Q. I resigned from VA in 1996. I had both accrued annual leave and restored leave. Upon my resignation, I was paid for the annual leave only, which I did not notice at the time. I was rehired by VA in 2000. In reviewing old paperwork, I noticed that I had not been paid for the restored leave. I have asked my HR department to review but have received no response. Am I still entitled to payment for the restored leave I had in 1996?
Monthly Archives: March, 2013
Q. I have three years of active-duty Navy service from 1999 to 2002. I rejoined the Navy Reserve in April 2002. I am considering a federal job with FERS benefits. If I do 20 years in the reserves and 20 years in the VA with FERS benefits, will I receive both retirements?
Q. I retired in 1997 with a survivor benefit for my wife. She passed away in 2007, and the survivor deduction stopped. I am going to remarry, and I know the first deduction will be the 10-plus percent so I can give my new wife health insurance, but how much of a payback will be deducted, and what percentage can I leave her? I am 71. My retirement is about $67,000. I am figuring that I will have about a $12,000 deduction when I remarry. I am thinking of getting a separate health insurance policy for my new wife plus…
Q. I understand having an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal will allow me to accumulate more leave per pay period, starting my third year as a DA civilian (from four to six hours). Will having a second one increase that by two years? I served 21 years in the Marine Corps and have one AFEM on my DD-214 (Lebanon). While on active duty, I should have pushed for a second AFEM for my two tours in the Persian Gulf (1988-1990). If I would get a second year of increased leave accumulation by having a second AFEM, I’ll push to NavPerCom (PERS-312B)…
Q. Can you please explain “catch 62”? Also, can you qualify for Social Security after age 62 if you fall under the parameters of catch 62? In other words, do Social Security or CSRS check your eligibility only once at age 62, or do they check periodically after age 62? Can your CSRS pension be re-examined if you qualify for Social Security after you reached age 62, i.e. age 65?
Q. I have worked for the Air Force as a civilian for the past 30 years. For the first 20 years of employment, I carried FEHB for myself and my family. For the past 10 years, I have not continued FEHB because my wife carried coverage for all of us under a state teachers medical insurance. I am considering retiring in two to three years at age 62 and entering retirement without FEHB because I can continue on my wife’s plan. If, several years down the road, my wife retires and loses her coverage, can I then enroll in FEHB…
Q. I understand that for leave without pay of less than six month, we receive credit for that time. I am 52 with 32 years of service, all under FERS. My MRA is 56 (2016). In my last year or sooner, I believe my supervisor will allow me the last year before retirement to work 24 and 16 hours LWOP. Is there any impact? I’m under retired spouses FEHB.
Q. I will avoid the windfall elimination provision if I have 30 years of substantive earnings. Is that still the case if 15 of those earning years for Social Security occurred under CSRS offset? Also, I am 66. Can I receive Social Security, even though I am still working under CSRS? If I can collect Social Security, in a few years, once I retire, how will that affect the Social Security I would collect? Would it be reduced or my CSRS annuity be reduced?
Q. I am planning on taking a FERS MRA+10 postponed retirement in 2016, when I will be 56 and have 25 years of federal experience. a) What is the earliest age I can receive unreduced benefits? Can I start at 60 since I will have more than 20 years of federal service? b) Will any unused sick leave be credited toward my years and months of service at that point? c) How do I start receiving benefits when I am ready?
Q. I have completed 20 years in the Navy Reserve. I have been working as a GS for five years now and am 48. I am crediting my active-duty time to my GS service. It should total around seven years. 1) At age 56 (I was born in 1964), I will have 20 years of service (including the seven years of active duty I purchased). Can I begin my annuity then for the FERS retirement with no penalties? 2) At age 59, I can begin drawing my Navy Reserve retirement due to time served in a war zone. Are there…