Q. I am eligible for CSRS retirement with 39+ years of service. I just completed a temporary promotion to manager for five months and some days. Will that pay increase be considered in my high-3 for retirement? A. Yes. A high-3 is based on the average of the three highest consecutive years (78 pay periods) of basic pay.
Browsing: Eligibility
Q. Are FERS annuities adjusted for inflation? I have 33 years of government service. With that many years of work, will my FERS annuity be lower if I retire in March, before my 62nd birthday in September? A. Unless you are a special category employee, such as a law enforcement officer, you would first be eligible for a cost-of-living adjustment at age 62. Be aware that COLAs are applied based on the number of months you are on the annuity roll after reaching age 62. Therefore, if you retired in March, you would first be eligible in September and receive…
Q. I am a CSRS employee and plan to retire March 29. 1. Will I be on the annuity roll for my first check on April 1 or May 1? 2. Will I incur a reduction in my annuity because of the retirement date? 3. I will turn 65 in April, so I will be eligible for Medicare. I have had Federal Employees Health Benefits for four years, and I am Tricare-eligible. I am aware that my time with Tricare will count toward my five years and that I can suspend my FEHB and go with Medicare/Tricare for Life. What…
Q. My sister is a retired police officer living in North Carolina and will be eligible for Medicare in August. How does she apply for Medicare? All of the questions I’ve looked at address retirees who are on Social Security, which she will not be. She will continue with Blue Cross/Blue Shield government health insurance. A. She should call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 and talk to one of their benefits specialists. If she isn’t eligible for a Social Security benefit, she won’t be eligible for Medicare Part A. However, she can enroll in Part B at her own…
Q. I am 52 years old and have 12 years in a federal excepted service position. Due to my excepted service status, do I understand correctly that I have no bump or retreat rights in the event of a reduction in force? For what retirement benefits would I be eligible under these circumstances? A. If you left your contributions in the retirement fund, you would be eligible for a deferred annuity at age 62.
Q. Is Voluntary Early Retirement Authority offered to those who are already eligible to retire? Does VERA apply to your high-three calculation for retirement? A. It’s clear from your questions that you are asking about the Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment, not VERA. According to OPM, “The Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment Authority, also known as buyout authority, allows agencies that are downsizing or restructuring to offer employees lump-sum payments up to $25,000 as an incentive to voluntarily separate. When authorized by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), an agency may offer VSIP to employees who are in surplus positions or have…
Q. I turned 62 in 2006 October. Since I am gainfully employed, I did not file for deferred annuity until February 2012. To my surprise, my calculation is showing that my eligibility starts in October 2008 and paid arrears only up to October 2008. Secondly, it appears that cost-of-living adjustments are not considered in calculating arrears. Could you please advise me to understand and resolve this issue? A. According to the Office of Personnel Management, “For a deferred retirement, the commencing date is normally their 62nd birthday. The commencing date remains the same even if they don’t apply until a…
Q. I am 59 years old with 38 years in CSRS. I am planning to retire next year, but I am concerned about what changes Obama may make to CSRS now that he has been re-elected. Also, I am wondering what the guidelines are for phased retirement? Although there is no way to predict what a president might do, it’s not something you need to worry about. You are already eligible to retire and could do so before any change became effective. To find out more about phased retirement, go to www.opm.gov/Blogs/Retire/2012/9/25/Phased-Retirement.
Q. I am a Veterans Affairs Department term employee with 28 years of service, 57 years old. My term appointment has only been extended to Jan. 31, 2013, with a “continuation of ongoing research funds.” If research funds are not available to pay me past this date, I understand that I can retire under the MRA +10 provision and postpone receipt of my annuity until I am 60 to avoid the age reduction penalty. And, at that time, can re-enroll for Federal Employees Health Benefits since I will have been enrolled for the previous five years. If I choose not…
Q. My agency is going to offer early retirement/buyout. I am 52 and have 31 years federal service including four years military buyback. If I take the buyout, will I be eligible for the special retirement supplement at age 56 with 27 years of FERS covered service? A. Yes.