Q. Like many prior-service members, I started my federal civilian job while on terminal leave. I started paying into FERS on my start date. There is a three-month overlap on my DD214 and my civilian position. I would like to buy back my five years continuous active-duty time, but would like to NOT buy back the terminal leave period. Those three months add up to a five-figure chunk of change, and none of it is creditable since I cannot “double count” the time toward retirement. My agency states that I must pay back the entire period. Is that correct? And…
Browsing: military buyback
Q. I am in the Air National Guard as a WG-10 (accepted) technician who bought back three years of active military time. I am 49 years old with 22 years as a technician, including the three years I bought back. I would like to get a different job in the private sector. My minimum retirement age is 56. What would the penalties be if I retired now? Could I receive any retirement now and start collecting right away? What if I wait, and start working a private-sector job until my MRA then start collecting? Would there be any penalties if…
Q. I served in the Army for four years from June 28, 1976, to June 27, 1980. I have been employed by the Postal Service since Dec. 15, 1980, and fall under CSRS. My time in the military, along with some part-time work while employed by the USPS is the only employment in which I paid into Social Security. This adds up to about 28 quarters toward my Social Security eligibility. Since I did not buy back my military time and will not qualify for Social Security benefits when I retire before I reach age 62, will my military time…
Q. I spent 20 years in the Navy and am currently receiving my pension from the Defense Finance and Accounting Service and a 30 percent disability pension from the Veterans Affairs Department. In 1991, I began my employment with federal government under FERS. In 2009, I applied for disability due to my health condition. I spent 18½ years in federal service. In June 2009, I began receiving my disability pay from the Office of Personnel Management, computed based on 60 percent of my high-3 for the first 12 months and 40 percent thereafter until I reached age 62. I will…
Q. I am a guardsman who has been on continuous active-duty orders since June 2004. I was employed as a civil service technician from 1981 to 2004 (with FERS). When I went on orders in 2004, I was continued in leave-without-pay status in my civil service technician position by my Guard unit until my five-year Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act rule ran out in 2009, when I was forced to give up my technician position or face being placed in AWOL status. Now that I am nearing the end of my active-duty orders in October (I do not…
Q. I am a 44-year-old FERS employee with the Federal Bureau of Prisons. I am a GL employee with a 20-year retirement. I just went over 16 years of service and I have already bought back my military time of 7½ years. I realize the military time would be added to the “back end” of the retirement. I am considering leaving my federal job before the minimum retirement age of 50 to pursue other career opportunities in the private sector. At what age would I be eligible to receive my FERS retirement? A. Because your combined service adds up to at least 20…
Q. I served four years on Air Force active duty. I was hired for a federal civilian position and have been working for four years. I’m not sure if I’m going to stick it out for another 20 or 30. During my civilian employment, I bought back my military time. However, now I’m considering joining the reserve. Will my active-duty service time buyback affect my reserve retirement down the road? Will those four years of active-duty service count toward a reserve retirement? A. Making a deposit to get credit civilian for your active-duty service won’t have any effect on your…
Q. I retired in 2004 from the Postal Service on a CSRS disability. I had 28 years total service (paid back military time) and am 100 percent disabled through the Veterans Affairs Department (combat-related). At the time of separation, my personal office told me after age 62 (August 2011), I would no longer have to pay taxes. Is that true? A. There isn’t any tax advantage to being retired on CSRS or FERS disability unless you are totally disabled for all gainful employment. Since the Office of Personnel Management can’t make that determination, you’ll have to check with your local…
Q. I’m an Air Force Reserve retiree (not yet 60) with just under six years of active-duty time. I joined civil service in October of 2011, and I’m trying to get my service computation date moved based on my active-duty time, but I’m hearing multiple answers. I’ve already started my buyback payments to cover the FERS post-56 money, and everything I’m finding says I should be eligible. What’s the correct answer, and can you point me to a few regs that I can provide to my personnel section to help resolve this question? A. Go to www.opm.gov/staffingportal/vetguide.asp, click on Complete…
Q. I retired (CSRS) on April 30. I have 31 years creditable service. I am 65. I did not buy back my four years of military service. I know there is a 2 percent per-year reduction in annuity. I will receive 58 percent instead of 66 percent. I will be eligible for Social Security benefits in December. I will be 66 then. I had 40 quarters paid into Social Security before starting work for the government. Will there also be a reduction of the Social Security benefits? If so, how much? A. Yes. Because you didn’t make a deposit for…