Q. A buddy and I both retired from military service recently and now work as civilians for the federal government (in different departments). We both “bought back” our academy time (just under four years) and they will now count toward our civilian careers. However, my department also counted these years for leave accrual, such that I have been earning six hours per pay period. My friend’s department did not count these years for leave accrual, so he is only earning four hours per pay period. It seems to me that his department only referred to 1-6 of this reference: http://www.opm.gov/feddata/gppa/gppa06.pdf…
Browsing: break in service
Q. I am 65 years old, have 30 years continuous military service and am retired, so I know I will get Social Security next year if I choose. However, I also now have 10 years continuous civilian federal service. My SF-50 indicates FERS-FICA. I am in a full-time indefinite status but have been a GS for three straight years and in NSPS status for two years following that. There have been no breaks in service. I also contribute 7 percent to TSP. If I retire from federal service next year, what, if any, are the retirements benefits under FERS-FICA excluding…
Q. I left the active-duty Army with 15 years of service to take a federal law enforcement position (6c). I’ve bought back all 15 years of service, and now I have the opportunity to go back on active duty with the Army (I’ve been in the Reserve) and complete five years for an active-duty retirement. What happens to the buyback time and money when I return to my federal job if I complete the active-duty retirement after I’ve finished the military buyback payments and I have an updated service computation date? What if I finished the federal retirement first with…
Q. I am under FERS. I worked for the Defense Department from 1987 to 1992, and left the government work. I later returned to DoD in 2005 and have been working there since. My service computation date is Aug. 23, 2000. When I left in 1992, I cashed out the retirement fund. Would I be eligible to buy back the time I cashed out in 1992 for five years of service I had accrued? If so, how could I do it? A. Yes, you can. Just fill out a copy of Standard Form 3108, Application to Make Service Credit Payment,…
Q. The person who processes retirements at my agency told me that I could not retire with 32 years at 51 years. I am an offset employee under CSRS. I thought the Office of Personnel Management indicated that if you retire before 55 years of age, you are penalized 1/6 (no more than 2 percent for the first year and 2 percent for every after for being under 55. So, I resigned. It’s only been a few days. The agency person said I could only retire at this age if they were offering a buyout. That seems right because I was offered…
Q. I am a returning civil service employee, first hired in August 1982 under CSRS. I was employed for 16+ years, then left for 13 years of military service. I am getting rehired in a federal position. Will I be reinstated under full CSRS or CSRS Offset? I did not take a refund, I am collecting a military retirement, and paid Social Security since 1975. I intend to work for five years. Will I be subject to the windfall elimination provision? A. You will be placed in CSRS Offset because you had a break in service that exceeded one year.…
Q. I retired under CSRS on a Voluntary Early Retirement Authority at age 46 with 26 years of service. I’m considering going back to work with the agency from which I retired. I’m still under age 55 (53 years old). What benefit would returning to full-time work be for me? Can I retire again any time after 55? Will my additional years apply to my retirement the second time around? What happens to penalties previously taken on early retirement? A. If you return to work for the government, your annuity will terminate and you’ll be treated as if you had…
Q. I served in the Army from 1955 to 1958, had a break in service to attend college, joined the Army in 1960 and retired in August 1984 as a command sergeant major. In June 1989, I became a FERS Army civilian GS-12. I am now at GS-13 step 9 (as of May 19). I will be 76 years old in November and want to retire then. Am I eligible? A. Yes. Any employee who is age 62 or older and has five years of civilian service can retire on an unreduced annuity whenever he wants to.
Q. I withdrew $4,000 after leaving federal service. I returned and plan on retiring after 30 years of service. I intend to pay back the withdrawal. Can I repay after I retire to regain the years I lost when I withdraw? Or do I have to repay while I’m still employed in federal service? A. You have to complete the redeposit, plus accrued interest, while you are employed by the federal government.
Q. I am a 59-year-old Army civilian and have 30 years of service as of early August. I had left government service and did not withdraw my contributions from CSRS. I came back to the government after a more-than-five-year absence in the private sector. Hence the CSRS Offset status. Instead of retiring, could I resign and apply for my retirement at a latter age, say 62 or later? Between now and that time, I would be working in the private sector again contributing to Social Security. I still do not understand why the CSRS pension is reduced by Social Security…