Q: I am in the Air Force Reserve. I am in a dual position and am a master sergeant. I have been in for over 32 years, 26 of them as a civilian. I will reach my high-year tenure (HYT) of 33 years in the military in April 2011. I understand I should be automatically extended until I reach my minimum retirement age (MRA) of 56 years old in November 2011. I would like to confirm that in November 2011, I will be able to retire in the Federal Employees Retirement System due to my mandatory separation from my military…
Browsing: Creditable service: FERS
Q: I just read an article about the 2010 Defense Authorization Act, and it speaks of allowing employees under the Federal Employees Retirement System to redeposit. I took a refund of $1,600 and lost 13 years of military time for retirement under the FERS system because redeposit was not allowed. I understand this new law authorizes FERS employees to redeposit for civil service time. Does it allow for redeposit for military time? A: No, it doesn’t.
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: My husband recently began receiving Social Security in addition to his military retirement. I will be retiring under the Federal Employees Retirement System within the next couple of years and want to know whether there is a limit to what a “family” can receive in Social Security, or will both of us be allowed our benefits without regard to what the other is receiving? If my husband passes away, will I receive a portion of his Social Security in addition to my own? A: Both of you will be able to receive the Social Security benefit you earned based…
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 am under the Federal Employees Retirement System and work for the Defense Logistics Agency. I have worked at DLA since 1986 and worked for the Social Security Administration for two years before that. Two questions: What is the cutoff date for Civil Service Retirement System eligibility, and does my time working for SSA count toward FERS or CSRS? A: Because you were hired in 1984, you were covered by an interim system made up of CSRS and Social Security. Because you had not served at least five years under CSRS when the Federal Employees Retirement System became effective…
Q: I am a 58-year-old physician with 16 years of military service from 1978 to 1994. I am taking a job with the Veterans Affairs Department. In the benefits booklet I received, there is a note as follows: “Physicians and dentists covered under Title 38 provisions must complete 15 years of creditable service in order to use Physicians/Dentists Special Pay as basic pay in determining the high-3 average salary used in the computation of a [Federal Employees Retirement System] annuity. If I buy into FERS for my 16 years of military service, does this count toward “creditable service,” or is…
Q: I am under the Federal Employees Retirement System and have 25 1/2 years of federal service. Early in my career, I had a few years of part-time employment. What is the formula to figure how this impacts my annuity? A FERS Benefit Estimate Report from the Office of Personnel Managment listed a FERS part-time proration factor of 92 percent at age 50 with 23 1/2 years of service and 94 percent at age 56 1/2 with 30 years of service. I am assuming this means my annuity will be reduced by 6 percent at 30 years of service. If…
Q: I am covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System’s law enforcement retirement plan. I have 11 years in as a law enforcement officer plus three years of federal service as a non-LEO. I am 48 and am considering retirement to go back to school. I may return to federal service at some point, but not as an LEO. I would be retiring without having 20 years of service or reaching my mandatory retirement age of 57. I know there are benefits to retiring as opposed to resigning (especially as an LEO), but what are the major pension pros and…
Q: I have served in the Navy for seven years. Will I be able to carry over my time to the U.S. Postal Service? A: Yes, but only if you make a deposit to the civilian retirement system. The deposit equals 3 percent of your basic military pay while on active duty, excluding allowances or differentials you may have received. Interest charges are added if you delay making the deposit after you are hired.