Q: I am a federal firefighter working in a “secondary firefighter” position. My LES shows a FERS retirement code of “K.” What benefits/retirement does this code entail? I also heard that legislation is in the works to increase the mandatory primary firefighter retirement age from 57 to either 62 or 65? Is there any truth to that? A: “K” applies to anyone covered by FERS and FICA who will be entitled to regular retirement benefits. Any period of service which is classified as “K” isn’t covered service for law enforcement or firefighter retirement purposes. I don’t pay attention to legislation…
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Q. Special provision employees’ careers are much shorter than those of typical federal employees.The “20 years service and 50 years old or 25 at any age” requirement for Voluntary Early Retirement Authority mirrors our normal retirement plan. Is there a VERA rule that would allow a firefighter/air traffic controller/ law enforcement officer to get out earlier than the 20 years and 50 years old? A. No.
Q. I was a career wildland firefighter for the federal government from 1996-2011. In May, I suffered a back injury off the job and can no longer fight fires anymore. My supervisor is telling me I should apply for disability retirement as I can no longer perform the duties required of my position. Am I still able to get a partial FERS disability even when I got hurt off the job? A. If you can no longer perform the duties of your job or another job for which you are qualified at the same pay or grade in your commuting…
Q. I was in the active duty Air Force for nine years, three months. I then worked as a GS-06 firefighter for seven months. I left federal civil service to take a job with a state government fire department. I am now 43 years old and will be taking a job as a GS-12 Military Reserve Technician as a fire chief and will be in FERS. I will buy back my years on active duty and want to retire at no older than 57. Will I qualify for the 1.7 percent retirement? If made to retire from military service, will…
Q. As a federal firefighter (GS-0081) retiring under FERS at the mandatory age of 57, can I continue working past 57 as a firefighter in a secondary position (fire chief)? I am being told that I mandatorily must retire at 57 even though I am in a secondary position as fire chief. If not, could you provide the regulation? A. What you were told is correct. The requirement that a firefighter be mandatorily retired at age 57 is found in www.opm.gov/retire/pubs/handbook/C046.pdf, scroll down to Section 46A3.3-2 and Section 46B3.3-2.
Q. I know that career firefighters under the 0081 series code qualify for the 1.7 percent multiplier that is applied to FERS retirement for the first 20 years and 1 percent thereafter, but do fire inspectors or fire prevention personnel, who are also a 0081 series code, who have never worked as firefighters qualify for the 1.7 percent multiplier as well? A. No. Go to www.opm.gov/retire/pubs/handbook/C046.pdf and scroll down to Part 46B3.1-1.
Q: I have been told that an injured firefighter with the federal service can retire using firefighter guidelines since there was prior service. I am working on the same basis as a civil service employee. I was hurt fighting a fire on base in the late 1980s. I had seven years as a fireman before I had to be placed in a different job because my injury would no longer let me be a firefighter. I paid into retirement as a fireman for about seven years and could have retired in about two more years. My injury is beginning to…
Q: I have just over 18 years of in service time in a primary fire position. I left that position and went into a 0018 series. If I leave the 0018 series and go back into a 462 secondary position, do I have to start over with my firefighter retirement or will my past creditable time in a firefighter covered position still count toward my firefighter retirement? I am 38 and looking at getting back into a covered position to finish my firefighter retirement service. A: Your past creditable time will count.
Q: I have 20 years in the 0081 special retirement program. With the military buy-back, I have 30 years of creditable federal service. If I accept a position as a fire program administrator for the next five years, at the age of 62, will I be able to retire under the special retirement firefighter program? A: Any employee who has 20 years of covered service as a law enforcement officer or firefighter and is at east 50 years old may retire at any time and have that portion of his annuity calculated using the more generous formula. Any service over…
Q: I am a firefighter for a large city that has an employee-based pension system (not Social Security). I have also been a member of the National Guard and operated a private business for 30 years on which I paid Social Security tax. Several places on the Internet use the term “30 years of substantial earnings under Social Security” in reference to Government Pension Offset (GPO). My Social Security earning sheet shows $2,464 “Your Taxed SS Earning” in 1977 and runs $3,000 to $10,000 though 2006. What does “substantial” mean, and how will WEP and GPO affect me? A: You’ll…