Q: I’m over 50 in a FERS Federal Law Enforcement (CBP) position with more than 22 years covered time and I am considering retirement. I also serve and have more than 30 years in the National Guard and will draw a Reserve retirement before age 60. Once retired from CBP and receiving my federal annuity, can I then accept a GS-13 grade Excepted Technician position with the National Guard without affecting my CBP annuity? A: No.
Monthly Archives: January, 2011
Q: Can current federal employees buy back Army National Guard time? I have federal employees that did 20-plus years in the Army and Air National Guard. They have retired from the National Guard and now work for the government. Some of these employees were placed on active duty (title 10) for certain deployments and are inquiring about also buying back that time. One employee had heard that National Guard time was somehow prorated when it comes to buying back time. Any truth to this, and if so, where can I read about it? A: As a rule, service in the…
Q: I worked for the federal government for 13 years as a civilian contractor for the Army, from 1981 to 1994. I just returned to work for the federal government as an auditor in May. I took a lump-sum payment when I retired in 1994 and would like to buy back into the retirement system. What forms do I need in order to do this? To complicate matters, I am a veteran. I was in the Army from 1959 to 1962. A: Because you took a refund of your retirement contributions after March 1, 1991, you’ll have to redeposit that…
Q: I worked for NAF from 1972 to 1983 as a full-time permanent employee and accepted a civil service position in 1983 without a break in service for more than three days. I am enrolled in CSRS. I got credit for these years for leave purposes but not for retirement. Is there any way to get credit for these 11 years for retirement? A: The deadline for making an election to get credit for that time was Aug. 11, 1997. However, you might still be eligible if you meet the criteria for a waiver. For more information, go to www.opm.gov/retire/pre/naf/naf-1.htm.
Q: When I started receiving Social Security retirement, my Social Security employment history was just under 30 years and so a modest WEP was applied to my benefits. Early the next year, with my 30th year W2 in hand, I was able to have my Social Security benefits recalculated to an amount absent the WEP. I also have a modest CSRS pension from about 11.5 years of service. When I reached age 62, but before I began taking Social Security benefits, a CSRS offset was applied, as I understand is a requirement of law. However, now that it can be…
Q: Is it possible to buy back only a portion of military service and not have to waive military retired pay. I have 21 years active duty and receive military retired pay. I also work for the federal government. In order to have my military service count toward civil service retirement, leave, etc., I would have to buy back all my military time plus waive my military retirement pay (some benefit …). Is it possible to buy back 10 years of military service and keep my military retired pay? A: No, it isn’t possible.
Q: I worked for the government, from 1974 to 1979, and when I left I withdrew my CSRS retirement money. I returned to the government in 1982 and plan on retiring with 35 years (CSRS) of service in July 2011. For those five years, if I do not repay the retirement money, can you tell me how much I will be penalized? I did not understand your response from the article ‘CSRS retirement money payback,’ dated Dec. 13, which read: If you make a deposit, your annuity when you retire will be increased by approximately 30 percent (2 percent times…
Q: I retired from the Federal Bureau of Prisons 10 years ago and I receive my monthly annuity. Is it possible to be hired for another federal job without it affecting my current annuity? A: Yes, it’s possible. However, the opportunities to do that are limited. Therefore, you’d have to confirm that you’d be entitled to receive both your annuity and an unreduced salary before accepting a position.