Q: I plan on retiring Dec. 3. I am a Civil Service Retirement System employee. Can I delay my lump-sum payment for unused annual leave until January 2011? A: In most cases, lump-sum payments are made at the same time that an agency closes out an employee’s file and authorizes a final check covering his last days on the payroll. You’ll have to check with your payroll office to learn when they expect that to happen.
Q: I am a Civil Service Retirement System employee, with 35 years of service and meet the age requirement to retire. My agency is offering a buyout of $25,000 if we leave by Sept. 30. I am considering this offer as I was planning on leaving Dec. 31, but because Sept. 30 is in the middle of a pay period, should I leave at the end of the pay period which would be Sept. 25 in order to get all leave I would be entitled to and when would my first pension check be for. A: Yes, it’s true that…
Q: I served three years in the Army from December 1976 to December 1979. After my Army years, I worked for the government under the Civil Service Retirement System from January 1980 to December 1990. I left civil service in 1990 and returned in 1996. I am now under the Federal Employees Retirement System. In 1999, I wanted to payback my military time and was told that since I was under FERS I would pay it back under FERS rules. I paid $530 for my three years. In 2000, I was told that when I was hired I should have…
Q: I submitted a date of my intended retirement to my supervisor and prior to my retirement, my division hired my replacement as an over-hire for training in my position. However, I want to delay my retirement date for about six to 12 months. Now my question is do I have a job position? A: In all likelihood, you don’t. While you can withdraw your application to retire on the date your specified, your agency can decline your request if it has a valid reason, and provides it to you in writing. Having already filled the position would appear to…
Q: I was a member of the New Jersey National Guard for about a year and later joint the active duty Army. I made a deposit for my active duty time. Can I get credit for the time I spend on active duty for basic and advance individual training as a member of the National Guard. A: No, you cannot get credit for that time.
Q: I retired from active duty military as of Sept. 25, 1993, and entered the Defense Department federal civil service Jan. 10, 1994. As of Jan. 10, 2011, I will have 17 years in federal civil service and will be 59 years old. My high-3 grade is GS-11. Is there any way I could buy back my military time, 20 years, to add to my federal civil service time to gain 20 years? For 17 years of civil service time, what would the percentage of retirement pay be? I am under the Federal Employees Retirement System. A: If you make…
Q: I’m trying to understand the military buy back system. I served in the military from November 1981 to May 1999. I finished just short of retirement but separated with an honorable discharge. I’m now a Defense Department civilian and currently buying back my military years. Right now all my years count toward federal retirement. Once I’m done buying back my military service, will I be eligible for military retirement and a retirement I.D. card? Will my years of government service be split (i.e. 20 years credit for military retirement and the others toward federal retirement)? A: When you complete…
Q: I work in the San Francisco Bay Area where the general service pay is at its highest. I plan to work through my 42nd year to achieve my goal of 80 percent of my high-three. I have more than one year of sick leave on the books. My question is, if I decided to transfer from the Bay Area (say back to Phoenix or Savannah, Ga.), would I still be able to claim my last high-three (Bay Area), and if so at what point would I need to retire to claim my high three? A: Your highest three consecutive…
Q: I have a one year time frame working for the Army in an overseas limited position, paying FICA taxes, but not in a retirement system. Can this time be bought back for retirement purposes? A: If you are currently covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System, the answer is no. If you are covered by Civil Service Retirement System, the answer is maybe. You’ll have to check with your agency’s personnel office to be certain.
Q: What are the procedures or forms that need to be filled out to be considered for federal re-employment after retirement? A: I suggest you start your re-employment search by going to www.usajobs.gov. That way you’ll be able to see what’s available and find out what you would need to do to apply for one.