Q: I’m a CSRS employee with more than 30 years of service. I’m a Series 0343, and work in the HQDA G-1. My HQDA G-1 supervisor allowed me to deploy for the previous two years, one in Iraq and one in Afghanistan. I work Logistics in Afghanistan, and my plan all along was to gain the experience to allow me to change my specialty from Series 0343 to Series 0346. I’m due to return to HQDA G-1 soon, but would prefer to remain deployed. I’m pretty certain that me HQDA G-1 supervisor will not agree to my remaining deployed. Can…
Monthly Archives: October, 2011
Q: I have 6.25 years of military time that I can buy back. I have been a federal employee for eight years. I am 33 years old. So even if I retire at the minimum retirement age (59 I think it is at the moment), would it be beneficial to buy back this time? I have heard if you are going to have more then 30 years before the added time that it may not be as beneficial. Any insight to all of this would be appreciated. A: First, let’s clear up the age and service requirements to retire: 62…
Q: I am postmaster in an EAS 11 office, which is on the list for possibly being closed. There are no vacant postmaster positions within my reach, either by level or geographically. I am eligible for FERS retirement, but had planned to work a few more years until reaching minimum Social Security age. If my office is closed, I lose my postmaster position, and have no realistic options for transfer. Would I be eligible for unemployment benefits? A: Probably. However, only your state’s unemployment security agency can make that determination.
Q: I have already started to pay back my military time with $75 per pay period, but I was under the impression that my leave service computation date would increase before the total buyback was paid in full. Example, I am buying back 12 years of active duty, and currently have 8 years of civil service. Shouldn’t I go from six hours per pay period to eight hours per pay period, or do I have to pay my buyback in full before this change in LCD will take place? A: You won’t get any credit for your active-duty service until…
Q: Under CSRS, if you retire in the middle of the month, your pension does not begin until the first of the next month. Are there any impacts to your health/life insurance coverage during those days between your retirement effective date and the beginning of your pension (i.e., if you retire on Sept. 15, are you covered insurance-wise from Sept. 16 until Oct. 1)? A: Yes.
Q: I am the disabled dependent survivor of my father who was a federal employee for 30 years. I collect SSDI and Medicaid. Collecting the disabled child survivor annuity would put me over the unearned income limit to collect medicaid and I can’t afford insurance. Maine has a Medicare Savings Plan that I could join, but the income limits are very low and very strict. The income limit is $1,362 per month. I spoke with some legal specialists in the field of medicaid and they said that my SSDI COLAs would not affect my eligibility for this Medicare Savings Plan…
Q: I am under CSRS and plan to retire at the end of 2012. I have a WGI due Dec. 30, 2012. If I retire Dec. 30 as a best date, will my annual leave payout include the WGI increase? Do you think Jan. 3, 2013, would add any benefit? A: Since your high-3 will be based on the average of your highest consecutive 36 months of pay, it’s unlikely that the difference in your annuity of retiring on the day of, the day after or up to January 3 would make any perceptible difference in your basic annuity. However,…
Q: I am a CSRS Offset annuitant. I know when I reach 62, my pension will be reduced by the amount Social Security will pay at age 62 if I apply. If I wait and apply later, will I get more from Social Security, or will my pension just be further offset? For example, if my Social Security is $200 at 62, they will take $200 out of my pension. If I wait until age 65 and for example my Social Security is $500, will they reduce my pension by $200 or $500? In other words, is there a financial…
Q: I am 58 and have 35 years service under CSRS. If my agency offers buyouts, can I get the buyout? A: Yes, if you are offered one. The fact that you are already eligible to retire is irrelevant.
Q: My father was a federal employee for 30 years, and he passed away in November. He listed me as his death benefit beneficiary with the intent to grant me an annuity. I applied as his disabled dependent child survivor. I filed my paperwork in January. I heard nothing for months. I finally contacted them by phone in June and asked them to send me forms for doctors to fill out for my claim. Are child survivor annuities retroactive? I heard that they begin on the day the retiree passes away. Are we entitled to them at that time, and…