My Feb. 22 column explaining the difference between deferred and postponed annuities generated a lot of questions from former employees, some of whom are just realizing they might be eligible for a deferred annuity. They should also pay attention to the increased benefits that would become available if a recently introduced bill becomes law. A deferred annuity is one that is payable to a former employee who left service before being eligible for an immediate annuity and who didn’t take a refund of his retirement contributions. If you are a former Civil Service Retirement System employee who had at least…
Q: I am 42 years old. I have 19 years of government service, with six of those being military. What effect would it have on me if I were to quit my job at 19 years, versus 20 years. I keep hearing 20 is a magic number. I can hold out until I hit 20 if it will significantly impact my retirement once I am eligible. A: As a Federal Employees Retirement System employee, if you were to leave government before having 20 years of creditable service, you wouldn’t be able to apply for a deferred annuity until you reached…
Q: Suppose a Civil Service Retirement System employee has over 30 years of federal service and is over age 55, and thus eligible for retirement and pension under CSRS. If this employee has not yet retired, are there any circumstances where the employee can be denied his retirement and pension? Similarly, are any adverse actions in existence that his office can carry out which have the impact of denying the employee his pension? A: Yes. See 5 U.S. Code, Subchapter II, Forfeiture of Annuities and Retired Pay.
Q: I have worked for the Army as a civilian for a total of 25 years and recently sent for an early retirement estimate. I was covered under the Civil Service Retirement System from 1983 to 1987, then switched over to the Federal Employees Retirement System. I quit in 1994 and took a lump sum retirement refund (thinking I would not work for the government again) but ended up returning to work for the Army in 1997. In 2002, I spoke with a benefits person within the Army, who advised me not to make the retirement redeposit. She said I…
Q: I am a federal firefighter (GS-0081). Prior to entering federal civilian service, I was on active duty in the Army for seven years and I am currently a National Guardsman. I will retire from the National Guard in three years. If I choose to buy back the seven years of active-duty time for my Federal Employees Retirement System retirement, will I have to forfeit the National Guard retirement or that portion of the National Guard retirement? A: No — if you make a deposit for your active-duty time, you won’t have to forfeit any part of your National Guard…
Q: I will be eligible to retire from the government with 32 years of service in November 2013. I am considering going to a part-time schedule (32 hours per week) for family reasons beginning in September 2010. Under new guidelines for computing annuities for part-time employees, how will this affect my “high 3?” A: For high-3 purposes, your part-time service will be treated as if you had been working full-time; therefore, your annuity will still be based on your highest three consecutive years of average salary. On the other hand, your service credit for that period of part-time employment will…
Q: I’m confused about the following issue. I have medical conditions for which I am applying for disability under the Federal Employees Retirement System. I’ve already applied under SSI and was denied because I am still working. Will my children receive any money if I am awarded disability under FERS? I’ve been told that if I were awarded dissability under SSI they would all receive checks. I do not understand this. Do I have to apply for FERS? Or can I skip FERS and just apply for disability under SSI? Also, since my application is currently under review under FERS…
Q: I recently retired from the Bureau of Land Management as a Federal Employees Retirement System employee and have the opportunity to be hired on a temporary basis by the federal government as an administratively determined (AD) casual hire. My question is, as an AD hire, will my FERS annuity be offset or reduced by what I earn on incident assignments, or will I be able to collect my full FERS annuity, as well as the full AD salary? A: If you are being hired as an employee of the federal government, the answer is yes. The salary you receive…
Q: Can a Civil Service Retirement System rehired annuitant be hired for an Active Guard/Reserve (AGR) position? I am eligible for CSRS retirement next month and my military unit has an opening that is AGR, Title 32 active-duty military. Can I draw CSRS retirement and work full-time in Title 32 status? A: Accepting an active-duty position in the armed forces should have no effect on your CSRS annuity. Whether your CSRS annuity would have any effect on your military pay is something you’ll have to explore with your branch of service. My guess is that it wouldn’t; however, Title 32…
Q: I am a federal firefighter (GS-081 series) covered by the Civil Service Retirement System. I work for the National Park Service. My department is being abolished this year, with a local city department taking responsibility of fire supression. RIF notices are coming out next month. I am under CSRS retirement. I have 27.5 years in, I am 48.5 years old. I can retire at age 50. The Park Service has said that they can’t place me anywhere else because they have no GS-081 positions anywhere. They want to give me an early retirement. Will I face any penalties for…