Q. Back in 1981, my wife and I decided, due to the birth of our second child, to close out her annuity with the federal government ($2,400). At that time we were not planning on her returning to work. After three years at home, she went back to work under a different job description/retirement program for the federal government. That was 32 years ago. We divorced during that time frame and have both happily remarried. She retired in 2017 and has received a letter advised that she needs to repay the $2,400 plus interest to the tune of around $30,000.…
Author Reg Jones
Reg Jones
Reg Jones was head of retirement and insurance policy at the Office of Personnel Management. Email your retirement-related questions to fedexperts@federaltimes.com.
Q. Can I withdraw my retirement fund after I go out on disability retirement?
Q. I am retiring at the end of this year and will be a 30-year FERS annuitant. I expect to receive a FERS pension and Social Security in retirement. My wife only worked part-time and will receive a much smaller amount from Social Security. In the event of my death, what will my wife receive? Will she be able to get my FERS survivor benefit and my Social Security, since it is larger?
Q. I have been a DHS officer for 13 years under FERS. If I am terminated for policy violations and do not request a refund of my retirement contributions, will I be entitled to a partial pension at age 62? If so, will my sick leave count as more months of service? What happens to my annual leave?
Q. I’m a retired federal employee at 58 years with 30 years. When I retired the information I received was if I went to work, I was limited to making $15,000 a year before losing my Social Security supplement. Is that still the correct answer?
Q. I have 4.5 year of active duty in the Army. I retired from the Army National Guard after 22 years and have worked at the U.S. Postal Service for 2.5 years. I’m 50 years old. Should I do a buy back to add to my years at the post office so that I can retire in 10 years?
Q. Where on the retirement application does one request postponement? I was told that to use MRA + 10 (24 years, age 56, which is my MRA) I would have to resign.
Q. When you elect to retire under the MRA + 10 and postpone receipt of annuity, what happens to your unused sick leave? I assume they cut me a check for unused annual leave (please correct me if I’m wrong). I am at my MRA (56) with 20+ years of creditable service.
Q. If you are approved for disability retirement, are you responsible for paying for your medical insurance and life insurance coverage? Also, if you are approved for disability retirement with the governmental agency where you work, does this mean that Social Security will approve you also?
Q. I left government service in 1981 and withdrew my retirement funds. I then re-entered government in 1991 under CSRS and retired in 2009. I am paying back the withdrawn funds every month out of my annuity. How long will they take out these funds from my retirement? It will be 10 years in January 2019. I have been told by others that it will be 10 years, then the money will be put toward my retirement annuity.