Q: I worked for the 2010 Census Bureau as a temporary part-time worker (even though that “part-time” work was a full 40 hours a week in our area) on two different operations (spring and fall) for about one or two months each (two to four months total). I know that time doesn’t count toward my FERS, but if I get hired as a GS employee, could those months be used to speed up how fast I get vacation time at the next higher rate? A: No, they would not be used.
Yearly Archives: 2011
Q: I am FERS and will have 31 years of service with MRA soon. This means I will be paid the Special Retirement Supplement (SRS) at the 70 percent rate (calculated as if I were 62). I was born in 1961, so my full retirement age for Social Security is age 67. SRS is payable until age 62. Can I elect not to start receiving Social Security benefits at age 62? Will a gap in receiving benefits from SRS to Social Security (say I elect age 65 to apply for Social Security) affect my Social Security benefits when I apply…
Q: I am a FERS employee. Which dollar amount or line from the Social Security benefit estimate should be used when doing an estimate for expected Special Retirement Supplement when retiring under age 62? A: The special retirement supplement is based solely on the Social Security benefit you earned while employed under FERS. To estimate what the amount would be, take the Social Security benefit estimate provided to you by the Social Security Administration, multiply it by your years of FERS service rounded up to the next higher year, and divide the product by 40.
Q: I am 68 and a retiree from the federal government. I had been working part time for a defense contractor until the contract ended. I’m now unemployed. I have Medicare Parts A and B, and BCBS as a secondary. I noticed my BCBS for standard option increased $59.66 a month for 2011. I am now paying $234.74 a month for standard and $97.50 a month for Medicare Part B, for a total of $332.24 a month. Do you know of a less expensive way to get the same coverage? A: You’ll need to do some comparison shopping during the…
Q: I am working full time and plan to retire soon from the Department of Justice under FERS. Because my position will not be posted now due to the hiring freeze, I am looking at delaying my retirement but going part time (two to three days a week) for a few months. Can you tell me what disadvantages there might be to doing this? Could this have any effect on my retirement benefits/annuity when I finally do retire in a few months? I heard that the part-time status is somehow prorated and may decrease the amount of my ‘high 3’…
Q: I am a civil service employee and pay into a retirement plan under CSRS. Can I deduct that money from my federal taxes? A: No.
Q: I have been on active-duty orders for the West Virginia National Guard since Nov. 8, 2009, in order to support the Defense Critical Infrastructure Program (DCIP) and the Critical Infrastructure Protection-Mission Assessments (CIP-MAAs). This executive order is the Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD) – 7. I am not in direct support of OEF, however, we provide domestic security duty. Can this period of time be credited toward my federal law enforcement career, which is now on hold? A: It will depend on the nature of the orders that led to your being called to active duty. You’ll need to share…
Q: I am employed in a law enforcement position and will face mandatory retirement in two years at age 57. If I seek employment between the ages of 57 and 62, will my Special Retirement Supplement be reduced if I exceed the earnings limit? A: Yes.
Q: I have 10 years of legislative branch service and 10 years of executive branch service, all under FERS. If I retire under the executive branch, do I still receive a 1.7 percent per year worked annuity for my legislative branch service? Or are all the years of legislative service treated the same as executive branch service and receive only a 1 percent per year worked annuity? A: Your legislative branch service will be computed using the enhanced formula; the remaining years will be computed using the standard formula.
Q: My father retired from the U.S. Postal Service with an annuity in the late 1980s. He passed in August of this year and the OPM retirement person says there are no survivor benefits except to a spouse or disabled child. My father was divorced and never remarried. I am his only child and not disabled. She explained that the annuity was paid out to my father during his life and would be prorated from the beginning of the month he received a check to the date of his death, a monthly health insurance deducted and no other funds are…