Q: What were you thinking? No COLA for two years, now a tax increase, causing my check to be $38 less. I am barely surviving. Do something. This is no way to repay veterans, or their widows, for their service. A: You’ve come to the wrong place to point the finger of blame. The fact that no cost-of-living adjustments are being made on retiree annuities is a product of the same law that routinely gave you COLAs in the past. When the economy tanked, the index on which they are computed fell below zero. Just be thankful that this same…
Q: I have 30 years in federal service, (20 FERS and 10 in buyback military time), and my position as a non-6c 1801 is being converted to 6c. In order to get the 1.7 percent, I have to work another 20 years as a 6c. If I do not work the full 20 years, I know I won’t get the 1.7 percent, but will my base salary for calculation of my retirement include LEAP? A: Yes.
Q: I heard you could receive FERS retirement credit for the two-week annual training sessions of reserve duty. If so, what records are needed, and where can former reservists obtain them? A: You already received credit for that time. 5 U.S.C. 6323 (a) provides 15 days per fiscal year for active duty, active duty training and inactive duty training. You can’t get credit for it twice.
Q: In calculating the effect of WEP, how do the years I work between age 66 and 70 count? I plan to keep working and apply for Social Security when I am 70. At age 66, I will only have 18 years of substantial contributions under Social Security. If I continue to work until I am 70, will the additional four years of substantial contributions count in calculating the WEP when I apply for Social Security? Or will the WEP be based only on my years of substantial contributions as of age 66? A: The windfall elimination provision is applied…
Q: My fiancé has been informed he has terminal cancer. We were planning our wedding for next month. He has just applied for Social Security disability. He already collects a disability pension from a county school board, of which I am not entitled to when he passes. If we marry, how will that affect my civil service retirement pension (I am 58, he’s 62); and am I eligible to receive his Social Security disability benefits after he passes? Do we have to be married for a certain amount of time first? A: Your CSRS annuity won’t be affected because you…
Q: I entered federal civil service in March 2007 as an Air Reserve technician. I bought back 10 years of military service. I turn 51 in August. I have heard I must retire at age 56 due to being an Air Reserve technician. However, I won’t have 30 years of service. Is this true? A: What you were told was untrue. Go to http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/uscode/10/E/l/1007/10218 and read what the law has to say about mandatory retirement for reserve technicians.
Q: Should an employee always get a choice between comp time and overtime? Since overtime is 1½ your hourly wage, it seems comp time also should equal this in compensation. My nurse manager is offering comp time for those of us willing to come in early ( before our tour of 7-3:30 ). I would prefer overtime, but she says she can not offer this since it is not related to direct patient care. What are the rules/regulations on comp time and overtime in this and all matters. I am a GS nurse hourly-wage employee. A: See www.opm.gov/pay/html/comp.html.
Q: I am a retired federal employee and receive an annuity. I pay for my Medicare Part B quarterly. I would like to have this cost deducted monthly from my annuity. Is there a form to do this? If so, where can I get this form? A: According to OPM, if you aren’t receiving Social Security benefits, you can have Medicare premiums withheld from your annuity payments. To do this, OPM must receive a request for the withholding from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. They cannot withhold premiums based on your direct request or even one from the…
Q: I paid my service credit in full in 2005 but can’t locate my paid receipt which I need for retirement. A: Your CSD number should be sufficient proof. However, if you want additional proof you can go to scbillings@opm.gov.
Q: I am a 1998 CSRS/FERS transfer. My wife is retired and collecting a Social Security benefit. Next year when I turn 66 I thought I would take a spousal benefit off of my wife’s Social Security. Is it not true that because I have more than five years in FERS there is no GPO reduction in that spousal benefit? About a year later I plan to retire and start receiving my annuity of CSRS/FERS retirement. Even though I then would be receiving a pension that partially consists of CSRS where no Social Security was paid, wouldn’t there still be…