Q. I am about to be medically retired. I have seven years of federal law enforcement service and three years of state law enforcement service. I have seen that I have to sign up for Social Security. I am confused about this because I wish to keep working, but because of my job duties, I am unable to continue working at my present job. I know I qualify for the FERS medical retirement. I am pretty sure I do not qualify for Social Security. So what happens to the medical retirement if I am denied Social Security? This is a…
Browsing: medical retirement
Q. I served in the Army for two years and nine months and was medically retired out. I have become a federal employee. I have been told by my HR office that my time in the service will not count toward my leave accrual or retirement because I was retired out. I have been to OPM’s website and looked at the regulations, and from what I can tell, OPM defines military retirement as that for which you are eligible to receive retirement benefits, which I am not. So I am confused. A. According to OPM, these rules apply: Under law…
Q. I have had five surgeries due to work-related injuries. I have four workers’ comp case numbers. I also have a permanent disability on my shoulder and will be receiving a permanent disability on my left forearm and wrist. I recently put in for medical retirement and am awaiting a decision. My workers’ comp doctor has mentioned several times that I should be on workers’ comp after five surgeries, but I don’t know how I am supposed to apply for that, and no one seems to want to answer those questions. Does putting in for the medical disability make me…
Q. I served on active duty from March 1987 to August 1993. I was on the temporary disability retirement list for five years, then placed on the permanent disability retirement list. I was active during the first Gulf War but did not serve in country. I was stationed in Japan. I was told that time does not count for leave accrual because my disability was not caused by instrumentality of war. I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 1992, and that is why the Coast Guard medically retired me. A. To see the rules on leave accrual for retired…
Q. I am looking into medical retirement after 32 years with the federal fire department. At this time, the Air Force doc has not cleared me to work because of some prescription meds that I take on my off days. I’m going in for thumb surgery for arthritis. I also have lower back pain, and four vertebrae are not in the greatest health. I had Blue Cross/Blue Shield before, and when I got married, I dropped it because my wife’s medical insurance was better than mine. But she lost her job and is now disabled, too, and had to get BC/BS for the…
Q. I am on Title 32 with the Army National Guard approaching my 38th year. I have more than 16 years of active duty during this time, as indicated on my DD 214. I also work for the federal government (Army) as a helicopter flight instructor at Fort Rucker,Ala., and not the National Guard in this capacity, with almost 23 years at this position. I am not a technician, as both jobs are separated. I am also pending more Medical Evaluation Boards resulting from injuries sustained while deployed to Iraq in 2006-2007. Of course, I have my 20-year letter for…
Q. I was medically retired from the military after about 15 years of service. I was receiving a pension from the Army until I was awarded compensation from the Veterans Affairs Department. The VA compensation was more than the Army pension that is taxable; therefore, I receive a VA compensation that is nontaxable (80 percent). Within the past three or four years, I was awarded combat-related special compensation because the injuries were considered to be combat-related during my military career. My time of service was Sept. 21, 1981, to June 19, 1996. Does the military buyback option apply to me…
Q. I am a dual-status federal tech (16 years)/Air National Guard (19 years, 6 months) and I just turned 47. There is a very good chance I will be medically disqualified from the ANG within the next few months. I will be unable to pay the bills on 40 percent of my tech base pay. If I get another job, what is the maximum allowable percentage or amount I can earn without being “restored to earning capacity” and losing my annuity? Does that figure include the annuity? Also, concerning the Air National Guard retirement, if I am a few months…
Q. I am 60 years old and had emergency major open heart surgery May 16, 2011. The Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., installed a left ventricular assist device. I had to stay away from my home in Georgia and stay close to the Mayo Clinic following this procedure for several months, which put a strain on my savings. I was forced to have to retire with approximately 37 years of government service. My retirement date was Sept. 2, 2011. I put in for an alternate retirement annuity because of my qualifying medical condition to help me pay my medical bills…
Q: Will I have to retire from my federal job with Customs and Border Patrol with a medical retirement from the National Guard? I was called up for military duty. I bought back eight years of military service and have seven years with CBP for a total of 15 years. A: As a rule, medical retirement from the National Guard would have no bearing on your employment by the Customs and Border Patrol. It would only affect that employment if your medical condition were such that it made you unable to provide useful and efficient service there.