Q. I am an activated reservist who has been on military leave without pay from my civilian job as a federal firefighter for four years. I have two questions, one regarding my retirement and the second concerning leave earned on MLWOP. I was hired at age 36 (in 2006) and under normal conditions should be able to retire after 20 years of service at 56 and immediately draw my full retirement (without penalty). Will my four years of activated reserve time be considered part of those 20 years? That is, will I still be able to retire at 20 years…
Monthly Archives: January, 2013
Q. I am 65 and signed up for Medicare Parts A and B. I also continued my BCBS standard option health coverage after reading the FEBH/Medicare brochure. I believe it is recommended that I continue the BCBS coverage. I received an email regarding the open season and am very confused as to whether I should continue the BCBS standard option or switch to a Medicare Supplement plan. Looking at the open season email and some of the links, I think I need to consider some Medicare Supplements. I think I would have to suspend my health benefits if I were…
Q. I’m 54 and have been working for the government for the past nine years. I’m planning on staying for 20 years but already spent 22 years in military and am receiving my monthly pension faithfully. If and when I’m done, do I receive a separate check or do they combine them as one, and do I still get my Social Security benefit at the proper age? A. You will receive separate payments for you military and civilian service. When you apply for a Social Security benefit, you will receive that as a separate payment. In the last case, if…
Q. I am planning to retire overseas (probably in Panama) and will be eligible to keep my insurance (Blue Cross Blue Shield). I understand that I will continue to pay my part of the insurance and that the federal government will continue to pay the rest. 1. Will the insurance cover me while I am living overseas? 2. What will happen when I turn 65? 3. Will all medical plans from all companies work the same way? A. If you are enrolled in an HMO, the answer in most cases is no, you won’t be covered if you are living…
Q. In March 2012, I received a one-time OWCP award for a 1996 on-the-job traumatic injury suffered with the post office. I had put in for this award more than once many years earlier and had been permanently stationary for years before resigning from the post office in April 2011. At 58, I am retired from the post office with 15 years. I am also a Navy veteran of 15 years, time I failed to buy back before retiring from the post office. Beside the one-time OWCP award, I have not received any other OWCP benefits since leaving the post…
Q. 1. Can someone switch from Blue Cross/Blue Shield to Medicare Part B at age 71? 2. Should it be done? 3. If yes, how can it be done, and what are the costs? I am 71 and self-employed (since 2011), covered under my wife’s federal Blue Cross/Blue Shield plan. My wife has been retired for a few years and she also turned 71 in 2012. My wife was just operated for a brain tumor and is being scheduled for radiation therapy and chemotherapy. A. While your wife could disenroll from the Federal Employees Health Benefits program and both of…
Q. I am a FERS employee considering buying back my service time. I retired after 23 years in the Army. I’m 49 years old and have five years of federal time as of 2013. Would it be in my best interest to buy back my military time and put it toward federal retirement? What would be the impact? A. Here’s the upside. If you make a deposit to get credit for your active-duty service, you’d have 28 years of creditable service. If you retired at your minimum retirement age (56), you’d have 35 years of service and your annuity would…
Q. I plan to retire this year under CSRS. I am interested in obtaining a seasonal position with the Internal Revenue Service. I will not receive a buyout. How long do I need to wait to be re-employed by the federal government? A. You would have to be off the rolls for three days. FYI: If you take a federal job after retiring, the salary of your new position may be offset by the amount of your annuity. Before taking a seasonal job with the IRS, you’ll need to check with their personnel office to see if that rule will…
Q. I will turn 62 in March and was planning on retiring with 22 years of service under CSRS. A job opportunity may come available before then, and I’m trying to figure out my options. If I retired now, would there be a significant difference in my annuity because I haven’t turned 62? Should I consider a deferred retirement? If so, until when? Should I keep my federal health benefits even though the new job will have better coverage? I probably will only work there for about five years — the minimum time to become vested in the 401(k) plan…
Q. I will retire this year under CSRS. I lack three quarters to qualify for Social Security benefits. Will Social Security taxes be deducted from my lump-sum payment for annual leave? A. If you are a regular CSRS employee, you haven’t had any Social Security taxes deducted from your pay and you won’t have any deducted from your lump-sum payment.