Q: I’m in a law enforcement officer position and was wondering if the Federal Employees Retirement System supplement is also paid to new retirees while on interim payments, or are the interim payments only partial payments of the FERS basic annuity? A: The special retirement supplement is only paid when you case has been finalized and you are receiving your full annuity. You’ll receive catch-up payments of your special retirement supplement along with any additional annuity you are owed because you were in interim pay.
Q: If you are eligible for a discontinued service retirement and you are part of a reduction-in-force, because you are on a priority placement program for a year, why can you not wait until the year is almost up to put in for your DSR? Also, I am under the Federal Employees Retirement System, but I have money that I paid into the Civil Service Retirement System. I am not under CSRS Offset because when I was transferred the choices were not explained to me; I was just told that I had to transfer. What happens to the money that…
Q: My retirement date was July 1. I have negative-170 hours of sick leave and negative-32 hours of annual leave. I will receive an annuity, but I will get an interim amount first: How much will I have to pay back? A: Unless your agency waives payment, you will owe a debt that must be repaid. Whether they will require you to pay it before you separate or ask the Office of Personnel Management to withhold the required amount from your annuity is a decision they will have to make. You need to talk to someone in your personnel office…
Q: I had 13 years of Social Security employment (max contribution) before entering the Civil Service Retirement System Offset in 1991. I am 64 years old and considering retirement at age 66. Do CSRS Offset years count in meeting the 30-year requirement to avoid the windfall elimination provision? A: All years of Social Security-covered employment in which you had substantial earnings count toward the 30 years needed to avoid the windfall elimination provision.
Q: Where do I send my form for buying back my military time, and how do I find out how much it will cost? A: To make a deposit for any years of active duty service, you’ll need to complete a copy of Form RI-20-97, Estimated Earnings During Military Service, and mail it to the military finance center for your branch of service along with a copy of your DD 214, Report of Transfer or Discharge. When you get that information, take it to your payroll office along with a copy of your DD 214 and a Standard Form 2803…
Q: I am a CSRS employee. What is the minimum survivor benefit I need to select if I want my wife covered under health insurance? Can I select $1? A: Yes, but if you elect something other than a full survivor benefit, your spouse will have to agree to it in writing.
Q: Where can I find my amount of credible service, or time that counts toward my retirement? A: Your service computation date (SCD) will be shown on your leave and earnings statement. It reflects all your federal service that is creditable. Because some service is never creditable, and some is creditable only with the payment of a deposit or redeposit of retirement contributions, you’ll have to look in your official personnel folder (OFP) and talk with someone in your personnel office if any of your time in service isn’t included in your SCD.
Q: I recently retired from the FBI in a non-law enforcement position. However, I started federal service in 1971 (Drug Enforcement Administration special agent, customs special agent) and stayed in that position for about 15 years. I then went into the private sector for 18 years. After retiring from the private sector, I returned to the government with the FBI. After a total of 20 years, I retired. The Office of Personnel Management advised me that although I contributed the higher amounts to the 6(c) retirement for three-quarters of my federal service, there was no provision for either a partial-6(c)…
Q: I lost my reserve position for medical reasons, through no fault of my own, on Aug. 27, 2010. I have been given one year to find another job. I will be 54 years old with 19.5 years of time in service by August 2011. What type of retirement would I be allowed: Discontinued service retirement or disability? A: Disability.
Q: I have been a government employee for more than 22 years in FERS . I have been transferred on permanant change of station overseas to five countries during my career for a total of 15 years and six months. I was recently told I accrue years at an accelerated rate when assigned PCS overseas. Is that correct? At what rate do I accrue years toward retirement (i.e. 1 year overseas = 1.2 years, etc.)? Does the accelerated rate apply to extended overseas temporary duty, such as my current situation of serving 179 days in Iraq? A: I’m not aware…