Monthly Archives: November, 2011

Q: I retired under CSRS in 2008 at age 59 with 35 years of service. I had 23 quarters of Social Security credits from before I started CSRS work. I have since earned 12 quarters under Social Security, making a total of 35 credits. I am now 62 1/2. I plan on getting my other five quarters and applying for Social Security at age 66. Will my CSRS annuity or my Social Security amount be reduced at age 66? Also, My wife will retire in 2013 at 62 with 30 years of substantial Social Security earnings and receive an annuity…

Q: We were advised at a retirement seminar to check that we have a copy of the designated beneficiary form for life insurance, the TSP, retirement and unused leave. I do not have a copy of the designated beneficiary form that I completed for retirement and unused leave. Since I plan to work three more years, it behooves me to request these forms. What is the title and/or number of the specific forms I need to complete? A: You filled out the necessary forms when you were hired. The only question is whether the designations you made then are the…

Q: I am a 37-year-old female with 11 years of federal service in law enforcement. Because I am unable to medically participate in defensive tactics/firearms training, I am being separated from service (unfit for duty). I have applied for disability and immediate retirement, but I am allowed to continue working pending OPM’s decision on whether to grant benefits. I have been denied Social Security disability because I remain employed at a relatively high salary. Hypothetically, please assume OPM’s decision is favorable and I am officially separated from service and have already reapplied for Social Security disability … can I apply…

Q: My spouse and I are retired federal employees with an annuity. I retired in 2001 with 12 years of service. We have had continual coverage with FEHB for the past 40 years. We have the Self & Family plan with my spouse as the member and I am the dependent. I would like to know if I am eligible for coverage under my own self only policy? If eligible, when can I request the change, any time or just during open season? A: You can only change to a self only policy if your spouse changes his/her coverage to…

Q: I am a Defense Department employee under CSRS with approximately 41 years/five months of service. My agency is offering buyouts for VSIP/VERA. I would like to take advantage of the VSIP, however, it is my understanding that because I received severance pay in the past (1992 for approximately 50 weeks due to TOF action) the $25,000 VSIP bonus will be reduced. How is this determined and what formula will I use? In using the formula, do I use my basic pay in 1991/1992 or my current basic pay? A: The VSIP is calculated using the severance pay formula in…

Q: I am a 55-year old FERS employee eligible to retire as a special category FF/LEO with 27 years federal service. I have been thinking about finding a position teaching or working on the staff of a nearby university that is covered by the state retirement system (Ohio). It is my intention to work until age 65, so when I retire from the university I will be vested in their retirement system, too. The university offers a choice between a defined benefit and defined contribution plan. I have heard about things like the WEP and the Pension Offset Rule but…

Q: In a recent response you stated: “Most of you do get paid for all your unused annual leave if you retire before the end of the leave year; however, if you are an employee of the U.S. Postal Service, the amount of leave for which you can be paid is capped.” What is the cap as a postal service employee?  And my maximum leave carryover is 440. If I carry over the max, and then earn another 80 hours prior to my retirement date, am I only paid for the 440 max carryover, or do I get paid for…

Q: I am thinking about leaving federal service after 18 years and will have at least 240 hours of annual leave accrued. I do not want to cash it out and prefer to leave it should I choose to return to federal service.  May I do that? A: No.

Q: I served in the Army for 6 1/2 years and later joined the Air Force Reserve for an additional three years. I am a federal employee and understand I can buy back the Army years, but what about the Air Force Reserve time? A: Reserve time isn’t creditable, and you can’t make a deposit to make it so.

1 8 9 10