Q: If I have 20 years in a federal law enforcement position at age 44, and decide to resign and not work, at what age could I apply for retirement benefits, and would they be calculated as law enforcement formula? I could not retire at 44 in this scenario, correct? Since I would not be 50 I would have to resign, right? Also, if I have 20 years in a federal law enforcement position at 44 and transfer to another non-law enforcement federal position, can I still retire at 50 with law enforcement formula? A: If you resign, you would…
Monthly Archives: February, 2011
Q: If I elect a survivor benefit for my husband and I die before he does, will his Social Security/FERS pensions be reduced by either WEP or GPO? I am 62, retiring next month with 42 years of CSRS federal service. By law I must leave my husband a survivor annuity of 55 percent of my base salary for which monthly payments will be taken out of my retirement annuity. He is now 64, retired last year with 10 years of federal service (FERS) and now receives Social Security pension and a FERS annuity. A: Neither the windfall elimination provision…
Q: My 59-year-old husband was a GS-6 from 1974-1982. He was otherwise employed for 40 quarters but at very low pay. His estimated CSRS annuity is $197 and his Social Security Statement says his benefit at age 62 is $365. My understanding of GPO and WEP is that his CSRS annuity is reduced (eliminated) by his Social Security annuity, and even if there is a floor for the reduction, his Social Security annuity is then reduced $2 for every $3 of the CSRS annuity. I am 52, retired active duty, and a FERS GS-13. I intend to work until 2029…
Q: As a federal employee working at a VA hospital, I would like to know where to find the reference that tells how far in advance a request for annual leave must be submitted and how long can a supervisor hold a request without either approving or rejecting said request. Who can deny the request? Is there an appeal procedure? Also, how far can an employee be transferred to another facility against that employee’s will? If this transfer is permanent, does the first hospital have any financial duty to me? The second hospital is in the same VISN (Veterans Integrated…
Q: If I retire under FERS at age 56 (MRA) and begin drawing an immediate annuity I understand that I am entitled to the FERS supplement until age 62 when Social Security kicks in. I also understand that it will be suspended if I earn above a certain amount. If I only worked for a couple of years (say, until I was 58) will the supplement be reinstated for the years I don’t earn too much and, if so, what is the process to get it reinstated? A: Once your earnings have fallen below the Social Security earnings limit, the…
Q: I noticed the phrase used “partial survivor annuity” in one of your responses. What exactly is this? What are all the survivor annuity options? A: With a spouse’s written consent, a CSRS employee may elect a survivor annuity that ranges from as little as $1 a year to 55 percent of his or her annuity. A FERS employee only has two choices, 25 percent of 50 percent.
Q: I am 61 and I have nine years of service with the government. I am covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System. My position is going to be eliminated before I reach 10 years of service and before I reach my 62nd birthday. With nine years of service, will I be eligible for an annuity or any other retirement benefits when my position is eliminated? A: You would be eligible for a deferred annuity at age 62.
Q: I was wondering if time on the Temporary Disability Retirement List (TDRL) is considered creditable federal service to adjust my Service Computation Date (SCD). I have been a federal employee since August 2002. I was placed on the TDRL on April 30, 1998. I was on the TDRL for about four years before I was transferred to the PDRL with a service-connected disability of 30 percent (which was caused by an instrumentality of war). My SCD is based on a discharge date of April 30, 1998. I reviewed the OPM chapter 6, which covers creditable service, but I was…
Q: I worked for the Postal Service for 10 years and I was in FERS. When I quit four years ago I rolled my TSP into an IRA. My understanding is that since I had 10 years in the postal service as a carrier, I am entitled to a annuity. Is that so, and at what age can I start to draw on it? I am 47 years old now. Is there any way to figure out approximately how much it would be? A: You would be eligible for a deferred annuity at age 62. To find out what it…
Q: I plan on applying for deferred retirement under FERS (I have more than five years of civilian service and will be 62 later this year). My most recent government job was with the foreign service (period of service just a little over a year). The OPM form I am filling out asks if I was ever employed under another retirement system for federal employees. I assume this is where I would put my foreign service information. Am I to also fill out the Foreign Service Retirement System form to see if I have any annuity in that system or…