Q. What are my options for leaving government service now without an early-out? I am looking to relocate and have been applying for every job I see at government agencies in my new desired location with no luck. I have 23 years of continuous service, and I’m 52 years old. Can I just leave, then relocate on my own to where I want to move and try to get back into the government when there? What exactly do I give up if I do this — besides the salary? A. If you resign from the government, leave your money in…
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Q. I am retiring June 30. My spouse is also a federal employee. If we decide not to elect survivor benefits for her from my retirement, what would she receive if I were to pass away? Health care is not affected, as she will receive my military Tricare and she has her own federal plan? A. If there were any unexpended retirement contributions in your account when you died, she’d be able to receive those in a lump sum. And the proceeds from any Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance you might have would go to her, unless you had already assigned them to someone else.
Q. I am a General Schedule Defense Department employee facing a reduction in force. If I accept a NAF position, can I keep contributing to FERS and the Thrift Savings Plan? A. No, you could not keep contributing to FERS.
Q. I am 46 years old. I retired from the Air Force with 21 years, five months. I receive a 60 percent Veterans Affairs Department disability, and I am currently an Army GS-12 civilian. I was hired as a new GS employee on Jan. 19, 2010. So if I understand the new pension contribution, it would include anyone who was hired after Dec. 31, 2007, or those who do not have five years of government service by Dec. 31, 2013. 1. If I make a military deposit, does it change my “new” employee status? 2. Would I still be required to pay…
Q. I am under CSRS with almost 37 years service. What is the significance of the figure on my leave and earnings statement that shows my total CSRS contributions to date. Are there any provisions to borrow out of this fund or is this locked up until retirement? A. Yes, it’s locked up. While you can’t borrow money from your retirement contributions account, that information is useful in two situations. First, if you leave government before being eligible for an annuity, you could ask for a refund of those contributions. Second. when you retire, that figure will be used to…
Q. I am getting ready to retire in three weeks after 37 years with the Civil Service Retirement System. While working with the personnel office and getting the package ready to send to OPM, I brought up about the CSRS contribution balance. Back in 1986 they converted to the new system and I had a rather large balance in the CSRS contributions. We noticed that our balance went to zero when the new pay stubs were issued. They told us not to worry back then and the money would be added back in when we retired. My current leave and…
Q. I am getting ready to retire at the end of December after 37 years with the Civil Service Retirement System. In 1986, the Office of Personnel Management converted to a new system and I had a rather large balance in CSRS contributions. We noticed that our balance went to zero when the new pay stubs were issued. They told us not to worry back then and the money would be added back in when we retired. My current LES shows again a large amount of contributions. I asked the human resources office about a document that combined both balances,…
Q. I worked from 1995 to 2005 for the Postal Service. For the first six years, I was a rural carrier associate. For the last three years, I was career with my own route. I may be going back to work for the Postal Service very soon and want to know what “back” time will be counted toward my retirement? Since I have a seven-year break in service, am I even entitled to get any of those years counted toward retirement? Is it by hours worked or by years worked? I was hoping I would get back at least the three years…
Q: I am employed by the Army under the Civil Service Retirement System. I am planning to retire on Nov. 30, 2011. I worked for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation for 11 months (July 14, 1980, through July 10, 1981). When adding up my service time for retirement, will the 11 months in which I worked for FDIC be included? A: If retirement contributions were taken from your pay while working at FDIC, you will get credit for that time in determining your eligibility to retire and in your annuity computation. If they weren’t and you haven’t made a deposit…