Monthly Archives: December, 2011

Q. I am planning on retiring at the end of December. I am in the Civil Service Retirement System and have over 31 years in the legislative branch, where I am still employed. I also have another 14 months in the executive branch, for a total of 32 years, five months. I will be 53 in late December, so will I be penalized for not quite reaching age 53? I realize I already have to take a 4 percent reduction because I’m under age 55. My retirement counselor advised me to retire at the end of November instead of December so I…

Q. After five years in the Navy from 1987 to 1992, I got out and worked for the U.S. Postal Service for two years (1993-94). I then returned to active-duty Navy. I have more than 20 years of military service and am thinking about retiring. Will the two years I worked for the USPS count toward federal retirement or at least active federal service? A. Your civilian service isn’t creditable toward your years of military service. Further, since you had fewer than five years of civilian service, you wouldn’t be eligible for any civilian retirement benefit. If you didn’t receive a refund of your retirement…

Q. I was a former term employee with Army from Nov. 23, 2008, to Dec. 22, 2010. My last SF-50 was as GS-12, step 3. The Department of Veterans Affairs just offered me a position as GS-07, step 1. I thought they would have to pay me for GS-07, step 10 vice step 1? A. No. However, you can ask to be hired at a higher step. An agency has no obligation to agree to that. But it may, based on your prior experience and earnings.

Q. I am in an 1811 law enforcement position and turn 57 in April 2012. What is the mandatory last day I am permitted to work? A. Assuming that you will have 20 years of covered service, you will be separated on the last day of the month in which you turn 57.

Q. I am planning on retiring Dec. 31 after 41 years of federal service. Should I retire Nov. 30 instead to take advantage of the 3.6 percent cost-of-living adjustment, and will I be eligible for the COLA that will take effect Dec. 1? A. If you retired on Nov. 30, you would be eligible for 1/12th of the COLA increase, not the entire amount. That’s because COLAs are based on the number of months that a retiree is on the annuity roll.

Q: If I meet the requirements for retirement (I am 65 with 20 years), and I get caught in my agency downsizing, will I get a chance to retire or will I lose my retirement benefits and have to leave the federal government? A: Yes, you will be able to retire.

Q: I am 55 and I have 25 years of creditable service. I am in CSRS Offset. What would be the penalty if I chose to retire now? A: You can’t retire now. The earliest you could be retire is when you have 30 years of service.

Q: I’m 52 and started civilian service in March 1983. I never paid back my military service time. With interest, I owe more than $9,000. Is it worth paying this to get four more years added to my CSRS retirement? I’d like to think I’ll retire at age 55. A: I don’t know if it would be worth it to you. I do know that having four years added to your length of service would increase your annuity by 8 percent. You’ll have to do the math and make a decision.

Q: I will be 55 next year and have 17 years in service. I would like to know about early retirement and how to go about it. A: Early retirement opportunities are offered by an agency to meet its needs, There isn’t anything you can do to cause an agency to offer you one. However, all that is academic. You don’t have the age and service needed to take early retirement: age 50 with 20 years of service or any age with 25. Further, you aren’t yet eligible to retire under the MRA+10 provision (minimum retirement age with at least…

Q: I will have about 1,100 hours of sick leave. Can I retire about five months earlier than expected with this? A: No. First you have to meet the age and service requirements to retire. After that, if you are a CSRS retiree, you’ll get credit for any unused sick leave and have it used in the computation of your annuity. If you are a FERS retiree, you’ll only get credit for half of your unused sick leave, unless you retire on or after January 1, 2014.

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