Q. I am a Department of Army civilian employee, GS-12 (about two years of service). I plan on quitting in a few weeks for a job in the private sector. How many hours of annual leave can I sell back upon my departure? A. There is no limit. You will be entitled to a lump-sum payment for all your unused hours of annual leave.
Monthly Archives: April, 2012
Q. I am an annuitant (retired Jan. 2, 2011). I will be turning 65 in November. I read that if you are an annuitant, then Medicare becomes your primary. I’m also in the Federal Employees Health Benefits plan. How can Medicare Part A be the primary (since it is only for hospital coverage)? Does an annuitant have to apply for Medicare Part A, or is it automatic? A. Medicare Part A will be primary for the benefits covered by Part A. If you enroll in Medicare Part B, it will be primary for the benefits it covers. If you don’t…
Q. I am currently in a CSRS “covered” special agent law enforcement position with the Department of Homeland Security and will turn 57 this month, thereby being mandatorily retired April 30. I have not received any written notification from DHS management of my pending mandatory retirement. If I understand 5 USC 8425(b) correctly, isn’t my employing agency required to serve me with written notification at least 60 days prior to April 30? Also, aren’t I permitted under this law to remain at work “until the last day of the month in which the 60-day notice expires”? A. Yes. According to OPM,…
Q. I worked for the Postal Service under CSRS. I worked continuously for 36 years and 10 months, and got one month credit for my sick leave. Concurrently with my service with the Postal Service, I was in the California National Guard and later the Army Reserve. I had a few months of active-duty time, but I never separated from the Postal Service, nor did I have any nonqualifying years. When I retired, I was told that since I was never separated, the time would not affect my annuity, and indeed I never submitted any paperwork, nor did I fill out…
Q. I was a federal employee for over 10 years. Someone once told me if I take a temporary position with the government, I will lose my years toward retirement as if I never worked for the government. Can I accept a temporary position without jeopardizing my years? If I accept a temporary position, will I still be considered a reinstatement? Also, if I accepted a temporary position, can I still apply for and get a permanent position? A. Whoever told you that taking a temporary position would cancel your prior years of federal service was mistaken. You can take a temporary…
Q. I am 54 and have almost 25 years of service to my agency. I am considering separating in a few months when I reach my 25-year mark. I understand my annuity will be 25 percent of my high-3 salary years. Can I assume that the salary used for computation is what I actually earned as a .8 employee, rather than the full GS salary rate? If I take deferred retirement at age 62, will I avoid any penalties? And will I be able to opt back into federal health insurance at age 62? A. If you resign from the government, you would…
Q. My mother worked for the Department of the Army for 36 years. She retired at age 57 and died on March 22, 2007, at the age of 77. On April 1 of that year, her retirement check was deposited into her bank account for approximately $1,500.00. This money was returned to the federal government by her bank due to legal requirements of the government. What happened to that money? It seems to me that she was only retired for 20 years and she should have had at least 16 years left of retirement benefits. What happens to the remaining money she…
Q. I have been a postal worker since April 1991, and I plan to retire in August 2013. At that time, I’ll be at my minimum retirement age — 56 years with 32 years of service. The service will be made up of 22 years of Postal Service time and 10 years military time, which I bought back in 1992. Upon retirement, I understand that I’ll receive a Basic Benefit Plan (1 percent per year for every year of service), special retirement supplement (until age 62) and Thrift Savings Plan. I was told by Postal Service human resources that my…
Q. I am covered under CSRS as a court reporter in the federal court. I have also paid more than the minimum Social Security taxes on my transcripts earnings over my entire career of 37 years and thus am not subject to offset. When I retire, I will elect to have my spouse receive the maximum 55 percent of my CSRS pension if I predecease her. 1) Is the survivor annuity premium still deducted from her benefit upon my death? Is her 55 percent benefit calculated upon my entire CSRS pension amount, or is the survivor annuity amount first deducted? 2) Since she…
Q. Does the federal government give a waiver for a buyout if you only have one month left to make 20 years of civilian service? A. No, it can’t give a waiver of the age and service requirements to retire. However, in the case of a buyout, that’s irrelevant. Anyone who has been offered a buyout is free to accept it, whether he is eligible to retire or not.