’re not qualified to answer questions about divorce; however, I can tell you that your…
Q: Has the government considered raising the earnings limit, given the financial strain many seniors are facing? Why does COLA have to be tied to the earnings limit? A: The method used to determine the Social Security earnings limit and cost-of-living adjustments are governed by the same law, and are based on the CPI-W. Because the CPI-W has stayed in negative territory, no adjustments were made in 2010, and none will be made in 2011.
Q: I have been on the phone on several occasions talking to BCBS customer service people and all seem to be at a loss and I never get the same answer to what I believe should be a simple question. I am a federal employee currently covered by BCBS under the standard program self only. My wife arrived in country this past March and now that open season is here I want to add her to my policy. I know I have to upgrade to the family plan; I am all for that. Please tell me what I must do…
Retiring at the end of leave years 2010 or 2011 offers maximum advantage to employees who want to hold out for the maximum payment for unused annual leave and get the benefit of the pay increase that starts on the first pay period on or after Jan. 1 each year. Keep in mind, however, the end-of-year avalanche of retirements will further challenge the Office of Personnel Management’s ability to process applications in a timely fashion. New applications will be on top of a backlog of 38,000 applicants, 40 percent of whom have been waiting three months or more to receive…
Q: Is there a schedule that I can see that shows dollar amounts for age and years of service for civil service retirees? A: No, nor could there be. That’s because annuities are computed using a formula that includes an employee’s highest three consecutive years of average salary and his years and full months of service. As a rule, age is only used in combination with years of service to determine if an employee is eligible to retire.
Q: My son is 23 and is currently on Temporary Continuation of Coverage. Last open season we changed our insurance plan but our son continued with the old plan. It’s my understanding he is eligible to come back onto our plan January 1st. Does he need to change to our new insurance company/plan? Or can he stay where he is? A: He would have to be covered by your plan.
Q: I am currently 65 and a federal employee with four years and one month continuous full-time service with health insurance. My husband, age 62, is receiving a CSRS annuity, has federal health insurance, and retired after 34 years of civil service. We married 9/25/10, and were told I could be on his health insurance. He sent the required marriage certificate and letter of request. (We both had checked on the process for health insurance that this was acceptable). However, his health carrier stated that if he died before I did, I would be removed from the health insurance because he did not elect…