Q: Can a federal employee request a “voluntary early out”? I am 52 with 27 years of service under CSRS. A: No.
Q: I elected to receive federal workers’ compensation payments in lieu of my federal annuity; I know I cannot receive both, and the workers’ compensation is a higher amount. I have also been receiving Social Security payments. Now the Social Security Administration has informed me that they’ve overpaid me more than $9,000 because, they say, the windfall elimination provision is triggered by my eligibility to receive the federal pension, whether I actually receive it or not. Information on the Social Security Administration website is ambiguous. In at least one place, they say the WEP applies if one “gets” a federal…
Q: I was planning to retire with FERS this year with 30 years of service at age 59. My husband died, so I have had to rethink my plans. My research has shown that I can draw on my husband’s Social Security at a reduced rate when I turn 60 next year and then switch to my Social Security when I turn 66. Will I still be entitled to the special retirement supplement through my retirement and will the supplement drop when I turn 62? A: You will still be able to receive the special retirement supplement until you become…
Q: I retired in July 2009, when I was 53 ½. I was a FERS employee, Air National Guard, and I retired early under the VERA (Volunteer Early Retirement Authority). I received a $25,000 buyout at retirement. I recently started a job with a private-sector company that overhauls aircraft parts for the military from all branches. About 90 percent of their business is from contracts. I was wondering if my retirement status would interfere with working for this company. Does this fall under the five-year rule? What kind of penalties, paybacks, or reduction in benefits would be associated with this…
Q: Upon my CSRS retirement from the United States Postal Service, will I be permitted to withdraw my annuity, my accrued sick leave, my TSP and accrued vacation in separate lump amounts to they can be reinvested in private accounts, later to be inherited by my children? A: You can’t withdraw your annuity in a lump sum. Instead, when you retire, you will receive monthly annuity payments. Neither will you be able to receive a lump sum for any unused sick leave. That leave will have been added to your actual service and used to increase the amount of your…
Q: Can a widow who is drawing her CSRS retirement from the postal service also draw her recently deceased spouse’s Social Security at the same time? A: Because she is receiving an annuity from a retirement system where she didn’t pay Social Security taxes, she will be subject to the government pension offset provision of law. As a result, her Social Security survivor’s benefit will be reduced by $2 for every $3 she receives in her CSRS annuity.
Q: I’m in a 6C law enforcement covered position and will be reaching nine years of service when I turn 43. I am thinking of taking a Non-LEO (non-coverage) federal government position in the next few months. Once I do that can I ever return to a 6C federal law enforcement position, and how long would I have to wait before returning? A: You could return to a law enforcement position if someone wants to hire you. To give you a time frame, law enforcement officers are subject to mandatory separation at age 57. However, if you were rehired at…
Q: Illinois does not tax federal pension benefits. What other states having an income tax also do not tax federal pensions? A: Alabama, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Kansas, Mississippi, Louisiana and New York. In Kentucky, the total amount is exempt only if the individual retired before Jan. 1, 1998. In North Carolina, annuities aren’t taxed beginning in 1998, but only if the individual had five years of creditable service as of Aug. 12, 1989. In Oregon, annuities aren’t taxed for those who retired before Oct. 1, 1991; those who retired on or after Oct. 1, 1991, are taxed only on…
Q: I retired from the Air Force after serving 20 years. I have been working for the federal government for 10 months and I am under the FERS system. If I buy back my military time, do I lose my military retirement pay immediately or when I retire again from the federal government? A: If you make a deposit for your period of active-duty service, you don’t have to waive your military retired pay at the same time. You can wait until shortly before your retire from your civilian job to do that.
Q: I would like to know about retirement plans for members of Congress. How long do they have to be in office to receive benefits? What are their benefits? Do they receive their benefits based on time in service? A: You’ll find the rules governing CSRS-covered members of Congress at 5 U.S. Code 8332-8334, 8336, and 8338 through 8340; for FERS-covered Members at 5 U.S. Code 8410-13, 8415, 8421, and 8423.