Q: I have been on disability retirement and collecting SSID since 2001. I suffered a spinal cord injury that wasn’t job-related. I have 14 years Leo coverage at 1.7% per year and four years not in a covered position 1.1? What percentage do I get calculating my retirement annuity while I am under disability retirement, 1.1 or 1.7 for the 20 years, to age 57? And what is the rate up to age 62? If somehow I was able to return to work, a miracle as a Leo, would I receive any credit while I was on disability retirement for…
Q: I am a retired FERS law enforcement officer collecting the FERS supplement. I am also an independent contractor for the State Department conducting security background investigations. Am I bound by the annual limit you can make from earned wages? The 2010 limit is $14,160. I made almost $19,800. I thought that when I retired FERS law enforcement supplemental pay had no limit. Please advise, and what happens now? A: You were mistaken. The Social Security earnings limit applies to everyone who is receiving a Social Security benefit and hasn’t reached full retirement age (65-67, depending on the year of…
Q: I was employed by the Senate from 1980 through 1994. During that time, I had a break in service and took a refund. I was rehired by the Senate under FERS and now work for a different government agency (I am paying back most of my deposits and redeposits). I understood that some of my Senate CSRS years would be counted at 1.7 percent in the retirement formula. But my current agency tells me that “OPM made some changes to the law that affected your service from January 1, 1984, through December 31, 1986. Any period of FICA service…
Q: I started work in civil service late in life after a military career for which I draw a separate pension. My service computation date is May 24, 1994, and my birthdate is Feb 9, 1947. At what point will I be able to retire with a FERS annuity multiplier of 1.1 percent? Since I just had a permanent change of station due to an agency reorganization, I have to stay on duty until at least January of next year. I would have to stay until January 2014 for the sick leave (full 1 percent) to take effect, but I…
Q: I am confused about FERS annuities and Social Security benefits. Will I get my full FERS annuity and my full Social Security benefits?? I have heard that if you make too much money, you will lose all or a good portion of your Social Security benefits. I am a GS-13 and retirement eligible at 60 years old with 22 years of service. I earned full Social Security credits before entering civil service. A: If you are receiving a Social Security benefit and have not reached your full Social Security retirement age, $1 in Social Security benefits will be deducted…
Q: I have been told that an injured firefighter with the federal service can retire using firefighter guidelines since there was prior service. I am working on the same basis as a civil service employee. I was hurt fighting a fire on base in the late 1980s. I had seven years as a fireman before I had to be placed in a different job because my injury would no longer let me be a firefighter. I paid into retirement as a fireman for about seven years and could have retired in about two more years. My injury is beginning to…
Q: I am a USDA employee who will be eligible for FERS retirement at age 62 in January 2012. For the past year, I having been trying to find out though my agency’s Human Resources Department whether my work as a SCEP for the Defense Department between 1968 and 1970 qualifies as creditable service. I left the program due to a “reduction in force.” I received severance pay and withdrew my retirement contributions. If possible, I would like to buy back the time while I was on active duty. Any thoughts on how I can get an answer to my…
Q: Is the high-3 calculation based on gross salary for a full year worked? A: The high-3 is based on your highest three consecutive years of average pay. It’s the amount payable for your grade and step, including locality pay or special rates, but does not include most other forms of compensation, including overtime, unless proven by law, for example, administratively uncontrollable overtime pay for law enforcement officers.
Q: When I’m 61.5 years old with 13.5 years of service under FERS, I’d like to resign and defer my annuity until I’m 62, (January 2014). Will that avoid the 5 percent penalty? What happens to my sick leave based on the new system? Would I lose it because I resigned at age 61.5, or get credit toward retirement? A: Because you would be 62 and have at least five years of service when you applied for a deferred retirement, you would avoid the age penalty. On the other hand, you would get no credit for your unused sick leave.…
Q: I plan to retire this year with almost 40 years in CSRS. No Social Security is expected. My wife has been approved for Social Security disability. Will this affect my retirement or her disability? A: No, it won’t.