Q. My husband left federal employment at age 55 after seven years. He was covered under FERS. He is almost 63 and has applied for a deferred annuity. He is thinking of returning to federal employment. If he does so and receives health benefits, when he retires, can he carry those benefits into retirement? Must he be re-employed for a certain length of time to do this? A. He must be enrolled in the Federal Employees Health Benefits program for a total of five years to carry that coverage into retirement. If he was enrolled in the program on the…
Browsing: Deferred annuity
Q. I worked for the Postal Service from late 1979 until about 1991. I had a lot of personal and work-related problems and was also given a letter of termination. I decided to quit. I also tried to pursue a disability, but I dropped that because of stress and depression. I withdrew my retirement to pay an accumulation of four months of bills and rent that I was behind in. I vaguely recall reading that there was a buyback of retirement. Is this true? I am applying for Social Security benefits. I am only 58, but, due to health concerns,…
Q. I am going to be 53 this year. I have 32 years of federal service and would like to take the deferred retirement option. My minimum retirement age is 56. I understand I will not be entitled to special retirement supplement. My spouse retired under CSRS, and she carries our Federal Employees Health Benefits plan. When I reach my MRA, do I have to initiate the paperwork to start my FERS annuity? A. Yes, you would be eligible for a deferred annuity at age 56. Several months before you reach that age, download a copy of Standard Form 2801,…
Q. My husband worked for a Veterans Affairs Medical Center for seven years, then left federal employment. He is 63 and eligible for a deferred annuity. He may be returning to his previous job. Is there a certain amount of time he must be re-employed so as to be able to retire and carry his health benefits into retirement? A. If he was enrolled in the Federal Employees Health Benefits program on the day he left, re-enrolls on the day he is re-employed by the federal government, and has been enrolled for five years, he would be able to carry…
Q. I have been a FERS 6c employee for eight years. I have 12 years of active-duty military service. I have already put in two weeks’ notice to leave my 6c job but would like to buy back my military time to increase my deferred annuity. Do I have to buy back the military time before my employment terminates? A. Yes.
Q. I am retired military with 27 years in. Since that time, I have been a civil servant and am coming up on my 10-year anniversary under FERS. My service computation date is Aug. 10, 2003. I am planning to resign from my civil position Dec. 31, prior to my 62nd birthday. (I was born Dec. 11, 1952.) I plan to ask for a lump-sum check for my unused accrued leave. But it looks like I will not gain anything for having been such a healthy individual and that my many days of sick leave will simply go wasted. Is…
Q. If a FERS employee is eligible for a deferred retirement (30 years qualifying service but not yet at minimum retirement age) but is involuntarily separated (instead of resigning) and receives severance pay upon separation, can he still file for and receive a deferred retirement later upon attaining his MRA? Also, is it true that a deferred annuity is not subject to reduction if applied for at MRA when the employee had at least 30 years of service? A. Yes and yes.
Q. I’m in an upper management position with the Transportation Security Administration for the past 10 years. Recently, I have heard that my immediate supervisor is proposing my removal from federal service. If I get removed, will I lose my federal pension or will I be able to collect it when I reach retirement age? A. If you don’t take a refund of your retirement contributions, you could apply for a deferred annuity at age 62.
Q. I am 54, with five years under FERS. I am taking a job in the private sector but would like to return to federal employment for three to five years. If I do nothing, can I apply for a deferred pension at age 62? If I do return to government service, do the total number of years accumulate? So, for example, if I return and work another five years, is my pension based on 10 years, even though they were interrupted? A. As long as you don’t take a refund of your retirement contributions when you leave, you could…
Q. I am a letter carrier with the Postal Service and am 58 years old. I have 25 years of service and am considering deferred retirement due to health issues. As I understand it, I should be able to start my retirement annuity at age 60 with no reduction in benefits. Is this correct? A. Yes. Your annuity would be computed using the standard formula and based on your high-3 and years of service on the day you resigned.