Q: I am under FERS. I had a break in service. I left service in 1987. I’m pretty sure I did not draw out any retirement contributions. How can I verify that I didn’t? A: Begin by looking at your service computation date. If it reflects you earlier period of service, then you have proof that you didn’t get a refund of your retirement contributions. If you haven’t been credited with that time and your official personnel folder doesn’t contain any information about your prior service, you can call the National Personnel Records Center at 314-801-9250.
Monthly Archives: June, 2011
Q: I had to take leave/terminate from my government job in February 2001. Unfortunately, I accepted money and my time from Feb. 25, 1991, to Feb. 23, 2001, was lost. It has been rumored that we can now buy back time such as this. With a service computation date of November 1987 and a retirement date of October 2010, that would give me a total of 22 years, 11 months. I’m willing to buy this time back and would like to know what agency deals with this. A: If you return to work for the federal government, you can redeposit…
Q: I have close to five years of service under CSRS. I took a refund. I also have about a year under FERS and took a refund of that when I quit. Now, I’m re-entering federal service. Can I buy back from both plans; total would be just more than five years. A: Because you had fewer than five years of CSRS service, when you returned you were automatically placed in FERS and that CSRS service became FERS service. If you come back to work again, you may make a redeposit and get credit for all that time under FERS…
Q: Is there a possibility of a buyout this year for postal workers in the clerk division. Members of the APWU? A: While anything is possible, we haven’t heard anything that suggests that it is probable.
Q: I am on disability retirement and the likelihood of returning to work is dim. I worked four years in a non-covered position. The next 14 years I was an 1811, special agent. The last 10 years I’ve been on disability retirement. The next eight years up to age 62 are likely to be disability retirement. In view of the above, how many years of service would I have? Do I receive the LEO 1.7 multiplier for the 14 years covered? A: All FERS disability annuities are calculated using the standard formula, with a multiplier of 0.01. At age 62…
Q: How does one go about searching and applying for “rehired annuitants” jobs? A: There isn’t any site dedicated to employment opportunities for annuitants. The best place to start looking for any federal job is http://usajobs.gov.
Q: My spouse resigned from government under CSRS in 1988 and took his contribution out. He died IN 2000 at age 50. He was also in the military before the government CSRS job. Is there any fund(S) left in his account such as the government contribution, etc., for beneficiaries such as adult children or his wife? A: Since he took a refund of his contributions to the retirement fund, he canceled all rights to any future benefits. You’d have to check with his branch of service to see if there are any benefits available from them.
Q: Does it ever make sense for a FERS employee to buy back 20 years of military time for credit toward a FERS retirement? What if the employee decides later to leave federal civilian service before retiring. A: Whether it makes sense is a personal matter, often based on simple arithmetic. If you make a deposit, you’ll have to spend some money. In return, both your length of service and annuity would be increased. You’ll have 20 more years of civilian service and your annuity would be 20 percent higher. However, as a rule, you’ll have to waive your military…
Q: I have 18 years of service under FERS. I may be offered a job with the Federal Reserve Board. Would this be considered a federal position as far as pension/benefits go? I have no interest in the job if the answer is no. A: It all depends on the position to which you are appointed. You’ll have to check with the FRB personnel office.
Q: If I elected maximum survivor annuity for my current spouse,at retirement: (A) If I predecease my spouse, would she continue her survivor annuity pension and, what would happen with my annuity? (B) If my wife predeceases me, what would happen to her annuity pension. Would my annuity increase from absorbing her survivor annuity pension? A: If you were to die before your spouse, your annuity would end and your spouse would receive the survivor annuity you elected for her. If she were to die before you, your annuity would be prospectively restored to what it would have been had…