Q. In July 2008, Customs and Border Protection officers received law enforcement officer status and would get the 1.7 percent to calculate their pension thereafter. I was on active federal service when this took place but went on Army active duty in November 2008. I will be leaving active duty in 2012 and going back to CBP to pay my military deposit for all the leave without pay time to get credit toward my retirement. I am being told that I will not be receiving LEO 1.7 percent for the time I was on active duty even though I will…
Q. Is it possible to use my military basic pay instead of my federal salary to determine my high 3 for federal annuity calculations? If I make my military deposit for federal credit, can I use the higher military pay to calculate my high 3? I am a Customs and Border Protection officer on leave without pay, and I went on active duty military for three years. A: No, you can’t. By law your high-3 is based solely on your highest three consecutive years of civilian basic pay.
Q. My husband is a FERS retiree who receives a FERS annuity and a FERS annuity supplement (until Social Security benefits take effect) of approximately $1,000 per month. My husband is already on FEHB, so that is not a concern. I am a CSRS employee, planning for my CSRS retirement, so I need advice regarding the impact of leaving my husband a CSRS survivor annuity. If I leave my husband a reduced CSRS survivor annuity of $1,650 per month, and if he outlives me to receive it, will his Social Security benefit and/or FERS annuity supplement be reduced under the…
Q. I served on active duty from Sept. 30, 1984, through May 15, 1989, and then was hired by the Justice Department where I’m still employed. I bought back my military time and am in the FERS plan. Was I eligible for CSRS given my start date on active duty? A. No. Your starting date in the military was irrelevant. What determines your retirement system coverage is the date of your entry on duty in your civilian position. While making a deposit to get credit for your active-duty service makes that time creditable for retirement purposes, among other things, it…
Q. In reference to your response on July 6 regarding retiring under CSRS at the end of a pay period to receive credit for annual and sick leave for the last pay period, I am on a 5/4-9 alternate leave schedule with the second Friday of the pay period as my regular day off. Since I complete 80 hours on the second Thursday of each pay period, would I receive full sick and annual leave credit for the last pay period if I retired at the end of the day on the second Thursday (on May 3, 2012, or May…
Q. I had 13 years of federal civil service with the National Guard. I never withdrew the money I had allotted in FERS. Am I vested? Also, will I get a retirement check at age 60? A. Yes, you are vested. However, because you had at least five years of service but fewer than 20, you won’t be eligible for a deferred annuity until age 62.
Q. I retired from CSRS in 2006 . I am retired from the Navy Reserves. I also draw a 60 percent disability from the Veterans Administration. I also am eligible for Social Security retirement when I turn 62 in September. I had six years of active Navy duty which I paid back to Civil Service. These six years of active duty were also used toward my Navy reserve retirement. I have Survivor Benefit monies taken out of my Navy Reserve and CSRS retirement money. My wife receives a disability retirement from the state of Maryland and she will be eligible…
Q. I’m confused regarding retirement date versus date of final separation Block 2, Section B of SF-3107 FERS Retirement Application. I’m more confused after having read all there was to read on this subject. My official retirement date will be Dec. 31, 2011; what date do I put in Block 2 so that I don’t endup actually retiring on Jan.1, 2012. A. You are making hard work out of this. Put Dec. 31, 2011, on your application and you will be retired at the end of business on that day. In fact, if you had completed a pay period at the…
Q. I’m thinking of retiring in 2012 with 39 years of service under CSRS and I will be 60 years old. If offered a Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment, would I be eligible for the buyout? A. Yes
Q. Is the FERS Law Enforcement annuity indexed for inflation? A. The annuities of special category employees, such as law enforcement officers, are increased by cost-of-living adjustments regardless of the age at which they retire. However, COLAs aren’t added to the special retirement supplement, which is based on the Social Security benefit an employee earned while a FERS employee. Note: No COLAs were paid to anyone in 2010 or 2010. It remains to be seen if one will be paid in 2012.