Q. I am planning to retire at age 62 with 22 years in the federal government and in FERS as a Title 38 employee. I am aware that there will be a limited amount of money I can make without affecting Social Security benefits. If I came back to work in my agency as a contract, fee basis or a consultant, would there be a penalty or offset in my federal FERS annuity?
Browsing: Uncategorized
Q. I’m trying to help a prospective retiree. She is 77 and is receiving a Social Security survivor annuity from her deceased husband. She is in CSRS Offset. The Social Security office seems to be unfamiliar with CSRS Offset and is answering her questions by telling her she’s FERS, which she is not.
Q. I have 25 years of federal service and plan to retire in two years. I have carried the FEHB for my family for that time. My husband was a fed for 10 years, left for private sector and is now returning to the fed employment for probably another five-plus years before he retires. Before I retire, is there a benefit to putting our FEHB in his name? His company paid for dental insurance, which we will lose. We need this coverage (I have lots of dental expenses), so we will enroll in a federal dental plan — in his…
Q. After serving 12 years in the military, I went to work for the federal government Jan. 13, 1982, and left federal service in October 1987, having served five years and nine months. I was in CSRS that entire time. I withdrew my CSRS contributions when I left. I came back to work for the federal government in July 2006 and was placed in CSRS Offset, with the option of going into FERS. I opted to be in CSRS Offset. At that time, I paid the deposit plus interest to get credit for my military time for pension purposes. I…
Q. I worked for the Postal Service from 1979 to 1981, then quit. I started working again in 1984 and quit again in 2000. Now I am employed at the Post Office again as a city carrier assistant. What will my retirement from the Post Office look like? I just turned 61. I have always had two jobs, some self-employment and others where I was an employee. Will I be entitled to an annuity from the Postal Service or, at this point, does it matter putting in more years there?
Q. I recently applied for a GS-501-12/13 financial management analyst and was graded at a GS-12. However, I was a FP-501-3 financial management officer (GS-13 equivalent) for three years and have been a GS-511-13 auditor for the last eight years. Plus, I have a master’s in accounting. Thus, I think I should be graded at a GS-13. I had an interview and mentioned my concerns about the downgrade. I was told that if I was offered a position, I would need to take it up with Human Resources directly. If I get an offer, can I appeal the grading as…
Q. I am revisiting my life insurance needs and want to ensure I understand FERS survivor benefits. I have more than 20 years of 1811 experience, but I won’t turn 50 until next year. If I die before I turn 50, will the survivor annuity be calculated at 10 percent for my first 20 years of 1811 experience or at 17 percent for those years? If I die after I turn 50 but am still employed by the federal government, will the survivor annuity be calculated at 10 percent for my first 20 years of 1811 experience or at 17…
Q. I retired in 2007 with full firefighter retirement and 34 years under CSRS. I now wish to work for the U.S. Postal Service. Will this job affect my annuity benefits?
Q. I have two questions about the Reg Jones article in the Feb. 18 Federal Times issue, titled “2013 brings changes to Medicare, survivor benefits” (Page 22). 1) Under death benefits, it says, “under CSRS, if you die while still employed, your widow will be entitled to a survivor annuity.” When I retired in 1995, I signed an agreement to take a reduction in my annuity so that when I die, my wife will get a percent of my annuity. Please explain what is wrong with one of these two statements. 2) Under the same topic, he says, “the spouse…
Q. I receive FERS benefits but am now applying for Social Security, which will be my main retirement. I got to a question on the application process that asks whether I ever earned money where FICA was not taken out. I worked for two and parts of two other year for Gallaudet College, which was at the time a quasi-government and Civil Service. Those earnings do not appear on my Social Security statement of benefits I assume for that reason. I took the retirement in a lump sum when I left that position. I was federally employed (FERS and Social…