Q: I spent just over four years in a primary law enforcement position (1811). I left to take a noncovered position (1801), where I stayed for the next three years and two months. I was recently hired back into the 1811 series (a secondary position) but was not afforded the 6c coverage. My HR office told me that it was due to three years lapsing (between my primary position and this one, I assume). My current position does extend coverage, but only to those who transfer in from a covered position. My question is this: how do I get 6c…
Q: I was medically retired in 2004 and subsequently got a GS job covered under FERS. Most of my pay comes from the VA in the form of disability compensation, but a about $100 comes from DFAS as retired pay. I want to make a military deposit and apply my military time to my FERS. I realize I will need to waive that $100 worth of retired pay, but when? Can I make my military deposit now to avoid paying anymore interest, but wait until I am ready for FERS retirement to waive the military retirement pay? Or does the…
Q: In 2008, I retired involuntarily at 60, with 20 years under FERS, because of funding cuts. In 2009, I was re-hired in a permanent GS position by another department. The salary of my position is offset by the amount of my annuity and retirement contributions are being deducted from my salary. I am planning to retire after completing at least five, or six+ years, in 20015-16. How will my redetermined annuity be affected, under following conditions: (1) do I qualify for 1.1 percent per year rate, instead of 1 percent, as I have now; (2) my earlier high-3 was…
Q: Can a person with full retirement eligibility at 66 retire with 65 years and 4 months and receive full Social Security benefits? A: No, they would be slightly reduced.
Q: I retired from Department of Defense (Civil Service) in 1990. At that time I was declared 40 percent disabled by the Veterans Administration. The retirement clerk at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, did not mention anything about disability retirement. In 1993, I was declared 100 percent disabled by the Veterans Administration due to a skin disease I contracted while stationed in Thailand. I never requested disability retirement from the civil service because I didn’t think I could receive two disability checks from the Department of Defense. Can I still request a disability retirement from the DOD under the Civil Service Retirement…
Q: I am a FERS employee. I work for the USPS. I was 55 in August 2009. I had 33 and 1/2 years as of April 30, 2009. I have an accepted OWCP injury that occurred in 2007. I was looking into disability but was told by a lawyer that there was no need because at this point I would not receive more than what my immediate retirement would be. If I was on disability until I was 62 years old, wouldn’t that increase my years of service by seven years, hence giving me more money when figuring out the…
Q: I recently retired (April 2009) under CSRS at age 59 and carried my FEHB family coverage into retirement to cover my spouse (age 56), a nonfederal employee and myself. It appears that we could save money (premium reduction) by obtaining individual policies rather than continuing the family policies since we have no dependents to cover. My spouse has been covered under my family plan for more than 20 years. It also appears that when I turn 65 I will still need to maintain FEHB coverage to provide coverage for my spouse who will not be Medicare eligible for another…
Q: I have 19 years of federal service as of Jan. 26, 2011. I am 53 years old. I am being offered a position in my hometown. If I left now before my minimum retirement age of 56 and service requirement (20 years) are met, will I be able to draw on my retirement at age 62 and will I lose anything, other than reduction in annuity? A: At age 62 you’d be able to apply for a deferred annuity, which wouldn’t be reduced. Use the following formula to see what your annuity would be: 0.01 x your high-3 on…
Q: I worked for the Department of Defense for 37 years and have more than 40 quarters. If I were to collect Social Security today I would get a little less than $350. If I wait until I am 65 years old, I could collect more than $700 in Social Security. I was married for 14 years. My former husband receives Social Security disability as well as VA 100 percent disability. I am remarried and my new husband receives twice as much as my former husband in Social Security. Which would be the best route to take here? If I…
Q: I worked in Canada until 1997. I moved to the U.S. in 1997 and became a citizen in 2007. I have been receiving pensions from the Canadian government (Canada Pension Plan). The pension is based on what I contributed through my paychecks in Canada. I am also including that amount in tax returns for the U.S. I applied for my Social Security benefits from the U.S. and they are considering my Canadian pensions as windfall income. I feel that the rule is being applied to me unjustly. Is there any way I can appeal? A: The windfall elimination provision…