Q. I’m in federal law enforcement (covered), and the Army National Guard. For retirement purposes I need 20 years covered, and 50 years of age to retire? Last year I was involuntarily deployed for 12 months in Afghanistan, and was automatically placed on leave without pay status. I am curious: Do I lose a year of covered law enforcement time because military time is done under the rules governing credit for military service? I’ve heard there was a bill passed that stated that for every year spent deployed over seas, a year is taken off for retirement purposes, or does…
Monthly Archives: March, 2011
Q. I am receiving a FERS disability annuity at 60 percent of my base pay (first year). I thought I was told prior to retirement that the salary limit of 80 percent did not apply the first year I draw the annuity. I cannot find any notes I might have taken or documentation from my previous human resources office supporting this idea. I accepted a civilian position where I made more than 80 percent of my fed tech position within the first calendar year of receiving the annuity. I received an earned income questionnaire from OPM and if submitted with…
Q. I am a CSRS employee who plans to retire on my 55th birthday on May 3, 2012 with 32 years of service. This is the middle of a pay period. Do I list May 3 as my “date of final separation” on the appropriate form and do I have to report to work (or be on leave status) on that day, or is that the first day that my retirement begins? In other words, am I a retiree or an employee on May 3? A. You will be 55 on the day before your birthday. On May 3, you…
Q. My mother retired from the Postal Service in 1990 with 28 years of service. In addition, she has worked (and continues to do so) in the private sector for 31 years. The exemptions for the offset provisions list 30 years of paying into Social Security. How would she determine if she is eligible for the exemption and which department should she contact? A. The Social Security Administration has an electronic fact sheet that should answer your questions. Go to www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10045.html.
Q. I am under CSRS and have 28 years in the federal government. I have developed neck, back and disk problems from a car accident I was in three years ago. I also suffer from severe asthma, allergies, and anxiety. I need to be in regular therapy for my back. I’ll be 52 in November 2011, and do not have the age yet for retirement. Is it allowable to use leave without pay in combination with annual and sick leave for continued therapy until I reach 55 and have 30 plus years and can retire? The LWOP will not exceed…
Q. Is an employee who is eligible for retirement and is ready to, forced to retire immediately or may he/she have the option to simply quit federal employment and apply for their retirement annuity at a later time? A. Yes, you can either apply for an immediate annuity now or quit and apply for one at a later date.
Q. I am retiring at age 56 under FERS with a CSRS component. I plan to continue working part time, paying into Social Security and will make approximately $10,000 per year. I plan to collect Social Security at age 62 when my FERS supplement ends. Will my Social Security benefit be affected by my CSRS component? A. Yes, if you have fewer than 30 years of substantial earnings under Social Security. Then your Social Security benefit will be affected by the windfall elimination provision.
Q. I have two questions that pertain to FERS retirement and sick leave. First, if I understand this correctly when I retire, I assume it will be in 2014 or later, and I’ve met the requirements of MRA and number of years of service. Assume the day I retire that I have 37 years of service (34 government and three years military) and two months, 13 days left over. Let’s also assume that I have 11 months, 20 days of accrued sick leave. The two would be combined to give me a total of 38 years, two months, three days.…
Q. I am a 58 year old CSRS employee with 34 years’ service. I need to retire due to health problems but my agency (USPS) says that I must take optional retirement instead of disability retirement. If I retire, can I apply for Social Security disability?” I have 54 quarters of coverage from other jobs and my SSA statement says I am eligible for disability payments if I qualify as disabled. Also, will this effect my civil service annuity? A. Your agency is mistaken. You have the option of applying for disability or optional retirement. However, there is no financial advantage…
Q. I retired from the Post Office in 1996 after 31 years. My retirement was under CSRS. My wife was covered all that time under the Survivors Benefit Program. She passed away in 2006. I suspended her SBP coverage in January 2007. I remarried in 2009. I have been trying to enroll my wife in the SBP since July 2010. Recently, I received a letter from OPM saying that would have to pay around $45,000 in penalties to enroll her. I believe they are wrong. Can you help? A. You didn’t “suspend” your late wife’s eligibility for a survivor annuity.…