Q. I am 65, employed at the U.S. Postal Service and applying for Medicare Ppart A but not Part B. I am confused after reading in the FEHB benefits brochure from several plans: “When you are age 65 or over and do not have Medicare …” That sound like if I do not take Medicare Part B, plans will pay less benefits and I will be paying more. There is a benefit to taking Part B, but the monthly premium negates it. I am afraid they pay only what Medicare pays and I will be left paying the difference. A.…
Q: I was an attorney for the government from 1976 to 1982. I withdrew a lump-sum retirement and have not/will not refund deposit. I worked from 1982 to 2002 in the private sector, during which I had substantial earnings and paid applicable Social Security. In 2002 I returned to a federal job and hope to retire in November. By then I will have about 15 years of federal service of which 10 years I paid both Social Security and CSRS offset. Am I safe in assuming that I wil not suffer WEP? A: The fact that you took a refund…
Q: I am a civilian GS employee and an active reservist. I am getting deployed to Afghanistan for about 100 days. I was wondering if I am allowed to use any/all/combination of my military leave, civilian regular leave or sick leave while I am deployed. This would allow me to get my GS salary as well as my Army salary at the same time. My GS salary is more than my active-duty salary will be. A: You may take military leave (the 15 days granted each year for training), annual leave or LWOP-US. You may not use sick leave. For…
Q: I have a little more than 11 years of military active-duty time and two years FERS time in law enforcement. I’m going to send off my RI 20-97 in a day or two. If I make a lump-sum payment, will my GS-6 step 3 (current pay grade) increase to a step 8 (pay grade at 13 years service)? A: No, it won’t. However, making the deposit will increase your length of service and be used in your annuity computation when you retire.
Q: I was employed by the federal government between August 1983 and September 1999. At the time I left civil service, I withdrew contributions of $50,000. I have been offered a position with the federal government again. I am now 64. If I accept the position, will I be eligible for a pension? How many years would I have to work? Am I eligible for redeposit of funds? A: In order to get credit for your prior service, you would have to redeposit that money plus accumulated interest. If you did so, you’d be eligible for an immediate annuity because…
Q: I have worked in government since April 15, 1991, and in December of that year had an on-the-job accident. I have endured four surgeries since then and the doctors want me to have a fifth. It’s now up to OWCP on the direction to go. I have been on light duty for more than a year, and my employers want to resolve this, including getting me to volunteer to retire, medical retire or even do a fit for duty. I have four more years before I am 57,and I prefer to stick it out, but if I choose to…
Q: I am a 57-year-old CSRS employee with 35 1/2 years creditable service. I am eligible to retire now (since June 21, 2009) but enjoy the challenge of my job, so I have stayed on. I gave serious consideration to retiring Dec. 31, 2011, but I am not 100 percent certain that is what I want to do (my wife wants to work a while longer). Am I running a risk of losing any benefits by staying a while longer? What is the minimum amount of time required after mailing my retirement application, and the effective date I retire? A:…
Q: When do I have to put my wife under my health insurance? She is still working and doesn’t plan to retire for a couple of more years. I plan to retire next year. Do I have to insure her before I retire, while I am still working for the VA, or can I wait till she retires and loses her insurance to put her under my health insurance after I retire? A: You could change your coverage from self to self and family when she loses her nonfederal coverage. The authority for that is Code 2G under OPM’s Table…
Q: I am retired military with 29 years of service on April 1, 2010. I have been employed in the Defense Department lab demo program since April 12, 2010. Have an SCD leave date of Dec. 13, 1990, SCD Civ of April 4, 2010 and SCD RIF of April 12, 2010. If given a notice of involuntary separation by my agency, will I be eligible for unemployment? Where can I find more details? A: You’ll have to check with your state unemployment office.
Q: I plan to retire the last day in February. Is that a good time to retire? I was going to retire Dec. 31, 2011, but had to change the date. A: For most agencies, Feb. 25, 2012, was the end of a pay period. By retiring on the last day of February, you’d be getting credit for the annual and sick leave earned during that pay period plus three additional days of pay and service credit. You’d also be on the annuity roll the following day.