Q. I am a federal employee whose career has been interrupted several times with military deployments. After the last 90 day military deployment, my agency adjusted my service computation date by this amount and and explained that I must make a deposit to the retirement fund (FERS) to receive credit. Is this correct? A. Yes.
Monthly Archives: August, 2011
Q. I have a federal judge as a patient and he has Medicare prime and federal insurance secondary. He claims that under a law called Senior Status, since he is working part time, Medicare would be prime. Would this also apply to his wife? A. I’ve never heard of law to which he’s referring. However, the circumstances under which Medicare or an Federal Employees Health Benefits plan are primary or secondary are spelled out at www.opm.gov/insure/health/medicare.
Q. I will be retiring July 31, 2011. Will the pay for my last two weeks of employment on Aug. 11, 2100, include my lump-sum annual leave payment or is that paid separately? A. There isn’t any governmentwide rule; therefore, you’ll need to check with your local payroll office.
Q. I am, a 1811 employee who will be 57. I face mandatory to retirement in 2012, with 23 years of service under FERS. Two questions: 1) Regarding the supplement from OPM, is there a earnings test/limit associated with the benefit? Or can I make more then the $14,000 without any reduction to the supplement? 2) Regarding returning to federal service, law enforcement or non-law enforcement position, is that possible and what is the process to prevent a reduction in my pay/annuity? Is there a special term/classification I need to address in the application process? A. First, because you will…
Q. I have seen some questions recently concerning federal annuities and waiving military retired pay. Iis there any benefit in doingso? Why would anyone want to do this? Is it better to get one check or two? A. It’s worth it if making a deposit and waiving your military retired pay results in your being able to retire sooner from your civilian employment with a larger annuity than two separate ones would provide. You need to make the decision based on what you gain when compared with what you lose. Note that waiving your military retired pay will not affect any other entitlements you have…
Q. I am medically retired from the Army and employed by the Veterans Affairs Department. I was wondering whether I’ll be able to collect a pension from FERS or does my receipt of retired pay disqualify me? A. When you reach the age and have the civilian service needed to retire, you can do so and receive a FERS annuity based on that employment. It won’t be affected by nor will it affect your medical retirement benefit.
Q. I have been employed full time with the Veterans Affairs Department since March 2010. I am also currently in the Air National Guard with 27 total years of service. I am 51 years old and would like to buy back 15 years of my military service. I have a total of 17 years of active service with all my deployments. If I buy back 15 years, can I collect my full National Guard retirement when I turn 60 and also collect my FERS retirement? How many years will I have to work to get any type of FERS retirement?…
Q. If I worked as a nonappropriated funds employee flex for six months and then was hired as a regular part-time employee for a year and a half, then transferred over to a full-time GS federal employee with no break in service at all. I used four annual leave days only then I went into my federal full-time job. I have been told that they are counting my NAF time in with my federal, but I still missing that year and a half. How can I get this taken care of and will they count my flex time as well?…
Q. If Congress changes the CSRS retirement calculation from High 3 to High 5 and it is signed by the president and it becomes effective Oct. 1, then what would be the optimum CSRS retirement date for those eligible to retire under High 3? A. An “if” questions like yours would require that I accept an unfounded assumption and then guess what a law that flowed from it would set as an effective date and how and when it would affect current employees. Ask me again if a bill is actually introduced. Even then, my answer will be based solely on what that bill…
Q. I’m turning 65 in September (I’ve been retired under CSRS for seven years). I’m confused about what happens to my curent coverage under Blue Cross/Blue Shield. I’ve been told I have to sign up for Medicare Part B . What’s the relationship between the two? Also, my husband (over 65) has never had coverage under Medicare Part A as he’s always used my BC/BS. Will my going under Medicare affect him? A. You do not have to sign up for Medicare Part B unless you want to. However, before making a decision, I suggest that you pull out your FEHB…