Q. There has been talk that the FERS supplemental is going to be done away with. Will it be replaced with another supplemental? What was the purpose of the supplemental in the first place? The cost of living has not gone down — it continues to go up each year. FERS employees will need some to bridge the gap before they can draw Social Security.
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. I am in civil service with 40 years and 9 months, including two years in the military for which I’ve made a deposit. I also have one year and four months of unused sick leave. Do I qualify for the maximum 80 percent annuity? I now have allotments taken out of my pay stubs. When I retire, will they remain the same? I hope so because I don’t want them to change. If I get a full-time job in the private sector, will that affect my annuity? I’m eligible for Social Security. I’ve heard that if you work for only 180 days…
Q. My ex-husband and I had four children. One child is in college part time. My ex-husband passed away in 2012. I have gone to all avenues to get survivor benefits to no avail. What can I do?
Q. I will have 30 years of service in October 2018, but I will only be 55 years old as of Aug. 29, 2018. I am so ready to retire — with the stress of the U.S. Postal Service and my family stresses, I cant endure another year of service. Can I retire in October 2018?
Q. I recently paid off my military buyback. Am I supposed to receive some type of form? Will it be reflected on my SF-50 or Leave and Earnings Statement? I currently work for the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Q. I am in my 11th year of federal service under FERS with the Department of Veterans Affairs. I plan to take a break from federal service and accept a private sector job for at least two years; but I eventually plan to return to federal employment in the future. 1. Can I leave my TSP account unchanged for the interim, or will I have to roll it over elsewhere? 2. Once I return to a federal job, will I have to have at least five continuous years yet again to be eligible to continue my FEHB coverage when I retire? 3.…
President Trump said: “We are proposing a budget that will shrink the bloated federal bureaucracy — and I mean bloated — while protecting our national security.” If the new administration carries through on his promise, there will be widespread staff reductions. However, some agencies will increase, sometimes substantially. So, if you left government through retirement or resignation, you may want to consider returning to the public sector.
Q. Is it true that any FERS employee who leaves government and postpones the annuity to avoid the age reduction would not get the special retirement supplement? I ask because I have reached my minimum retirement age of 56, with 26 years of service. What would happen if I left the government for another job and postponed my annuity until age 60?
Q. I’m looking into buying my military service time, waiving my military retirement and retiring with 37 (20 military plus 17 government service) years creditable service at 56 years old. Am I entitled to the special retirement supplement?
Q. If you’re laid off or terminated from a government position at 61, would you still pay the 5 percent-per-year penalty as if you retired under the MRA+10 provision?