Q. If I worked as a nonappropriated funds employee flex for six months and then was hired as a regular part-time employee for a year and a half, then transferred over to a full-time GS federal employee with no break in service at all. I used four annual leave days only then I went into my federal full-time job. I have been told that they are counting my NAF time in with my federal, but I still missing that year and a half. How can I get this taken care of and will they count my flex time as well?…
Q. If Congress changes the CSRS retirement calculation from High 3 to High 5 and it is signed by the president and it becomes effective Oct. 1, then what would be the optimum CSRS retirement date for those eligible to retire under High 3? A. An “if” questions like yours would require that I accept an unfounded assumption and then guess what a law that flowed from it would set as an effective date and how and when it would affect current employees. Ask me again if a bill is actually introduced. Even then, my answer will be based solely on what that bill…
Q. I’m turning 65 in September (I’ve been retired under CSRS for seven years). I’m confused about what happens to my curent coverage under Blue Cross/Blue Shield. I’ve been told I have to sign up for Medicare Part B . What’s the relationship between the two? Also, my husband (over 65) has never had coverage under Medicare Part A as he’s always used my BC/BS. Will my going under Medicare affect him? A. You do not have to sign up for Medicare Part B unless you want to. However, before making a decision, I suggest that you pull out your FEHB…
Q. My husband is 65 and started drawing Social Security benefits when he turned 64. I am 63 and would like to wait until I am at least 66 to retire. Can I draw benefits off my husband’s SS until I start drawing my own? A. To learn more about your options, go to www.socialsecurity.gov/retire2/applying6.htm.
Q. I am on Social Security Disability Insurance because of cancer and diabetes. I need to find some kind of part-time work to make ends meet. I know there are income limits for SSDI, but I was wondering if there are any other problems associated with working while on SSDI, at least as far as the Social Security Administration is concerned. A: For an answer to your question, go to http://ssa.gov/pubs/10029.html#part11.
Q. As a spouse of a federal retiree who has chosen not to purchase a survivor annuity, I am concerned about my health insurance. Iunderstand that I am covered after my husband’s death, however what is the procedure regarding my monthly payment? It is now taken out of my husband’s monthly retirement check, but how does that work after his death? A. If you aren’t receiving a survivor annuity, your coverage under the Federal Employees Health Benefits program will end.
Q. I am a federal employee with 10 years of consecutive service from 2001 to 2011. I would like to resign my position in August. What are my options for a deferred retirement? Please include every available scenario. A. There’s only one scenario. If you resign from your position and leave your contributions in the retirement fund, you can apply for a deferred annuity at age 62.
Q. I served as an Air National Guard full-time WG-12 technician from March 1993 until January 2003 when I was found no longer medically eligible to serve in the military capacity that is a prerequisite to holding a job as a civil service technician. I performed the same duties when doing military time as I did as a FERS employee but was given an OPM disability retirement because I lost my military status. I learned today that there is a special retirement supplement to disability payments for law enforcement and military reserve technicians that is intended to bridge the income…
Q. I worked in a federal job as a temporary employee from October 1979 to January 1987. I paid only Social Security since temporary employees were not allowed to participate in CSRS. I was hired as a career-conditional FERS employee in June 2010. I am looking to pay a deposit to get credit for my years of temporary service. Can any of that service give me a CSRS annuity component even though I never participated in CSRS? A. No.
Q. I need to know how to buy my military time back, how much it will cost and where to send the forms. A. Go to the Ask the Experts site, click on the heading “Read more” and on the right hand column click on “Creditable service: FERS,” then scroll down to “Counting military service toward retirement,” dated Oct. 25, 2010. If, by chance, you are a CSRS employee rather than CSRS, use a Standard Form 2803 instead of the 3108.