Q. I am planning to take a Voluntary Early Retirement Authority. I work for the Transportation Security Administration and will have my 10 years of service with them when I plan to leave. I am 56 years old. I am mainly concerned with the medical/dental, etc. benefits, which I have had for myself as well as my family for the entire 10 years. Will they still be covered, too?
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’m a FERS employee covered under the law enforcement officer/firefighter provision. I have 25 years of service and have reached my minimum retirement age. If I get fired for misconduct, can they deny me my firefighter retirement benefit?
Q. My wife was a FERS employee who retired under the Voluntary Early Retirement Authority due to a reduction in force. She had 25 years of service and was age 50. Will she receive the special retirement supplement at age 56 or her minimum retirement age?
Q. At age 62, my Social Security benefit will be $1,214 per month. If I retire at 60 with 26 years of service, what would my monthly FERS special retirement supplement be?
Q. Will a CSRS Offset employee’s annuity be reduced at age 62 for any reason? If so, what could affect the payment?
There’s a new administration in town, and changes are already in motion. If you aren’t eligible to retire but want to leave government, you need to understand the consequences of your action, at least in terms of the benefits you’ve enjoyed as a federal employee.
Q. If you end up with 12½ months of sick leave, and 20 years and six-and-a-half months of service, would your retirement be based on 21 years, seven months, or would you lose the half month of sick leave and half month of service, and therefore use 21 years and six months to compute your retirement?
Q. I have 10 years with the military for which I haven’t made a deposit, and I will have 10 years in civil service. I’m a 55-year-old FERS employee. When will be the soonest time I can retire? If I leave the federal service before 62, can I still get my retirement when I’m 62?
Q. I spent 13 years with the federal government. I want to request a refund. Will my employer’s contribution be refunded?
Q. I am 52 years old. Before coming to work for the government, I was in the Navy for six years and received an honorable discharge. I am leaving a 27-year career and going into the ministry. Am I eligible for any retirement benefits?