Q. I am 57, have 40 years of CSRS service and am happily married. My wife is 53 and has 37 years of CSRS service (and is also happily married). I’m ready to retire. If I retire and choose not to select a survivor benefit, could I elect to provide it at a later date? What factors should I consider when making the decision of whether or not to elect a survivor benefit?
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Q. I’ve been a federal employee since 2010. I recently paid off my military buyback. I’m eligible for retirement through the Army Reserve. My human resources person just told me that if I retire from the Reserve, all the buyback time I have toward my civilian retirement (leave accrual, step increases, etc.), I lose all of that. In other words, I should not have bought back my military time because I cannot receive military reserve retirement and apply that time to my federal civilian service. Is that true? If so, can I get back the money I put into the…
Q. On a recent post: “Are the health care premiums taxed once we retire if we retire with law enforcement officer retirement?” You responded: There is a $3,000 deduction available for law enforcement officers. Where can I obtain more information about the deduction?
Q. In computing the high-3 salary, what happens if you get a step increase during your last year but the higher amount does not equate to exactly a full year? Do you average the total of so many consecutive days that total three years, or does it have to be one set salary for 365 days to equate to one year?
Q. I will have 25 years under FERS once I complete the buyback of my military time and 15 years of federal time at age 56. Is it true that I have labored under the misconception of the 80 rule all these years? When I was hired, this information was in my package. I can’t believe I have been looking forward to a full retirement just to hear I will lose more than 30 percent.
Q. Due to the Affordable Care Act, the numbers of people with increased health care risks will be able to get health insurance. The insurance companies are not restricted from charging as much as it takes to provide the coverage and make a great profit. Will these additional costs be passed on to those now covered by Federal Employees Health Benefits, including retirees? Also, the federal employees’ pay and retirees’ cost-of-living adjustments are frozen!
Q. In 2012, I retired after 35 years of federal service (CSRS). I had been diagnosed with a rare bone cancer and decided that I had to address my health issue and quit working. It has now been 1½ years since I retired, and I am in remission and would like to go back to work at my prior position. Is this possible? What will it do to my annuity?
Q. If an employee injures himself on second shift and has to go to the doctor the next day prior to reporting to work, is he entitled to earn compensatory time for time spent seeking medical attention? Keep in mind he is a dual-status employee and therefore not entitled to overtime pay.
Q. I received an annuity based on my FERS employment at the Social Security Administration. Am I eligible to apply for part-time employment at a Defense Department commissary?
Q. When I retire, I will have 36 years under CSRS. I have tried reading on the tax-free annuity part on the 1099-R. I will fall under the simplified method, and the chart for me shows a $310-a-month figure. I multiply this by 12 to get my tax-free annuity figure. What do I subtract this off of, and what will it do for me?