Browsing: High-3

Q. I am a GS-12 Step 10 and applied for a temporary promotion GS-14 (as I had been a GS-14 many years ago and took a 14-year break in service); it was posted as NTE 1-4 years. If after three or more years they do not make the position (six of them) permanent, and I have to return to my GS-12 Step 10 position, do the three years count as my high-3? I want to retire in five years and the high-3 is a big deciding factor. A. Your high-3 will be based on your highest three consecutive years of…

Q. I’m a federal employee who was in leave-without-pay status during the three years I was on active duty. I’ll be retiring soon. If I make a deposit for that time, can I use my higher military base pay to calculate my high-3 when I retire? A. No. By law your high-3 is based solely on your highest three consecutive years of civilian basic pay.

Q. I’m a CSRS employee with 41 years and 10 months of service. Is there a maximum annuity calculation? Is it based on my high-3 during that final three years or will it include the salaries of any years after that? A. Your high-3 will be based on your highest three consecutive years of basic pay whenever they occur in your career. If you work for 41 years and 10 months, you’ll be entitled to the maximum earned annuity, which is 80 percent of your high-3. While retirement contributions will continue to be taken from your pay, when you retire…

Q. I’m a firefighter under the special retirement plan. I’m at 20 years of civilian service but 44 years old. I meet the minimum service time, but not the age. Can I leave the civil service now? If I do, when would I receive my annuity? A. If you leave before being eligible to retire on an immediate annuity, you could apply for a deferred annuity when you reach your minimum retirement age, which is 57. That annuity would be based on your high-3 as a firefighter on the day you left. Note: You wouldn’t be able to reenroll in…

Q. Is there a maximum annuity calculation for CSRS? Is the calculation of the “Average High-3 Salary” based only on the salaries during your first 41 years, 11 months of service, or will it be calculated include the salaries of the years after that period? A. Your high-3 will be based on your highest three consecutive years of basic pay whenever they occur in your career.

Q. I am on disability retirement and disability Social Security. I will be 62 next year. How much will my retirement be? A. When you reach age 62, your FERS disability benefit will be recomputed as if you had worked to age 62. Therefore, your actual service will be added to the time you spent on disability. The total time will be multiplied by 1.0 percent (1.1 percent if your combined actual service and time on disability add up to 20 at least 20 years.) That figure will then be multiplied by your high-3 salary on the day you were…

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