Q: I’m a 45-year-old disabled retiree with 25 years of service. If I am getting $2,800 a month on Social Security disability and $1,695.00 on Federal Employees Retirement System disability after my first year, how much will I get when both are combined? I understand the Office of Personnel Management makes some calculations on this, but I can’t figure them out. Based on the information above, can you give me an estimate total of both after reduction. A: I’ll give you the formulas; then you can do the arithmetic. For the first 12 months on FERS disability retirement, a retiree…
Browsing: Disability retirement
Q: I received a federal disability pension in 1991. I retrained and was able to work until 2004 when the same condition worsened. I applied for Social Security disability compensation and eceived it in 2008. I just received a notice that the federal civil service disability pension is considered a windfall. A calculation will be made with the windfall rule to reduce my Social Security disability. Is this discrimination against the disabled? Is there a way that I can fight or protest this situation? A: Apparently, you are subject to the windfall elimination provision, which applies to the Social Security…
Q: I have 70.5 days of annual leave and will be separating very soon via a Medical Evaluation Board on a service-connected disability. Am I allowed to sell my annual leave? Are there any pros and cons? A: All civilian employees who separate from the government either by resigning or retiring automatically receive a lump-sum payment for their unused annual leave.
Q: I am a GS-4, Step 10 employee under the Federal Employees Retirement System. I am 55 years old and want to know whether I can retire. I’ve done 22 years of federal service and have four years of military time (1973-76); I was told I need to buy back the time, but I don’t have the money they said it would cost me. I would like to retire early because of high blood pressure. My doctor told me it was caused by job stress. I was diagnosed by my doctor after I was hospitalized while on the job because…
Q: I am 65 years old and have applied for and expect to receive Federal Employees Retirement System disability retirement benefits. In October, I will turn 66 and will begin receiving Social Security retirement benefits. Will my FERS disability benefits be reduced by my SS retirement benefits? A: Because you are already age 62 or older, if you are approved for disability retirement and have fewer that 20 years of service, you’ll receive your earned annuity based on the standard FERS formula: 0.01 x your high-3 x your years and full months of service. If you have 20 or more…
Q: I’m on Civil Service Retirement System disability retirement. Will my annuity be affected if I return to work for my local county government or the federal government? A: If you were to be rehired by the federal government, the salary of your new position would be offset by the amount of your annuity. If the salary for that position was equal to or exceeded 80 percent of the current pay for the position you held before retiring on disability, your disability annuity would be suspended. If you went to work in a nonfederal position, there wouldn’t be any offset…
Q: I’m on FERS disability retirement. I am 58 and would like to know, if I work for my local county government, will my annuity be affected if I stay under the 80 percent earnings cap? A: As long as you remain disabled and don’t exceed the 80-percent limit, your disability annuity will continue.
Q: I am currently in the California Army National Guard and am 99 percent sure I will be medically discharged after being in for over 32 years. I only have 15 years as a dual-status military technician. I am hearing that soldiers who have returned from Iraq or Afghanistan with “combat-related injuries” are being told that they cannot keep their jobs as it is intended by the change in the law governing the requirement to be a member of the National Guard. Can you point me in the direction of someone that can help? Reference: Title 10 USC 10216 (g),…
Q: I’m confused about the following issue. I have medical conditions for which I am applying for disability under the Federal Employees Retirement System. I’ve already applied under SSI and was denied because I am still working. Will my children receive any money if I am awarded disability under FERS? I’ve been told that if I were awarded dissability under SSI they would all receive checks. I do not understand this. Do I have to apply for FERS? Or can I skip FERS and just apply for disability under SSI? Also, since my application is currently under review under FERS…
Q: I am a 40-year-old Air National Guard disability annuitant who had under five years of federal service at the time my disability/disease occurred (GS-13-Step 4 Special Salary). I am currently employed full-time as a civilian and may reach the 80-percent earnings limitation this year. After reading CFR 5 844.403, it appears that I can never get the annuity back should my earnings decrease below the 80 percent threshold. Any thoughts? A: If you are found to be restored to earning capacity, your disability annuity payments will stop six months from the end of the calendar year in which you…