Q: I was a CSRS employee and I retired from the federal government in 1994 under the 10 percent reduction by President Clinton. I have been working in the private sector from 1995 to 2011. Can I connect Social Security from 1995 till 2011 if I am 65? A: Because you are receiving an annuity from CSRS, a retirement system where you didn’t pay Social Security taxes, your Social Security benefit will be affected by the windfall elimination provision. The WEP reduces the Social Security benefit of anyone who has fewer than 30 years of substantial earnings under Social Security.
Monthly Archives: February, 2011
Q: I have a large civil penalty from a state and want to know if they can garnish my Social Security income when I start to draw payments. A: Section 407 of the Social Security Act states that “none of the moneys paid or payable under this subchapter shall be subject to execution, levy, attachment, garnishment or other legal process.” While this is generally true, there are exceptions; for example the collection of delinquent federal taxes or delinquent child support. And there are others. You’ll need to consult an attorney who can examine your particular situation and determine whether garnishment…
Q: I retired in October 2006 because of a disability from the CSRS. I had paid more than $60,000 into the CSRS and was told when I reach my retirement age of 55 (in February 2011) that I would not be subject to federal taxes on that 60,000. So I was hoping to not pay federal taxes the next couple years. But depending on who in the government I talk to I seem to get different answers. What is the truth? I have been paying federal taxes all along on the disability annuity they send me and was expecting some…
Q: I retired from the Air Force after 27 years of service. I have now been working for TSA for three years for a total of 30 years of federal service. When will I be eligible for retirement from TSA and does my time in the Air Force count toward a future retirement? A: You will be eligible to retire when you have five years of civilian employment. You will only receive credit for your years of active duty service if you make a deposit to the civilian retirement fund and, at retirement, waive your military retired pay.
Q: I am a FERS dual status technician with the Air National Guard. I completed my active duty Title 10 military buyback (three years, seven months) to receive retirement credit under FERS. Is it possible to apply for a refund of the military buyback time and not receive credit under the FERS retirement system? A: You can only get a refund of your retirement contributions if you leave government and apply for a refund of all your retirement contributions and deposits, thus voiding your entitlement to an annuity.
Q: I plan to retire in December of 2011. If I retire Dec. 31, I will have 41 years and 10 months, one month shy of the 41 years and 11 months to be eligible for the 80 percent of my high-3 salary. I will have one month of sick leave. When my annuity is calculated and my sick leave added in, will I actually have the 80 percent I’m looking for? If I retire on Dec. 2 in the 24th pay period would I most likely receive my annual leave sum payment in pp. 26 which would actually be…
Q: Does a certain amount of time have to elapse between when a CSRS employee retires and can be rehired as a part-time rehired annuitant? A: No, there isn’t any amount of time that must pay, whether you are covered by CSRS of FERS. However, because hours of unused annual leave are projected forward as if you were still on the agency’s roll, you will have to repay any of the money that represents days which haven’t yet gone by. For example, if you were paid for 20 days of leave and went to work the day after you retired,…
Q: I plan to apply disability retirement at a Social Security office in few months. What if our organization offers us buyout? Do I have to pay money (buyout) back to the federal government if I get disability retirement pension? A: If you have a disability such that you are or would be eligible for disability retirement, you wouldn’t be eligible for a voluntary separation incentive payment (VSIP).
Q: I’m 45 and will retire as a military reservist next year with 21 years of service. I joined the federal workforce in 2004 and am considering buying back the 14 years of active duty toward my federal retirement. When I retire, will I be able to draw both a military reserve retirement and federal pension? The way I read the regulation is that if I buy back the military time I would have to waive my military pension to get a federal pension. Is that correct? Could you offer additional insights on the pros and cons of the subject?…
Q: I retired from USG under the CSRS Offset in 2009 at 60 with 23 years of service. I am now 62 and am still working in the private sector and have not nor intend to apply for Social Security benefits until much later. However, I received a letter from OPM last month stating that “by law we must reduce your annuity if you are eligible for” Social Security, “regardless of whether you have applied for the SSA benefit or have begun to receive it.” The offset ($500 in my case) is linked to PL 98-168 and PL 99-335.The OPM…