Q. I was a federal employee from 1993 to 2001. When I separated, I withdrew my FERS contributions. I am now contemplating re-entering the federal workforce and have read about the redeposit option. However, I read an Office of Personnel Management guidance memo that implies that redeposit is only applicable for FERS employees who separated after October 2009. What are my options? Can I buy back time in service?
A. What you read is correct. You had to be separated on or after Oct. 28, 2009, to be eligible to make a redeposit when you were re-employed.
2 Comments
I worked for the VA from 1991-97 and withdrew my deductions, I returned to VA in 2014 and made a redeposit, so I am unclear about that you had to be separated ” on of after 2009″, can you clarify? thank you Debra
For most of its existence, there was no provision allowing FERS employees who left and withdrew their retirement contributions and later returned to service to recapture that time by making a redeposit. However, Public Law 111-84 amended 5 U.S.C. 8422 to allow FERS employees to recapture service time by redepositing that money if they separated on or after October 28,2009.