Q. I accepted a buyout in 1997 under the Federal Employees Retirement System. I had 22 years of continuous service at that time but was under age 50, so I couldn’t retire. In February, I will be 60 and eligible to receive my pension. I was covered by the federal health insurance program for my entire federal career. Can I opt into it when I start receiving my benefits in February? A. No, you can’t. Anyone receiving a deferred annuity, like you will be, can’t re-enroll in the Federal Employees Health Benefits program.
Q. I had 22 years of service when I resigned from the government in July 2010 at age 55. I am under the Civil Service Retirement System. I worked for Department of Agriculture from 1972 to 1978 and returned from 1994 to 2010. I would like to know when I can get some of my retirement monthly. A. Assuming that you didn’t take a refund of your retirement contributions, you can apply for a deferred annuity at age 62.
Q. I’ve been in federal service a little over a year. If I decide not to stay in federal service, is all the money I’m spending to buy back military time being wasted? A. If you stay for a full five years and then leave, you’d be eligible for a deferred annuity, and the military service for which you made a deposit would be included in your annuity computation. If you stay for less than five years, you wouldn’t be eligible for any retirement benefit. Therefore, you’d be better off asking for a refund of both your Federal Employees Retirement…
Q. In 1999, I was forced to go on disability retirement by the Postal Service after 13 years of being under the Federal Employees Retirement System. In 2006, I was deemed to be back to full earning capacity by a few hundred dollars. In 2007, I finally obtained another federal position, which I have been in ever since. What happens to those 7 years I was under disability retirement? I know if I had stayed under disability retirement when I reached age 60 or 62 (I forgot which age it was), all my time including the years on disability retirement would have been…
Q. I withdrew my accumulated retirement money when I left my state ($3,000) and federal ($18,000) jobs in 1978 and 1992. I will not receive any government pensions. Will my being a previous state and or federal employee affect the amount of my Social Security benefit? A. No.
Q. I am planning on retiring at the end of December. I am in the Civil Service Retirement System and have over 31 years in the legislative branch, where I am still employed. I also have another 14 months in the executive branch, for a total of 32 years, five months. I will be 53 in late December, so will I be penalized for not quite reaching age 53? I realize I already have to take a 4 percent reduction because I’m under age 55. My retirement counselor advised me to retire at the end of November instead of December so I…
Q. After five years in the Navy from 1987 to 1992, I got out and worked for the U.S. Postal Service for two years (1993-94). I then returned to active-duty Navy. I have more than 20 years of military service and am thinking about retiring. Will the two years I worked for the USPS count toward federal retirement or at least active federal service? A. Your civilian service isn’t creditable toward your years of military service. Further, since you had fewer than five years of civilian service, you wouldn’t be eligible for any civilian retirement benefit. If you didn’t receive a refund of your retirement…
Q. I was a former term employee with Army from Nov. 23, 2008, to Dec. 22, 2010. My last SF-50 was as GS-12, step 3. The Department of Veterans Affairs just offered me a position as GS-07, step 1. I thought they would have to pay me for GS-07, step 10 vice step 1? A. No. However, you can ask to be hired at a higher step. An agency has no obligation to agree to that. But it may, based on your prior experience and earnings.
Q. I am in an 1811 law enforcement position and turn 57 in April 2012. What is the mandatory last day I am permitted to work? A. Assuming that you will have 20 years of covered service, you will be separated on the last day of the month in which you turn 57.
Q. I am planning on retiring Dec. 31 after 41 years of federal service. Should I retire Nov. 30 instead to take advantage of the 3.6 percent cost-of-living adjustment, and will I be eligible for the COLA that will take effect Dec. 1? A. If you retired on Nov. 30, you would be eligible for 1/12th of the COLA increase, not the entire amount. That’s because COLAs are based on the number of months that a retiree is on the annuity roll.