Q. Does the time I worked as an RCA/AUX mail carrier count toward my retirement under FERS? I was hired in USPS in 1995 and just got a full-time carrier job this year. Some have said I should buy that time back; some have said I can’t buy that time back; and some say it will count anyway. A. Yes, Rural Carrier Auxiliary employment does count toward retirement, but only if you make a deposit to the retirement system for that service.
Monthly Archives: October, 2012
Q. My husband and I are civil service retirees. We elected not to provide survivor benefits to each other upon retirement several years ago. Is this irrevocable? I recently read something about the possibility of changing this election if the government declared an open season. I’ve never heard of that occurring for survivor benefits. If this is true, does such an open season happen often? If could reverse our decisions, what type of lump sum or penalty would we incur to elect to provide the benefits? A. There is no such thing as an open season for survivor benefits. The…
Q. I have eight years of federal service as a FERS employee and believe I qualify for a deferred annuity at age 62. Would I be eligible for a VSIP (if offered), and if I were to accept a VSIP to leave; would this affect my annuity beginning at age 62; and if so, how? A. Yes, you’d be eligible for a VSIP. And you’d be eligible for a deferred annuity at age 62. The annuity would be calculated using the standard formula: 0.01 x your high-3 on the day you left x your years and full months of service…
Q. I am 67 and have six years of FERS service. My term appointment will expire in two weeks. I want to collect unemployment for the rest of this year following my separation. Do I have to take a FERS retirement right away, or can I wait until unemployment runs out? I am willing to lose my health and life insurance coverage when I separate from this appointment. A. Possibly; however, you’ll have to check with your state employment office to get a definitive answer.
Q. Is the lump-sum payment subject to the same deductions and allotments to which one’s regular salary would be — i.e., federal tax withholding, state tax withholding, FICA and retirement? A. Everything except retirement.
Q. I did seven years with the Department of Defense Police Pearl Harbor (GS-083) and then changed to an 1811 position. Do those seven years as a 083 series count toward the 20-year law enforcement retirement? A. It’s unlikely that your service in the 083 series would count toward a law enforcement retirement. However, that determination is one your agency will have to make based on the duties of your former position.
Q. I started working with the Department of Justice on Jan. 3, 1983, as a part-time/full-time student. I was hired as a full-time government employee in May 1983. Does this qualify me to be covered under CSRS? I am covered under FERS. I want to be under CSRS, as there are more benefits. A. No. To learn why, go to www.opm.gov/retire/pubs/handbook/C010.pdf and scroll to Section 10A.1-2.
Q. If I take deferred retirement after MRA but before 62, can I re-enroll in my BC/BS plan (that I have participated in for more than five years) later? Does that date have a time limit? I ask in light of this: “If you separated from federal service after reaching the Minimum Retirement Age with at least 10 years of service but postponed the commencing date of your annuity to reduce or avoid the age reduction, you are eligible to re-enroll in the Federal Employees Health Benefits program and the Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance program if you participated in…
Q. I am covered under CSRS and am retiring Dec. 29. I will have an annual leave balance of 440 hours, which includes hours I must lose or use at the time of retirement. Normally, 240 hours of annual leave carry over to the next year. Will I forfeit the extra hours, or will I get a lump-sum payment for all of the 440 hours of annual leave? A. For most employees, the leave year ends Jan. 12, 2013. Therefore, you’d be paid for all your unused annual leave.
Q. I am 54 and a federal employee with 14 years of service. Can I take a postponed retirement now and then at MRA, 60 or 62, apply for retirement and have my health and medical coverage reinstated? I have looked at OPM, and it is not clear. I have talked to my agency’s folks and received conflicting information. A. No. To retire on a postponed annuity, you’d have to have at least 10 years of service (which you do) and have reached your minimum retirement age (which you haven’t). Your MRA is 56. At age 54, all you could…