Q. I’m currently in a secondary 1811 position and will be transferring to a new position within the same organization that is not secondary, but primary in classification. I have no previous primary service. I would like to change to primary to receive the higher retirement multiple. Can this be done? A. First go to www.opm.gov/retire/pubs/handbook/C046.pdf and read Subpart 46B3.2; then, after talking with your supervisor, visit your personnel office.
Monthly Archives: March, 2011
Q. I am a federal employee retiree with Blue Cross Blue Shield basic insurance coverage and have purchased the survivor’s annuity. My question is, if I die before my wife, will the Blue Cross Blue Shield coverage continue with the premium being taken out of her annuity? A. Yes, as long as you were enrolled in the self and family option of your plan when you died.
Q. The WEP law will negatively affect me and a lot of people I know. Please, can you give those of us affected an update on any repeal actions now in Congress? I know there were bills put forward, but I don’t know the status, any recent activity or the likelyhood of this repeal ever being realized. Many conservatives are promoting class warfare and pit nongovernment workers against public service employees. We are not the problem. Please update us on the viability of this repeal going forward, and, if you will, how those affected can push the repeal. Who to write,…
Q. I am a CSRS employee who is about to retire and want to leave my spouse with an annuity after my death. I expect to receive $30,000 a year in annuity payments for myself. What is the least amount I can designate so can maintain health insurance after my death. The formula given by the federal government doesn’t give a minimum amount. The lowest the examples show is $12,000. I need to know how low I can go with this amount. Please help me so that I can finalize my retirement & my wishes. A. You are required by law…
Q. I am a former employee at Mare Island Shipyard, Calif. Due to a reduction in force, I lost my job in 1996. I pulled out all of my retirement money to become a registered nurse and I work at a private company now. Is all the time I worked with the shipyard no longer considered for retirement because I withdrew my retirement money? If I returned to a federal job, could I buy back the time for a later retirement? A. You would only be eligible for a benefit if you returned to work for the federal government in a…
Q. Does a COLA get added to your current salary or starting salary? I’m working in San Diego and they have been adding it to my starting salary, then adjusting. Is that the correct way to adjust? A. You haven’t received a cost-of-living adjustment. Only retirees receive COLAs. If you received a pay increase, it was an adjustment to your current rate of pay.
Q. I’ve received an estimated annuity statement that shows my begin service date as 01/03/1974. Three days later I receive a retirement letter of correction saying from 01/03/1974 to 04/03/1974 my retirement witholdings were under FICA. My CSRS contributions begin 04/04/1974. If I retire June 3, I have enough sick leave to give me 38 years and one month of service. Will my first 90 days being under FICA leave me short of 38 years of service as far as getting 72 percent of my high-3 years? Do I need to stay three more months to be sure I don’t…
Q. I am in an 1801 covered law enforcement position. Our mandatory retirement age is 57. The last few years’ positions have been posting with a 40 year maximum entrance age, with 20 years going to 60. Are other LEO’s now allowed to work until 60? A. No. However, if a law enforcement officer has completed 20 years of covered service and reached mandatory retirement age, an agency head may, at his sole discretion, allow the employee to continue working until age 60. If an LEO is first hired after age 37, he must be allowed to complete 20 years of…
Q. I will retire at the end of March. I am a FERS employee with 30 years service, and am age 57 1/2. My Human Resources office told me I will be penalized on my Supplemental Social Security payment at an amount of 5 percent per year until I reach age 62. My question is: Will this Supplemental Social Security payment increase yearly as I approach age 62, or does it remain the same. A. It sounds like your HR office was talking about the age penalty that’s applied to the annuities of employees who retire under the MRA+10 provision…
Q. I am retired military and I will have 15 years of unbroken civil service on July 31 when I reach my MRA. Can I take deferred retirement? A. Because you have reached your minimum retirement age and have at least 10 years of civilian service, you retire under the MRA+10 provision with an immediate annuity. However, that annuity will be reduced by 5 percent for every year that you are under age 62. You can postpone the receipt of your annuity to a later date to reduce or eliminate the age penalty.