Browsing: Benefits

If you have spent time in the military, you may be entitled to credit for that time in the computation of your Civil Service Retirement System or Federal Employee Retirement System annuity. To be eligible, you must have done one of the following: Served on active duty in the armed forces, which are defined as the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps or Coast Guard and, after June 30, 1960, in the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service or, after June 30, 1961, in the Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration; Served as a cadet in…

Q. My husband died suddenly. He had been away from work because of an illness for three weeks. Had he lived, which we expected, he would have gone on disability like his doctor recommended. He did not apply for that as his death came so suddenly — a week after he was told this. I am receiving a CSRS survivor benefit from his pension. However, if he had received it, it would be double. If he paid in all those years (37 at the U.S. Postal Service and three in the military), shouldn’t they be paying all of it out? Do they just get to keep half of…

Q. My late husband worked for the government and was receiving his pension before he died at the age of 59. We were married for almost 32 years. I am receiving survivor benefits. I am worried that if I do remarry, for whatever reason I might not get my survivor benefits. Without this money I could not afford to live. Is there a way that I can get a written confirmation from the government that this wont happen?

Q. I receive an annuity and collect Social Security. My husband passed away in July 2015 and I applied for spousal benefits from Social Security. I was denied because of my annuity. Is there a limit on the amount of annuity you receive? I am going to lose everything because I am not entitled to even part of his Social Security, which in the beginning was supposed to be $500. I was told I could have collected when he was alive. Now I will get nothing because I have an annuity. What I can do? I have a mortgage, house bills and credit cards. I feel…

Q. My husband just retired under FERS. We are both federal employees. I am under FERS as well with a 31 years born 1964 plan to retire at age 56 like my spouse in 4 years and 11 months. I dropped my PPO insurance years ago when we married, and he covers me under his PPO Blue Cross Blue Shield. Before I retire, am I required to spend the last five years with my own health insurance?

Q. I am currently a USPS Letter Carrier covered by Samba under FEHB. I plan to retire in November of 2016. May I switch to another provider (I.e. Blue Cross Blue Shield) during open enrollment or do I have to be covered under the same provider (in my case Samba) for 5 years to continue coverage after retirement?

Q. I’m a 24-year veteran of the Postal Service at the age of 58. Due to a recommended fourth surgery, I am considering resigning from the Postal Service later this year but want to postpone receiving my annuity until I’m 60-years-old (about 17 months from now) so (according to a human resources representative) I can avoid the 5 percent reduction per year as I would have reached the 60/20 retirement plateau. I realize I would not be eligible for the “special supplement,” but my wish is to work in the private sector and delay receiving social security until my mid-60s. My finances are in order to do this. So…

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