Q. Is there a distinct advantage or disadvantage to retiring at the beginning of 2012 or end of 2011? I realize that lump-sum payments would be better tax wise but wonder if Dec. 31 or Jan 1 has other consequences? A. For most employees, the 2011 leave year ends on Dec. 31, 2011 and the new leave year begins on Jan. 1, 2012. If you were to leave after Dec. 31, any annual leave you had in excess of 240 hours would be forfeited. Further, if you are a FERS-covered employee, you wouldn’t be on the annuity roll until February.…
Monthly Archives: April, 2011
Q. I am 72 years old and have 13 years of federal service, 10 with my agency. I am healthy expect for emphysema, which continues to affect my breathing. I have collected Social Security benefits since I was 65. I am considering retirement because the breathing issue makes it difficult for me to travel. Is federal disability retirement an option for me or should I just consider normal retirement? A. Because you are over age 62, there wouldn’t be any difference in the benefits you’d receive as a disability or regular retiree. The annuities would both be based on your actual…
Q. I am a CSRS employee who will retire in January 2013. My husband is FERS and will continue to work for a few more years before retiring. My question is: Which would be more beneficial to us as a couple, my paying for health insurance (self and family) out of my retirement (I currently pay for it now) or for me to drop it and let him pick it up as an active civil service member? Will it matter down the line who carries the coverage? A. Unless he is employed by the U.S. Postal Service, which pays more of…
Q. I retired on Jan. 2, 2010, with 219.75 hours annual leave under CSRS with over 45 years of service at GS9, Step 10 for over 20 years at that step. DFAS said I should be paid 62.25 hours at a 31.05 salary rate and 157.5 hours at a 32.27 salary rate. I disagree but they said it was correct. I feel my annual leave should be paid out at the 2010 salary rate for GS9, Step 10. Also, can you answer the legality of receiving base pay times 26 pay periods that is short a couple hundred dollars instead of…
Q I am a 48-year-old male. I am a letter carrier for USPS. Due to unfortunate circumstances, I will be applying for Social Security disability and disability retirement from USPS. Here’s the thing. I have had two previous surgeries on my spine, both covered by worker’s compensation. Right now I am using all my sick leave until worker’s compensation receives all of the information it needs. Is there a separate retirement through OWCP or do I need to file for disability through the Postal Service? I am thinking of separating from the Postal Service because of my financial situation. If…
Q. I’m due to retire this September. I receive my estimated annuity statements but have LWOP accumulated over the years under FMLA. How will this affect my pension? Is there a formula that will, for example, reduce the annuity by a certain percentage for (blank) number of hours? A. Unless you took more than six months of LWOP in any calendar year, it will have no affect on your eligibility to retire or in your annuity calculation.
Q. I read in the Feb. 7 issue of Federal Times the affect that a high-5 would have on my annuity. Do you know if employees will be given a date the high-5 will go into effect, so that they will have the opportunity to retire prior to the change? With a large percent of CSRS employee eligible to retire now, I’d like to think that we would a least be given the opportunity to retire with our high-3 if we are eligible. I am covered under the CSRS, with 35 years of service, but will not be eligible (age…
Q. I know a federal employee who retired from the military (E-6) with 20 years of service and was told while working in Germany that it was to his advantage to buy back his military time. To date he has paid more than $2,800 toward his military deposit and owes over $7,000. He realizes he was misinformed and wants to stop paying toward the military deposit. How can he go about stopping the military deposit and be refunded the money he has paid so far? A. He can stop paying the military deposit any time he wants to. If he’d…
Q. I am 60 years old and just found out that after 38 years of service, my job will be abolished. I have two weeks to accept my retirement package. Now, I will be forced to pay back the leave I used last year when I had a kidney transplant. Do I have any room to negotiate or do I have to accept the received package as is? Can I at least negotiate not having to pay the leave back since I’m not retiring willingly? A. According to OPM, “Under 5 U.S.C. 5584, an authorized official may waive recovery of…
Q. If I was transferring to another agency and I want to take three days off prior to starting my new position, is there anything in the CFR that permits me from taking my annual leave prior to my transfer? A. I think you meant to say prevents rather than permits. While there is nothing that prevents you from taking annual leave immediately before transferring to another agency, you can only do that if your request for leave has been approved by your supervisor (or whomever has leave approval authority).