Q. My wife retired on disability 2½ years ago after 26 years of federal service because of dementia. She has other health issues. Recently, we received a letter and a “Welcome to Medicare” brochure. We are very happy with Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Florida. Can she refuse to go on Medicare? And what is are advantages of going on Medicare? A. There are no arguments in favor of turning down Medicare Part A. She already paid for it through payroll deductions while working. You need to look at her Federal Employees Health Benefits brochure to see what the effect would…
Browsing: benefits
Q. I am a Postal Service employee involved in a reduction in force. Could I transfer to a permanent part-time position with the Transportation Security Administration and maintain my current retirement benefits as a civil service employee? A. Yes.
Q. I am retired military with 24 total years of service (seven years active duty and 17 in the Air National Guard). I work in the civil service corps of the federal government, 21 years. In three years at age 60, I will start receiving my military retirement checks. If I buy back my seven years of active-duty time, will that void my military retirement pay and benefits? If I decide to buy back only four years, retaining 20 years of military service, will I lose any retirement benefits? A. If you make a deposit for your active duty-service, it won’t have…
Q. When I was employed by the post office, I got my veterans preference points. Now I receive 40 percent disability from VA. Is there any benefit in notifying my personnel office of this? A. It makes sense to have that information in your official personnel file; however, it won’t affect your benefits.
Q. I worked for a member of Congress for a little more than six years ending 12 years ago. Because he lost the next election, I became vested and eligible to receive a small pension but no health insurance (less than 10 years of service). Although I am over 62, I have never requested of collected any retirement benefits. Now I have an opportunity to go back to work for a federal agency at the GS-15 level. I assume that the benefits and time would be additive in some way, but how long would I have to work for my…
Q. I was hired by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in 1994 and resigned in 2000 to relocate across the country. Four months later, I found a new position and have been continuously employed with the federal government since. My position in the U.S. Senate will expire at the end of the year (the senator I work for is retiring). If it takes, hypothetically, two or three months after that to find another federal position, what will that break in service do to my retirement benefits/years in service? And what about the first break in service of four months back in…
Q. My wife may have an opportunity for a position overseas (nongovernment) for a three- to four-year appointment. I work in a specialized field at the National Institutes of Health, so a government position in my field would be unlikely. If we were to move, what steps could I take to either come back to work at NIH or at least keep my GS status. I have 10 years in and don’t want to lose any benefits. A government job overseas might be possible, just not in my field, and I would definitely want to come back to NIH when…
Q. If I were to resign from my current position at age 59 with 17 years of service and accept a position with a parish/county government, will I be able to re-enroll in the Federal Employees Health Benefits program when I apply for my retirement benefits at age 62? A. No. Deferred retirees cannot re-enroll in FEHB.
Q. I am receiving Social Security benefits. I am still a federal employee under FERS and having Social Security deducted from my pay. I get a statement from the Social Security Administration for the amount I received for taxes, but it does not acknowledge the amount deducted from my salary as being against the amount received. I called them, and they don’t know if it could be deducted or not. The IRS doesn’t seem to know either. Do you know? A. There is no reason why the statement of benefits you received would include any information about the deductions taken from your pay. The…
Q. I served in the Navy from 1973 to 1982 and received an honorable discharge. Also, I received 10 percent disability. I am considering entering federal service this year. Will my active-duty time count for benefits (vacation, retirement, etc.)? A. The Office of Personnel Management’s Vets Guide is the definitive source of information about the benefits available to members of the military who join the civilian federal government. Go to www.opm.gov/StaffingPortal/Vetguide.asp and scroll down to Service Credit.