Q. I am 52 and would like to retire at 55. At that point, I will have 35 years in CSRS. I also have 36 quarters in Social Security as I worked a part-time job in college and other points in my life. Will I receive Social Security benefits with less than 40 quarters, and if so at what level? Also, if I go back to work as a contractor after I retire from federal service and get my additional quarters, what would be the impact when the windfall elimination provision kicks in?
Browsing: Creditable service: CSRS
Q. I co-oped for a year in college, from Oct. 1, 1978, through August 1979. I joined the federal workforce on July 8, 1982, and was told I was not eligible for CSRS. Did my co-op experience not count?
Q. I was employed by the Department of the Air Force from 1987 to 1991 as a social worker at Torrejon Air Base, Spain. I left there and was employed by the Department of the Air Force from 1992 to 1996 as a social worker. I left federal employment until April, when I started working for the Veterans Affairs Department. Do I get to count the Department of the Air Force years toward leave status and retirement? I have an SF 50 that has my service computation date as Aug. 12, 1987.
Q. I am a full-time employee of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Prior to becoming full time, I was a term employee for two years. After my term position was terminated, I was paid my final pay along with unused leave. I was hired approximately four months later in a full-time position but in a different area. Does my time as a term employee count toward my retirement, or is this time lost?
Q. In 1999, I voluntarily switched from CSRS to FERS after 22 years of CSRS service. Since 1999, I have been covered under FERS and paying Social Security. I plan to retire this year at age 67 after 36 years of service. I’ll have accumulated 54 calendar quarters of substantial and maximum earnings. At the time I elected to transfer from CSRS to FERS coverage, I was told that I’ll be exempt from windfall elimination provision deduction from Social Security benefits and that my spousal Social Security benefits will not be affected by the government pension offset. Is this correct?
Q. Is there an advantage to taking a disability retirement vs. a regular voluntary retirement? I am a 60-year-old Postal Service employee under CSRS with 38 years of service. My doctor agrees that I can no longer perform my job and will back me if I go for disability, but is it better financially one way or the other?
Q. I am eligible to retire from the Postal Service under CSRS with 37 years of service at age 57. My husband retired on disability from the Postal Service and took out the survivor annuity for me. When I retire and start receiving an annuity, if my husband should die, will I also receive the survivor benefit from my husband and my own retirement check?
Q. I am retiring Sept. 30. I have been continuously employed by the federal government since Sept. 21, 1981. I first worked for the Department of the Interior from Sept. 21, 1981, to Feb. 27, 1987. I was under FICA from Sept. 21, 1981, to Oct. 29, 1983, after which time I was covered under CSRS. I became employed by the Justice Department (law enforcement 1811) on March 1, 1987. I transferred to FERS on Jan. 3, 1999. I understand that service is calculated differently for service from Sept. 21, 1981, to Sept. 30, 1982, and Oct. 1, 1982, to…
Q. I am 52 with 32 years of federal service under CSRS. If I was offered a Voluntary Early Retirement Authority/Voluntary Separation Incentive Pay, what would that do for me? I have been told that under VERA, I would receive 5 years toward my service. Does that mean my retirement would be based on 37 years service, but take a 6 percent loss due to my age? I would also be able to receive my pension right away.
Q. I am a postal employee who was hired under CSRS in 1983 but switched to FERS when it was offered in 1987. At that time, I was refunded the money I had put into CSRS between 1983 and 1987. How does that affect how my FERS annuity is computed? Can I buy back those four years, to make my annuity higher when I retire?