Q. I’m 60 with 10 years in CSRS, 25 in FERS, with about 2,900 hours of unused sick leave (900 of which were in CSRS) and about 440 hours of unused annual leave expected by the end of the year. If I retire on Dec. 31 to try to maximize my unused annual leave lump sum, it looks like I will not qualify to apply up to 100 percent of my unused sick leave to time of service (except the CSRS portion). If I retire on Jan 1-3, 2014, to be able to use the full (rounded in months) amount…
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Q. I was separated by a reduction in force in March 1996. I left all retirement dollars in CSRS. I have more than 21 years of combined federal service from the Department of the Army and Department of Energy. I am 56. Can I apply for a deferred retirement at age 60 (with over 20 years service) since my separation from DOE was due to a reduction in force, or do I have to wait until age 62 to apply for my deferred retirement? A. As a former CSRS employee, your only option is to apply for a deferred annuity…
Q. I worked for an independent federal agency from 1977 to 1989, which had its own retirement system that was neither CSRS nor FERS. I had a break in service for one year then returned to work for the federal government (Transportation Department), where I was erroneously placed in FERS by human resources. In 2006, following a FERCCA ruling that took over 2½ years, I chose to be placed in CSRS Offset rather than FERS. I paid Social Security as a federal employee (plus through part-time jobs dating back to 1970) until I retired in 2010 with 32 years of service. I…
Q. I’ve worked for the U.S. government as a Department of Defense Dependents Schools teacher for 40 years. I am under CSRS and have 230 days of accumulated sick leave. What would this be converted to should I elect to retire this year at age 65? Also can I, should I wish, work as a substitute teacher once retired, even should I be granted Voluntary Separation Incentive Pay? A. Because unused sick leave is added to hours of actual service that weren’t included in the initial annuity computation, you’ll have to do the arithmetic. Go to www.opm.gov/retirement-services/publications-forms/csrsfers-handbook/c050.pdf and scroll to…
Q. I am 67 years old, employed as a federal civil servant with 35 years of service this year. Can I collect Social Security benefits? What effect will that have on my retirement? I was under CSRS until FERS came into existence. I switched to FERS, believing I would not stay in civil service and wanted to pay Social Security taxes. It worked out that I did stay in the government, so I should have a portion of CSRS (about eight years) and the rest under FERS when I retire. A. Because you have reached full Social Security retirement age,…
Q. With 20 years of federal civilian employment at age 50, would I be eligible for Voluntary Separation Incentive Pay if it’s offered? I am under FERS. A. Yes, because anyone who is offered a VSIP can accept it, whether or not he is eligible to retire. In your case, you have the years and service to both accept the payment and retire.
Q. I am an Air Force retiree who has 13 years as a federal employee. I am eligible for MRA+10 on March 24. If I apply to retire, how long does it take to process my application for approval or what is the earliest date I can actually resign? I am considering a private sector job and they want to start in 30-45 days. A. When you fill out the Standard Form 3107, Application for Immediate Retirement, you’ll put the date you are retiring in Section B2. It doesn’t matter how long it takes to process your application, that’s your…
Q. I have 26 years of uninterrupted federal service, am 58 years old, in FERS, no military service. 1. Is Voluntary Separation Incentive Pay ever offered without Voluntary Early Retirement Authority, or VERA without VSIP? 2. Can I, at less than 60 years old, accept the VERA/VSIP and retire if one or the other is offered? 3. If I take VERA and am not 60 years old but have over 25 years of service, will I be eligible to receive the special retirement supplement immediately or have to wait until age 60? How about under VSIP only? 4. If I…
Q. I’ll be 65 this month. I retired from civil service in 2008. I’m working part time as a city employee and still paying into Medicare. My wife is 60 years old, and I want to keep her with my Federal Employees Health Benefits program. Since I qualify for free Part A, do I have to enroll with Medicare for this, and will my FEHB remain primary for my wife and me? A. Since you are still working, you don’t have to enroll in Medicare Part A. However, I can’t think of a good reason not to do so, even…
Q. I am considering separating from federal employment in July at 58 years old with 21 years and five months of federal service. I will postpone receiving the retirement annuity until I am 60. This will give me 60 years of age with 21 years and five months of service. Since I am separating then doing a postponement of receiving my annuity until 60 which, per the Office of Personnel Management, is different than deferring an annuity, where you will not receive the special retirement supplement, will I get the FERS supplement when I start to receive my postponed annuity…