Q. I have a friend who is 65 years old and has 15 years of service. He wants to retire and has requested to take his 300 hours of annual leave in the way of terminal leave. The organization is saying he must return on the last day of terminal leave to check out. We currently work in Europe and he would like to travel back to the U.S. and start his retirement without the requirement of returning. Is there a regulation I can read to get clarification on this? A. First, there is no such thing as terminal leave…
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 currently am a Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) civilian stationed overseas; prior to moving under DIA I was an Army civilian, also serving in an overseas location. For FERS annuity calculation purposes it is my understanding that DIA civilians receive 1.7 years of annuity credit for each year served in an overseas duty location. If that’s correct, when I retire, presumably from DIA, will I receive the 1.7 year credit for just the time served with DIA or will I get the 1.7 DIA credit for all years served overseas both as an Army and DIA civilian? A. I’m…
Q. I am a DoD firefighter for the Department of the Army for three years now. Before my current employment I was an Air Force military firefighter for eight years. I am in the process of buying back my military time and I entered the federal system at the age of 30. What age can I retire? I have been told that the eight years can be added to the “front end” of my retirement, which would mean I could retire at the age of 47 (25 years any age). Now the other scenario is age 50 and 20 years…
Q. I am doing a mortgage loan for a retired post office worker. My underwriter wants proof of continuance for three years. Where might I find that information? A. You are entitled to an annuity as provided under 5 United States Code Chapter 83. Your annuity will continue until you die, as provided in 5 USC 8345(c), which says, “The annuity of a retired employee…terminates on the day death or other terminating event provided by this subchapter occurs.”
Q. Does the FEHB offer an age extension for the coverage of disabled children? Do the rates increase when the child reaches age 22 and older? A. An unmarried dependent child may continue to receive coverage under your FEHB plan as along as the child’s incapacity began before age 22. For more information, go to www.opm.gov/insure/health/reference/handbook/fehb28.asp and click on Child Incapable of Self Support.
Q. I recently reached the mandatory retirement age of 57 while being employed as a criminal investigator (Special Agent) with the U.S. Dept. of Justice – Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). I was separated from the federal government due to my age of 57 on April 30, 2009. My gross pay used to be over $150,000 per year. My gross retirement pay, after over 25 years of service, is now $73,000 per year. I would like to apply for other federal jobs that I see advertised but am under the impression that I cannot because I am…
Q. I am planning on retiring this year. I am currently covered by my wife’s FEHB, as she is also a federal employee. She has several more years to work before she will be retirement-eligible. If she were to elect to resign prior to her retirement eligibility, could I elect to begin FEHB coverage as a retiree since she would no longer be eligible to carry FEHB due to her resignation? We have been married for 14 years, and we have been covered by FEHB the entire period of our marriage. I carried the FEHB up until the open season…
Q. I have a rather complicated question concerning my FERS retirement. I took an early retirement under FERS at the end of 2009. I retired on Dec. 31, 2009 at the age of 59. Because of the pay periods in 2009, the last pay period of December actually ended on Jan. 2, 2010. This pay period therefore became pay period 1 for 2010. Therefore, my last pay check and annual leave show as earned income in 2010. My retirement date started on Jan.1, 2010. Since my last check and annual leave earnings show as earned in 2010, do they count…
Q. I have a curiosity question. If I retire at my minimum retirement age of 56 with 27 years of service, how does the 5 percent penalty reduction work? It is a little confusing as to how it is worded. Lets say that my annuity is $15,000; does that mean each year I would get $14,250 instead? Will it be 5 percent for each year until I reach age 62, then no penalty? And would I be eligible for the supplemental income? A. The 5 percent penalty for every year you are under age 62 is a one-time permanent reduction.…
Q. I was an employed physician working alongside comission corp officers at the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands Hospital in Saipan beginning in March 1989 through June 1991. I am now a federal employee with the Indian Health Service. Would my overseas time count as creditable service? A. It would only be creditable if retirement contributions were taken from your pay. If they weren’t, that time isn’t creditable for any retirement purpose.