Q: Do you know of any retirement seminars specifically geared to Federal Employees Retirement Service disability retirement? A: No, I don’t. However, if any of our readers are aware of any, please let me know and I’ll pass the information along.
Browsing: Federal Employees Retirement System
Q: My brother-in-law recently died and his wife, a retired federal worker, applied for survivor benefits at the Social Security Administration. She was advised that since she is receiving a federal retirement she is not eligible to receive any survivor benefits. I searched this site and others and have been unable to find an exact case. This response from the Social Security Administration seems bizarre. A: She was affected by the government pension offset provision of law. The GPO reduces the Social Security spousal or survivor benefit of anyone who is receiving an annuity from a retirement system where he…
Q: I was a Federal Employees Retirement System employee and left the government in September 2005 under the Minimum Retirement Age +10 provision. I postponed my annuity to avoid the 5 percent penalty per year. I will be 62 in two months. Is there any advantage to waiting even longer to receive my annuity? Is it at all like Social Security, where the longer you wait, the more you receive? On the flip side, what are the downsides of applying at age 62? I understand that if I am re-employed by the government, my salary will be offset by my…
Q: I spent two years (2004-2006) working for the Veterans Affairs Department at a work-study position in Buffalo, N.Y. Does this time in any way count toward Federal Employees Retirement System retirement eligibility or annuity computation? A: No, it doesn’t count.
Q: I am an employee with U.S. Customs and Border Protection in a covered 6(c) law enforcement position. I have 19 6(c) law enforcement years for retirement purposes. I am also in the National Guard. If I enter the active-duty Army and take leave without pay for the next five years, which years would be included to make up my “high 3” for retirement purposes under the Federal Employees Retirement System? Is the high-3 calculation based on actual money earned (i.e., the three years prior to entering active duty with the military), or is it based on my paygrade and…
Q: Are the Federal Employees Retirement System and special retirement supplement annuities subject to federal income tax? If they are, and your FERS annuity is greater than $15,000, will the special retirement supplement be reduced? A: The special retirement supplement is subject to federal (and, where applicable, state) taxes. However, your special retirement supplement would only be reduced if you had earnings from wages or self-employment. The Social Security earnings test doesn’t count other sources of income, such as annuities.
Q: I just read an article about the 2010 Defense Authorization Act, and it speaks of allowing employees under the Federal Employees Retirement System to redeposit. I took a refund of $1,600 and lost 13 years of military time for retirement under the FERS system because redeposit was not allowed. I understand this new law authorizes FERS employees to redeposit for civil service time. Does it allow for redeposit for military time? A: No, it doesn’t.
Q: I am retired under the Federal Employees Retirement System. I had sick leave accrued, but I did not use it before I retired. I am looking at returning to federal service; will the sick leave I did not use be given back to me if I am rehired? A: Yes, it will.
Q: I am a GS-4, Step 10 employee under the Federal Employees Retirement System. I am 55 years old and want to know whether I can retire. I’ve done 22 years of federal service and have four years of military time (1973-76); I was told I need to buy back the time, but I don’t have the money they said it would cost me. I would like to retire early because of high blood pressure. My doctor told me it was caused by job stress. I was diagnosed by my doctor after I was hospitalized while on the job because…
Q: My husband recently began receiving Social Security in addition to his military retirement. I will be retiring under the Federal Employees Retirement System within the next couple of years and want to know whether there is a limit to what a “family” can receive in Social Security, or will both of us be allowed our benefits without regard to what the other is receiving? If my husband passes away, will I receive a portion of his Social Security in addition to my own? A: Both of you will be able to receive the Social Security benefit you earned based…