Monthly Archives: July, 2011

Q: I have been a government employee for more than 22 years in FERS . I have been transferred  on permanant change of station overseas to five countries during my career for a total of 15 years and six months. I was recently told I accrue years at an accelerated rate when assigned PCS overseas. Is that correct? At what rate do I accrue years toward retirement (i.e. 1 year overseas = 1.2 years, etc.)? Does the accelerated rate apply to extended overseas temporary duty, such as my current situation of serving 179 days in Iraq? A: I’m not aware…

Q: I will retire soon and will choose a lifetime annuity, not to include my husband, with survivor benefits. Can I still carry him on my FEHB coverage? A: You can continue to include him under the self and family option of your FEHB plan. However, if you were to change to self-only or die, he would lose that coverage unless he is a federal employee or retiree who would be eligible to continue that coverage on his own.

Q: Do my nine years of active-duty Air Force service that I bought back count toward computing my FERS retirement date from the U.S. Postal Service or do they only count toward my retirement-pay percentage? I thought when I bought my military time back it counted toward my retirement-eligibility date. A: Since you made a deposit for your active-duty service, it will be used in determining your length of civilian service, which will affect your annuity computation date and your annual leave category, and in your annuity computation when you retire.

Q: I served as an Air National Guard full-time WG-12 technician from March 1993 until January 2003 when I became medically ineligible to serve in the military capacity that is a prerequisite to holding a job as a civil service technician. I performed the same duties when doing military time as I did as a FERS employee but was given an OPM disability retirement because I lost my military status. I learned today that there is a special retirement supplement to disability payments for law enforcement and military reserve technicians which is intended to bridge the income gap until Social…

Q: I have been a federal employee for 32 years in CSRS Offset, and this is the first I have heard of this program. Can you please explain the program? A: The Voluntary Contributions Program is open to CSRS and CSRS Offset employees. It allows them to make contributions to the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund and earn tax-deferred interest. They have the option at any time of asking for a refund of all contributions and interest or, at retirement, using the money to buy additional annuity. For more information go to www.opm.gov/retire/pubs/pamphlets/forms/RI83-10.pdf.

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