Q: I am a FERS rural carrier for the U.s. Postal Service. I have 13 years in as a full-time carrier. Every year I use all of my annual leave, however, I have more than 100 sick days unused. I am a healthly person in general, but in 2010, I did have to use three weeks of sick leave (under FMLA) to care care for my father. I would like to take more time off. If I have coverage of my route and the time I take off does not conflict with other carriers and their requested time off, can…
Monthly Archives: January, 2011
Q: This past year, I was off work for more than six months due to surgeries. I used all of my annual and accrued sick leave. I was donated leave by co-workers and was the recipent of 100 hrs of advanced sick leave. I plan on retiring in June and probably won’t have but half of the sick leave paid back. Can I transfer annual leave to cover the shortage, or will I be forced to pay back the difference in cash at or near my retirement date? Further, my military payback won’t be complete by June, just 50 percent…
Q: I have applied for a job with the Navy and have been through the interview. I’ve been directed toward the Office of Human Resources for answers, but the only thing they can tell me is if I’m selected. I will get an e-mail from them with an offer. My interview was two weeks ago. How long does it, or can it, take to get an e-mail from them stating whether I was selected? A: There isn’t any set schedule. With thousands of appointing authorities around the world, the time between an interview and a decision varies widely, even more…
Q: I am a 53-year-old military technician who has a Service Computation Date of 28 years civil service under FERS. I just lost my military position due to a medical condition. I applied for a FERS medical disability due to loss of my position for medical reasons and was denied because I qualify for Discontinued Service Retirement. Since I haven’t reached my MRA of 56, should I still be retired under a medical disability? If I don’t qualify for a medical and retire under a DSR, will I receive the Social Security supplement, or will I have to wait until…
Q: I am a retired Marine with 27 years of service. It has been six years since I retired, and I recently was hired by the Ferderal Bureau of Prisons. Since I already receive retirement pay from my military career, will I be eligible to receive another retirement pension from the Federal Buerau of Prisons when I retire? A: Yes, you would be able to receive another annuity from the federal government when you meet the age and service requirements.
Q: Is there any rule that allows a FERS member (getting ready to retire) to transfer sick leave to their daughter (another FERS employee) in case of any future emergency? Rather give it than take the reduced credit for retirement purposes. A: No, there isn’t.
Q: Does eligibility to carry the Federal Employees Health Benefits plan in retirement also apply to those with less than five years continuous FEHB who retire with a Voluntary Separation Incentive Payments (BRAC installation) but are otherwise eligible to old-age retire (no Voluntary Early Retirement Authority needed)? I was rehired as a reinstatement after a long break in service, but have been continuously covered under Tricare (military spouse) for many years and did not elect federal health benefits until my second year back. Retirement with VSIP will occur after three years service this employment period, only two years of which…
Q: When civilians work compressed schedules (such as six 12-hour shifts and one eight-hour shift for 80 hours in a two-week period), how many holidays are they entitled to have off, or can the agency make them work all the holidays? A: Full-time employees are entitled to an “in lieu of” holiday when it falls on a nonworkday, even if they are on flexible or compressed work schedules. When that happens, the employee’s holiday is the basic workday immediately preceding the nonworkday. There are exceptions, one of which allows the head of an agency to designate a different “in lieu…
Q: I am retired active-duty military with 21 years and drawing military retirement. I also receive a Veterans Affairs disability payment with a 50 percent rating falling under CRDP rules. I have 15 years of civilian government employment under FERS and also made the deposit for my 21 years of active duty. When I retire under FERS, waive my military retirement and end up with 42 years of FERS, will I lose the VA payment or will I be able to keep it? A: You’ll be able to continue receiving your VA payment.
Q: I cannot find what the multiplier is for retirement from the foreign service. I think it is more than civiil service because of the mandatory retirement age of 65, but I could be wrong. A: You’ll find what you’re looking for by going to www.state.gov/documents/organization/85296.pdf and scrolling down to 3FAM6114, Foreign Service Retirement Plans.