Q. My husband is a CSRS employee who will retire in two years. I am a FERS employee who will retire in three years. My question is this: I have always paid into Social Security, and the projected survivor benefit is $2,298. If my husband is a CSRS retiree, would he see any of that survivor benefit if I were to die before he did? If so, how would I calculate that to get a feel for what he could expect? A. If you were to die before your husband, any Social Security survivor benefit to which he’d be entitled…
Monthly Archives: September, 2012
Q. I entered on Ready Reserve status June 23, 1972, where I remained until Aug. 6, 1972, when I was provided discharge papers. I performed active Air Force service from Aug. 7, 1972, until Sept. 1, 1998 (more than 26 years). I started civil service Feb. 25, 2000. I was promptly placed in FERS. Should I not have been placed in CSRS — as I had more than five years of potential creditable service before Jan. 1, 1987? I have paid the military deposit required to get credit for my military service at the time of retirement from civil service.…
Q. I am a federal employee with the Department of Defense Fire & Emergency Services, and I am also a member of the Air National Guard. Over the years, I have had several military deployments (Title 10 Active Duty) in which my time for pay has been coded KG (Military Furlough-Active Duty), and I have not paid/contributed into FERS. Although I have been a federal firefighter since 2005, I do have quite a bit of time that I did not pay into FERS, and I would like to know if I can retroactively pay/contribute into FERS so the time I…
Q. I worked for the federal government for 14 years (1980 to 1994). When I left federal service, I took a buyout. I would like to return to federal service. If I get a job, will I start out at 13 days of annual leave, or will I earn an amount equal to the amount I accrued after 14 years of service? A. You will get credit for your earlier service in determining your leave accrual category.
Q. My husband is drawing his pension from the federal government. At what age can I start drawing my portion of his pension? A. You aren’t entitled to anything while he is alive. If he elected a survivor benefit for you, then you’d be entitled to that if he died before you.
Q. Because I have serious health issues and am getting my paperwork together for FERS disability, my command disapproved my Family and Medical Leave Act request for this year because I have missed so much work. I had no choice but to request the MRA+10 retirement and retire within 30 days, as my letter of reprimand stated I must be at work “full time” and I am facing several surgeries, and this would be impossible. I retired June 1, with 25 years of service. I know I have up to one year to file my disability paperwork, but due to…
Q. Would you please explain the differences between using leave without pay and leave without pay-uniformed services and how it impacts someone at retirement? Am I automatically placed on LWOP-US when activated for Reserve training (title 32), or can I request LWOP and not have to make a deposit? I have been making deposits for a lot of LWOP-US over my career and would hate to find out I didn’t have to make those payments for stints less than six months. A. No, you don’t have a choice. When called to active duty, you are automatically placed on LWOP-US unless…
Q. To obtain the 30 years needed to qualify for the FERS Supplement, can I use only actual time employed under FERS, or can I also use time employed under CSRS that was bought back by doing a redeposit, and can I also use military time that was bought back? I am under FERS code 8 retirement system and will retire shortly under FERS with the minimum of 30 years required, but I want to make sure I can use any and all federal employment to make sure I qualify for the FERS Supplement before I retire. I have reached…
Q. I am a retired civil servant receiving an annuity. I also receive survivor benefits from my late husband, also a civil servant. I am 72 and may marry a gentleman who is retired Navy and civil servant. Would either of us lose our benefits? He is the same age as I. A. No.
Q. I know a postmaster struggling with everyday work due to needing double knee replacing and double hip surgeries. He was told he has osteoarthritis. Now he is in constant pain. It is stopping him from walking and moving around. He needs a cane to walk. Would he qualify for disability retirement? Also, he doesn’t want to feel threatened because he is where physically, he can’t work. He is only 44 and is a 50 percent disabled combat veteran. Would he qualify? A. To find out if he would qualify, he’ll have to apply for disability retirement. His servicing personnel…