Q: I have a friend who works with the Veterans Affairs Department. Because of his illness (expected to last more than 6 months) he has been provided information regarding his eligibility for FEMA and unpaid sick leave without pay for three months by our Human Resources Department. Is he entitled to any type of disability, or workers’ compensation entitlements from his federal service? Or will he only be able to apply for SSI/SSDI? His illness was not incurred at work. Because of the seriousness of his illness, how long will his position be held for him? Is the VA required…
Q. I am a federal employee already on Medicare Part A. My tax preparer recently told me that persons signed up for Medicare are not eligible for flexible spending accounts which allow for the payment of health-care expenses with untaxed earnings. Is this true? I think he might have gotten mixed up with health savings accounts, which I don’t have. Also, please clarify whether the amount withheld from my paycheck (i.e. $3,000 yearly) to fund the flexible spending account is deducted from basic pay in calculating high-3 pay for a FERS annuity. How is this done? A: Under current law,…
Q. I started getting a disability pension in 2006, and my understanding was that I also get supplemental Social Security. When I started receiving my check it was for more than $800, and without explanation, it has gone down to $717. A: I have no way of knowing why the amount of your benefit went down. You’ll have to discuss this with a representative at the Social Security Administration. You can do that by visiting your local Social Security office or calling the agency at 800-772-1213. Representatives are available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Q: I am planning retirement at age 62. My spouse was on disability approved by Social Security before he passed away in 2007. I am on the FERS plan with a Service Comp Date of Feb. 15, 1998. My plan is to retire at age 62, on Sept 2. I have maxed out my Social Security after 25 years of service in the private sector. What is my eligibility status with my spouse’s disability and with my Social Security benefit? I have been told that I will receive my Social Security and my spouse’s disability benefit, which I desperately need,…
Q: Is there a special retirement calculator for part-time Title 38 physicians? A: I’m not aware of any.
Q: I understand that my husband’s CSRS Offset annuity will be offset by hi eligibility to Social Security benefits at age 62. However, he plans on continuing to work after this and will most likely not be able to receive Social Security benefits under the annual earnings test. Will his CSRS Offset annuity still be offset if he’s not receiving Social Security benefits due to the annual earnings test provisions? A: When he reaches age 62 and is eligible for a Social Security benefit, his CSRS annuity will be reduced by the amount of Social Security benefit he earned while…
Q: I worked in a federal job for 28 years and accepted a bonus for early out and transition to a contractor that was taking over IT jobs. I worked for the contractor for two years and retired. I want to know if I can qualify for rehiring with the government and, if I was offered a position, how would that affect my retirement pay and salary? A: If you accept a paying job with the federal government within five years of the date of the separation on which that buyout was based, including work under a personal-services contract or…
Q: I am receiving compensation for Loss of Wage Earning Capacity from the federal Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs. I expect to receive this compensation for the rest of my life due to a severe and permanent injury. Even though I was approved for federal CSRS Disability Retirement through the Office of Personnel Management, I never have, or expect to, receive any pension annuities because I choose OWCP compensation in lieu of any disability pension annuities. I will also be eligible to receive Social Security retirement benefits in the future due to other employment. When I apply for these benefits,…
Q: I have 37 years of service under the CSRS and I am thinking about retiring in 2011 when I am 59 years old. I have more than 40 quarters of work completed with Social Security. Can I receive a Social Security benefit when I retire at 59, and how much will it be for a GS-13/10? A: No, you can’t. The earliest age you could receive a Social Security benefit would be 62. When applying for a Social Security benefit, there are two points to keep in mind. First, that benefit will be a reduced one if you are under…
Q: I am about to receive my pension from the Navy because I am retired from the Navy Reserve. I will receive this when I am 60. I am also a FERS retiree. Would I be able to receive both annuities? What would happen to my FERS annuity supplement? A: Yes, you will be able to receive both retirement benefits. Further, your special retirement supplement won’t be affected. The annual earnings limit applies only to earnings from wages or self employment, not annuities or other sources of income.