Q. I retired as a CSRS Offset employee in 1997 at age 50. Since federal retirement, I worked in the private sector paying Social Security on those wages. At age 62, OPM reduced my federal annuity by about 25 percent but hasn’t adjusted my annuity since, even though I’ve contributed near the maximum into Social Security during the eight years since. I see nothing indicating that the offset ratio is a one-time event. What recourse do I have?
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. How would 1,134 hours of sick leave be applied to my CSRS retirement? Currently I have 46 years and 10 months of government service. I am 62 years old. Can sick leave be credited toward my high-3 percentage. For example, instead of 80 percent of my high-3, Will I be entitled to get 1 percent added to my retirement income?
Q. If your ex-wife who received half your retirement dies, will your annuity go back to what it would have been?
Q. I just got my earning statement for my annual-leave payout. In the remarks section, I have a line that says OVR EARN LIMIT: $5,697.00. I was a GS-15/5 with LEAP and had an annual-leave balance of 432 hours on retirement (April 30). I typically received over-earning notifications on my pay statement, so am familiar with the why. But I was under the impression that the earning limits did not apply to annual leave that was paid out on retirement. Is that true, or are annual-leave payouts on retirement subject to the same over-earning restrictions as regular pay?
Q. I read this statement: “Eliminate the FERS annuity supplement for eligible employees retiring 2018 and beyond.” Does this refer to fiscal 2018, starting in October 2017; or calendar year 2018, starting in January 2018?
Q. Do time-in-grade requirements apply to temporary promotions for less than 120 days? And if not, where can I find the regulation?
Q. I’ve been with the government for 15 years. How much monthly pension will I get after retiring at 62? I make about $45,000 per year.
Q. If you have a negative balance for sick leave (i.e., -149.50 advance sick leave), and you are medically retired from the federal system, how is that deficit addressed? Is it repaid out of your earnings or wiped from the books?
Q. I retired in 2009 and elected to provide survivor benefits to my husband. We were married 18 years but are now divorcing. Can I remove him from this benefit and stop paying into it?
Q. I am a retiree with 35 years of government service as a CSRS Offset employee. I am entitled to my full Social Security check because I have worked in private industry prior to working with the government and have over 30 years with government employment. So, I am an exception to the Windfall Elimination Provision. OPM has reduced my pension. Why is my pension being reduced?