Q. I was medically retired from the Army with a permanent disability in 1983. I receive a service-connected disability payment from the VA. I started a career with the federal government in 1984, and I am now eligible to retire under FERS. Will I be able to receive my VA disability and a FERS retirement? A. Yes
Q. Scenario: Age 56 with 23 years of civilian service (and paying into Social Security) here in the federal government. I’m eligible for the early out but here are my questions: Would I receive the Supplemental Social Security income until I’m 60? Will there be an incentive (dollar amount) to take this early out? Would I not be penalized in any way if I take the early out? How soon would retirement and supplemental payments begin after retiring? I know in earlier years, there was a substantial monetary amount offered to take an early out. A. Assuming that you have…
Q. Due to an on-the-job injury as well as chronic back pain, I may have to elect to what is called medically retire. If I do elect to medically retire, will the government continue to pay any portion of my health insurance? If not, what other options are available? A. If you were approved for disability retirement, the government would continue to contribute the same amount toward your Federal Employee Health Benefits premiums as it does now.
Q. I am a federal law enforcement officer working in a federal prison. I will reach mandatory retirement with 20 years in October 2013. I turn 60 in November 2013. Can I continue beyond my 60th birthday if supported by the BOP? Does a decision require review and approval by someone outside the agency or can the director approve? A. To continue your employment beyond age 60, the attorney general would have to make that request to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Included in the request, among other things, would be a statement of facts establishing why your continued employment would be…
Q. I am a 58 year old CSRS offset employee and have 30 years and some months of creditable service. I started with the post office in 1980 as a sub mail carrier and converted to full time in 1986. I understand that when I retire and reach age 62 (if I am retired prior to then) my pension would be reduced by the amount of Social Security I would receive that is creditable to my CSRS offset service. How would I determine what that amount would be? And would I receive additional Social Security benefits from work outside the…
Q My husband and I are both CSRS retirees. My husband also receives a small amount from Social Security for quarters completed prior to government service. I do not receive any Social Security. If he passes away before me, would the windfall elimination provision apply to a spousal benefit? Would I even receive a spousal benefit as a CSRS retiree? A. Because you won’t be receiving a Social Security benefit based on your own work record, the windfall elimination provision won’t apply to you. However, any spousal or survivor Social Security benefit to which you’d be entitled will be affected by…
Q. A Federal Times article that appeared in November of 2009 noted: “The new law (granting credit for unused sick leave) gives the credit only to those employees who take an immediate annuity.” Am I correct to assume that the word “annuity” in this case refers to receipt of one’s pension and thus the exercise of full retirement benefits and not to the conversion of a TSP Account into a fixed annuity? A. Yes
Q. I have 14 years as a FERS employee and planning to retire under MRA+10. I am 58 years, 7 months old. I have been advised by the human resources staffs that there is a 5 percent reduction in annuity benefit for each full month (5 percent per year) that I’m under age 62 on the date my annuity begins. Is the 5 percent reduction permanent after I reach age 63? A. Yes, the reduction is permanent if your annuity begins immediately following your retirement. However, when you retire you can moderate or eliminate its affect by postponing the receipt of your annuity…
Q. I’m 52 years old with 24 years of federal service under FERS. We are in a BRAC situation (installation closes on Sept. 14) and I am eligible for the offered Voluntary Early Retirement Authority and Voluntary Separation Incentive Payments. Can I take the VERA and still continue with my attempt to get disability? Can I take the VSIP and still continue with my attempt to get disability? The paperwork I need to sign for the VSIP said that I give up the right to file for disability. But I don’t know if that also applies to VERA. The VERA/VSIP…
Q. Is a CSRS Offset employee retiring with less than five years offset service subject to the government pension offset on a spousal Social security benefit? I know this is true for FERS but have not been able to find any clear guidance for offset employees. I do not have enough Social Security quarters to qualify for Social Security payments on my own. My position will be eliminated due to BRAC and I do not have an enduring job offer. There is a VSIP offer on the table. Please help me make an informed choice. A. According to the Social…