Q. I am 57 and was a civilian firefighter for the Navy in FERS with 13 years of service. I was medically retired in 2001 and have been receiving a disability annuity since. I remember being told or having read that when I turn 62, my disability annuity will revert to a standard retirement, reducing my pension. A couple of years after I left the federal system, I found part-time work to help add to my income, staying well under the 80 percent requirement, but over the last two to three years, my medical issues have worsened, and I am…
Browsing: High-3
Q. I am a 35-year CSRS employee in Kabul, Afghanistan [temporary change of station]. My organization approved a negotiated salary that increased my annual pay from $107,000 [GS-13, Step 7] to $115,000 [GS-13, Step 10]. My SF-50 for the change is dated Nov. 18. I am considering retiring Sept. 1, a little more than nine months past the SF-50 date but less than one full year. I am seeking a high-3 calculation of $107,000 + $107,000 + $115,000. Will I receive full [or 75 percent] credit for the nine-month period as a GS-13, Step 10? Or must I remain in…
Q. I resigned from federal service in July 2011. I have 15 years of service and am 53. I was a FERS employee. I’m trying to figure out what my retirement will be. My understanding is that I can start drawing my pension when I’m 56. I also understand there is a 5 percent penalty for each year under 62, meaning if I started taking my pension at 56, it would be reduced by 30 percent. It is also my understanding that the way to figure out what my pension would be is to use .01 x high-3 x years…
Q. I plan on retiring at age 65, when I will have completed 15 years of federal civilian service. I have also paid the deposit on six years and four months of active-duty military service. Can I add the active-duty service to my 15 years of federal civilian service to qualify for the 1.1 percent of high-3 average salary for each year of service formula for those Age 62 or Older at Separation With 20 or More Years of Service?
Q. On the high-3 for annuity purpose, what actually counts? Just base salary, salary plus overtime or salary plus overtime and other earning (deployment incentives such as danger pay and post differential pay)? I know a number of federal employees have deployed to either Iraq or Afghanistan and received temporary promotions, additional overtime hours, danger pay and post differential pay, plus some also received separate maintenance allowance. Do these extras count toward the high-3?
Q. I am a former federal CSRS employee who lost employment when the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard was closed in 1995. I had about 15 years of service and left my contributions in the system. I was born in July 1956 and am 56. When can I apply for a pension, and what can I expect? Would I take a deferred pension? Also, I have met my 40 quarters for Social Security and have been employed for about 17 years with the School District of Philadelphia. I am thinking about retiring when I am 62 but would like to know my…
Q. Where can someone obtain information on the requirements for the 41 years, 11 months CSRS retirement in Office of Personnel Management?
Q. I’ve retired on disability and am 33 years old. I receive a measly $400 per month. I haven’t received my retirement plaque, let alone more pay. I receive $1,300 in Social Security. When I was working, I made over $53,000 per year. Where can I find a retirement lawyer for the federal government and why haven’t they sent me my plaque? I’ve been retired since 2011. I’ve been in appeal process with the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs for my on-the-job injury.
Q. I am on military leave without pay on presidential recall orders. I was promoted to GS-12, Step 1 a few months prior to being mobilized on military orders. If I’m involuntarily extended on military orders for three years then return to my civilian employment and request deferred annuity, would my high-3 be based on GS-12 Step 1 that I held for a few months prior to being mobilized? Based on my career GS level, can you tell me my current high 3? 2000-2006 = GS-8, Step 6 2007 = GS-7, Step 8 2008 =GS-5, Step 10 2009 =GS-7, Step…
Q. I understand that credited sick leave will not influence how the high-3 is calculated. But will credited sick leave count toward annuity calculation in meeting age or service requirements to receive the 1.1 percent factor? If a person has 19 years and six months day-for-day in FERS and adds/applies eight months of unused sick leave, will this qualify for the 1.1 percent calculation factor (high-3 x .011 x 20 years two months)?