Q: My husband was married when he retired. They later divorced and he married me. I was added to his insurance a few years later. If he dies, will I still be able to continue to be covered by his federal insurance and pay the premiums? A: Only if you are entitled to receive a survivor annuity based on his federal employment.
Monthly Archives: March, 2011
Q: I retired under the CRSR Offset pension. Am I correct to understand that, at age 62, OPM will automatically reduce (offset) my federal pension, or, will OPM wait until I apply for my Social Security benefit and then reduce my federal pension? A: OPM will automatically reduce your CSRS annuity when you become eligible for a Social Security benefit. It makes no difference when or if you apply for one.
Q: I retired from the U.S. Postal Service 14 months ago. In October, my wife passed away and I submitted the paperwork to eliminate the reduction to provide an annuity for her. My retirement benefit was recomputed and increased $259 per month. After processing, I was paid for an accrued annuity for two months; a sum of $518. Should I not have been given the accrued annuity payment from the date of my retirement? Should the FEHB premiums have been returned to me as, I was told that my health benefits would be converted from family to single? A: Absolutely…
Q: I completed more than five years of service under CSRS and withdrew my deposits upon leaving in 1981. In 2006, I took a TEMP/TERM position where I was put in FERS. I was told I could not be in CSRS. I’m a reservist and in 2008, I was recalled to active duty and my TERM contract was not renewed. I’m getting off active duty and will begin my reserve retirement in two months. I’ve been given a lot of different information, so I’m not sure what to believe. If i am collecting my reserve retirement upon starting a federal…
Q: I am a retired federal employee and receive an annuity. I pay for my Medicare Part B quarterly. I would like to have this cost deducted monthly from my annuity. Is there a form to do this? If so, where can I get this form? A: To arrange for this change, call the Medicare Administration at 1-800-633-4227 and talk to a benefits specialist.
Q: I am 53 and work for the U.S. Postal Service under CSRS with 33.5 years service. Our facility is undergoing an AMP study to determine whether it will shut our plant down and merge operations with a facility 50 miles away. If they do shut us down, I would like to retire early at that time. I know that there is a 2 percent per year penalty for retiring early. This AMP study will probably not be finished until sometime in June. I know that the post office is about to offer voluntary early retirement sometime this spring or…
Q: I am 54 with 28 years in the U.S. Postal Service with CSRS. What would my penalties be if I choose to retire this year? A: You aren’t eligible to retire, so the question is moot. Unless your agency offers you an opportunity to retire early, the earliest you can retire is age 55 with 30 years of service. If they did offer you that opportunity, your annuity would be reduced by 1/6 percent for every month you were under age 55.
Q: I will have 24 years of service at age 56 and I am considering retiring then under the MRA+10 provision and postponing the receipt of my annuity until age 60 to avoid the age penalty. What process do I need to undertake in order to get by FEHB back at age 60? A: When you retire, you’ll be told how to activate your annuity payments on the date you choose. If you were enrolled in the FEHB program for the five consecutive years before you retire, you’ll also be told how to re-enroll when your annuity begins.
Q: My husband retired with a government pension based on work for which he did not pay Social Security taxes. If he should die before me, I will receive a monthly spousal annuity payment equal to 70 percent of his benefit. He was also eligible for Social Security benefits, and the amount was reduced because of his government pension. I have not worked long enough to receive a pension or Social Security benefits on my own record. Will I be entitled to Social Security benefits on my husband’s record? And how will those benefits be affected by the spousal annuity?…
Q: I am a 10-point, Purple Heart disabled veteran and have worked for the U.S. Postal Service for more than 35 years. I am assigned to a management position that likely will be affected by a Reduction in Force. As I have experienced in the past, positions are either eliminated or reposted as a new position (or vacancy) after a reorganization. Do 10-point veterans have any preferential rights upon reorganization? A: Yes, if the reorganization results in a reduction-in-force to accomplish the needed changes. However, if no reductions in grade or pay are involved, only the shifting of organizational boxes…