Q: I am employed in federal law enforcement. I have 10 years of active military service and finished my military career in the Air National Guard with a total of 24 years. I was told that if I bought back my active military time, I would sacrifice my military retirement. Is this correct? A: No. If you make a deposit for your period of active-duty service, you won’t have to waive your reserve retired pay. Only those who retire from active duty and receive military retired pay have to do that.
Q: I was employed as a civilian employee from 1979 to 1982 in which I was under the CSRS retirement system. My position was part of an RIF. I left the civilian service for a while and returned in 2001. Should I have been placed back under CSRS when I returned back to work as a civilian employee? A: No. You would have had to be covered by CSRS for five years for that to happen.
Q: I am 63 and retired from federal government. I am in an HDHP insurance plan with HealthAmerica. Should I be in HSA or HRA? Does the government contribute to the HSA or HRA? A: It’s up to your High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) to determine whether you should be in a Health Savings Account (HSA) or a Health Reimbursement Account (HRA). I suggest you go to www.opm.gov/insure/health/hsa/index.asp and read OPM’s pamphlet on the subject. It should help to reduce your confusion.
Q: I was a federal firefighter from 1999 until 2004, when I left federal service to accept a different job. I withdrew my FERS deposit. I am looking to return to the federal fire service as a firefighter shortly and would like to redeposit my FERS (with interest). If I redeposit into FERS, will that time (five years) be counted toward my eligibility to retire at age 51, when I have 20 years of service? I am and I’ve worked in a non-covered [LEO/FF] FERS position since 2008. A: Yes, it will if you redeposit that money plus accrued interest.
Q: I working for the federal government in September 2010 at the GS 13 level after ending a 30-year career in state government in which I paid no Social Security taxes. I have accumulated approximately 30 quarters of Social Security credits over the years. Most of these credits were earned at low-paying jobs during my high school and college years. Will I be eligible for any Social Security benefit after I reach 40 quarters of credit? Do the provisions of both the GPO and WEP apply to my circumstances? A: Because you are a FERS-covered employee, Social Security taxes are…
Q: I am a retired federal employee and have maintained my FEHB for self and family. I also am a retired National Guard service member who is now eligible for Tricare. Can I freeze my authorization for Retired Health Benefits so I could pick them up again (enroll and pay again) if Tricare is not the answer? Having both looks like a problem, and having FEHB is much more costly than Tricare. A: Here are the answers from OPM website: I’m eligible to enroll in TRICARE’s Uniformed Services Family Health Plan. Can I suspend my FEHB coverage to use this…
Q: Earlier in my federal career I worked part time (1989-1998), but I am now on a full-time schedule. Does the National Defense Authorization Act of 2010 provision covering the calculation of annuity components apply only to employees who retire as a part-time employee or does it cover anyone who worked a part-time work schedule on or after April 7, 1986? A: The Defense Authorization Act of 2010 only changed the way the annuities are calculated for CSRS employees with a period or periods of part-time service or FERS employees with a CSRS component in their annuities. Now they are…
Q: I work at a Naval Station Newport Fire and Emergency Services. Because of the continued shortage of personnel, long process of hiring and vacations, the AOU is continuous. Is there a way to get AOU Premium Pay as the LEOs do? A: Only through a change in the law.
Q: I am 50 years old and have a service computation date of April 30, 1986. I would like to know when I am eligible for retirement. I served in the Army from 1984 to 1992. I bought my time back from the military and have completed making a deposit for that time. I am also working in a position which has been phased out of my department. They do not have a position to move me into. Is retirement an option for me and if so how soon? A: Because you are age 50 and have at least 20…
Q: I’m a under FERS as law enforcement undergoing a Reduction in Force (RIF). I’ve been offered the Voluntary Early Retirement Authority (VERA) and the Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment (VSIP). I have a total of 25 years of creditable service, with nine of those years military time. I did buy that back and I am 47. I have received my Federal Retirement Benefits estimate (FRB). In the FBR it shows I would not be receiving a FERS supplement until 56. However, if I retire at 51 I would start receiving the FERS supplement at that age. I’m really confused as to…