Q: I worked for NAF from 1972 to 1983 as a full-time permanent employee and accepted a civil service position in 1983 without a break in service for more than three days. I am enrolled in CSRS. I got credit for these years for leave purposes but not for retirement. Is there any way to get credit for these 11 years for retirement? A: The deadline for making an election to get credit for that time was Aug. 11, 1997. However, you might still be eligible if you meet the criteria for a waiver. For more information, go to www.opm.gov/retire/pre/naf/naf-1.htm.
Author militaryonline
Q: When I started receiving Social Security retirement, my Social Security employment history was just under 30 years and so a modest WEP was applied to my benefits. Early the next year, with my 30th year W2 in hand, I was able to have my Social Security benefits recalculated to an amount absent the WEP. I also have a modest CSRS pension from about 11.5 years of service. When I reached age 62, but before I began taking Social Security benefits, a CSRS offset was applied, as I understand is a requirement of law. However, now that it can be…
Q: Is it possible to buy back only a portion of military service and not have to waive military retired pay. I have 21 years active duty and receive military retired pay. I also work for the federal government. In order to have my military service count toward civil service retirement, leave, etc., I would have to buy back all my military time plus waive my military retirement pay (some benefit …). Is it possible to buy back 10 years of military service and keep my military retired pay? A: No, it isn’t possible.
Q: I worked for the government, from 1974 to 1979, and when I left I withdrew my CSRS retirement money. I returned to the government in 1982 and plan on retiring with 35 years (CSRS) of service in July 2011. For those five years, if I do not repay the retirement money, can you tell me how much I will be penalized? I did not understand your response from the article ‘CSRS retirement money payback,’ dated Dec. 13, which read: If you make a deposit, your annuity when you retire will be increased by approximately 30 percent (2 percent times…
Q: I retired from the Federal Bureau of Prisons 10 years ago and I receive my monthly annuity. Is it possible to be hired for another federal job without it affecting my current annuity? A: Yes, it’s possible. However, the opportunities to do that are limited. Therefore, you’d have to confirm that you’d be entitled to receive both your annuity and an unreduced salary before accepting a position.
If you are a retiree who was upset when you didn’t get an annual cost-of-living adjustment in 2010, I can imagine how you feel now that you’ve learned that you won’t get one in 2011, either. Neither will Social Security beneficiaries. Actually, I don’t have to imagine because I’m in the same boat. I’m a federal retiree, and I’m also receiving Social Security benefits. The only reason I’m not writing angry letters to my members of Congress is because I understand both the law and the process used to implement it. Let me share that information with you and see…
Q: I am a CSRS offset employee and I am 58-years-old with 30 years service. If I were to retire, I understand I would receive my pension from CSRS until I reach 62, then I would start to receive the same amount, but it would come from Social Security and CSRS. My question is, if I am working after retirement from the U.S. Postal Service, and after reaching age 62, and I have earned more than the annual Social Security earnings limit which for 2010 is $14,160, would the Social Security portion of my pension be reduced by $1 for…
Q: I am in FERS and work full time in the Veterans Affairs Department. In 1991, I bought back my four years of active-duty time. In 1995, I joined the Army National Guard. In 2009, I retired from the military and I currently receive military retirement. I plan to retire from VA in 2013 with 23 years of service. I know that I cannot add the four years of military time that I bought back in 1991 to my VA time. But is there a procedure to get back the money I deposited in 1991? Is there someone or a…
Q: I am a 57-year-old FERS employee. For the last 20 or so years of my 27-year career, I have carried a private life insurer (WAEPA) instead of FEGLI. Would it be beneficial to me to switch back to FEGLI, which I believe now has lower premiums? Also, how long would I have to carry FEGLI before I could retire? A: I have no idea if it would be beneficial for you to switch. However, if you do, you would need to be enrolled in FEGLI for five consecutive years before you retire to carry that coverage into retirement.
Q: Can I apply for an annuitant position while I’m still a regular CSRS employee? What does management have to do to open a job to allow an annuitant to apply? A: There is no such thing as an annuitant position. If an agency needs to fill a position, it may do so with an annuitant if there is a match between the job’s requirements and the annuitant’s skills. However, there is no requirement that it do so. FYI: In most cases, the salary of a re-employed annuitant will be offset by the amount of his annuity.