Monthly Archives: May, 2012

Q. My supervisor has informed me that he will deny my request for an early retirement if offered by my agency, even though I have informed him that I will retire anyway when I reach age 56 in September 2013. Is he allowed to do this? A. No, he isn’t. If you are in a position covered by a Voluntary Early Retirement Authority offer, you can accept it.

Q. I am a Customs and Border Protection officer, series 1895, with an enhanced (6c) FERS pension and am moving into another position with the same agency as an investigative program specialist, series 1801. I was grandfathered in with CBP prior to the enhanced coverage changes a couple of years ago resulting in age requirements concerning coming on the job and retirement.  I have been with Customs and CBP for almost almost nine years, joining the agency in my 40s. Will this change in positions result in my losing the enhanced coverage and law enforcement officer status? If so, how will the change affect me? Is there a maximum…

Q. I am a 44-year-old FERS employee with the Federal Bureau of Prisons. I am a GL employee with a 20-year retirement. I just went over 16 years of service and I have already bought back my military time of 7½ years.  I realize the military time would be added to the “back end” of the retirement. I am considering leaving my federal job before the minimum retirement age of 50 to pursue other career opportunities in the private sector. At what age would I be eligible to receive my FERS retirement? A. Because your combined service adds up to at least 20…

Q. After 30 years of federal service, I retired in 2002. I was re-employed by the Department of Health and Human Services in April 2010, full-time permanent under the same CSRS plan from which I originally retired. At that time, my salary was offset by the amount of my annuity. How long will I need to work without a break in federal service to qualify for a recalculation of my original CSRS annuity? I contribute to CSRS retirement, and I participate in the Thrift Savings Program. I expect to work for six additional years, when I will have reached my 71st…

Q. I am a 71-year-old single female, and I chose Blue Cross/Blue Shield as my primary and Medicare Part A as my secondary when I turned 65. I retired from federal service in January 2005, but since then, my Blue Cross premium has risen to $185 a month. My research tells me that even though I have to pay a 10 percent penalty per year (seven years) on the monthly premium, it is still less expensive monthly to change to Medicare as my primary and my federal medical insurance as secondary. What is the difference in coverage as I have…

Q. I am under FERS and have 30 years of service as of February. I will not be eligible for voluntary retirement until July 2013, when I will be 56. After completing 30 years of service and prior to my 56th birthday, I may be required to take extended leave, including leave without pay, to care for my elderly mother, who is in poor health. How will leave without pay affect my retirement? A. First things first. You’ll have to get you supervisor’s approval to take extended leave without pay. If your request is granted, taking up to six months…

Q. I served four years on Air Force active duty. I was hired for a federal civilian position and have been working for four years. I’m not sure if I’m going to stick it out for another 20 or 30. During my civilian employment, I bought back my military time. However, now I’m considering joining the reserve. Will my active-duty service time buyback affect my reserve retirement down the road? Will those four years of active-duty service count toward a reserve retirement? A. Making a deposit to get credit civilian for your active-duty service won’t have any effect on your…

Q. My mother is 62 and just filed for her survivor benefit. My father passed away when she was 60. We did not know that she could have filed for survivor benefits at that time. Is there any way that we can obtain the money lost during those two years as it is from my father’s earnings? A. She will receive all the survivor annuity payments that were due her from the first month in which she was eligible.

Q. I will retire under FERS and will be rehired by an agency as a rehired annuitant. Will I still receive my full supplement? A. If your earning from wages or self-employment exceed the annual Social Security earnings limit, your special retirement supplement will be reduced or eliminated. In 2012, the earnings limit is $14,640. If you exceed that limit, $1 in benefits will be deducted for every $2 in earnings.

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