Q. I’m new to the federal system and would like to asses my options. 1. I have spent 14 years and about 10 months on active duty in the Armhy plus some reserve time. I understand reserve time is not computed on military buyback. What is the maximum years that I can sell back? 2. I was hired by ICE at the age of 38. How does that factor in for retirement purposes — mandatory retirement age for an ICE covered agent? 3. If I sell my military time, do my leave and sick hours change to match those of…
Browsing: military buyback
Q. I have 20 years of military time and get a monthly check. I also have worked 19 years for civil service under FERS. Will I still be able to get Social Security at age 62 without losing some portion of my retirement check? A. Neither your military retired pay or FERS annuity would be reduced if you applied for a Social Security benefit at age 62. Note: If you are still employed when you reach age 62, you’d be subject to the Social Security earnings limit, which would reduce your Social Security benefit by $2 for every $3 you…
Q. I was active duty Air Force from November 1981 to May 1996 and got out with an honorable discharge. The next day I was hired as a full-time military technician with the California Air National Guard, where I am presently employed. I made a deposit to buy back my active-duty military time so it would count toward my civil service retirement From May 1996 to the present, I have earned six more years of active-duty time from deployments and activations, which makes me eligible for an active-duty retirement. I requested and was granted an extension to my military mandatory…
Q. Several years ago, I was granted 16 months of leave without pay for a medical condition. While I was on LWOP, I made no contributions to FERS so I assume I should notify my Human Resources Office to buy back this time. Is this correct? If so, is there a specific form to complete? I recently bought back 25 months of active-duty military service so I assume LWOP would be handled in a similar manner. A. An aggregate nonpay status of six months in any calendar year is creditable service. Coverage continues at no cost to you while in…
Q: I retired from the Air Force in 1998, after 26 years and two months of service. In September 2000 I started a civil service career; and immediately started paying the deposit of the military buyback to secure all of my military service, (completed by April 2003). I am trying to ascertain whether I should have been placed in the CSRS Offset pension program, and started acquiring eight hours annual leave per pay period. I am 57 and preparing for retirement in about three years and trying to ensure my record is accurately reflecting my benefits. A: Because you were…
Q: I served 15 years of active service in the Marine Corps. I was discharged and for the past three years I have had a job as a civilian in the federal government. I would like to buy back my 15 years of active-duty military time to have it count toward my FERS retirement. I am also planning to join the Marine Corps Reserve. If I buy back my 15 years of active service and then serve in the reserves for five years, am I then eligible to receive a retirement check from the reserves and also have that same…
Q: I completed 19 years of active-duty service in the Army. I completed my time in the Texas National Guard for retirement. At age 60, I started receiving my military retirement check. I am a federal civilian employee with 11 years under FERS. I have received my statement (amount) of buyback of military time. I want to be sure I will retain my military retirement check. Buyback will give me a total of 30 years for civilian retirement when I pay the deposit. I just want to confirm I will receive both retirements with no reduction. A: If you make…
Q: Upon joining government service, I exercised the option to buy back my military service of more than 24 years and paid military deposit of a little more than $3,386. I plan to retire from government service in two or three years, but I am having second thoughts about it now because of the prospect of losing my military benefits, whether all of them or just some, I have no idea, and would like to know. If I’d lose my military ID card, Comstore, NEX and pharmacy privileges, then I would like to reverse or cancel my buyback option. Questions:…
Q: I retired from the Air Force with just more than 20 years. I began work as a temp employee GS-11 for two years, then term for four more. I am now 45 with just more than six years with CS. I am not a permanent employee, but am contributing to a FERS retirement. Is it possible to combine my AF and CS retirements and if so, how would I go about it? A: You can get credit for your active-duty military service by making a deposit to the civilian retirement system and, at retirement, waving your military retired pay.…
Q: I receive military retirement pay under FERS for 21 years of service in the Air Force. I started working a job as a federal civilian employee two years ago. I did not buy back my military time. If I continue to work as a federal civilian for another seven years (bringing my total federal service to 30 years), how will my retirement pay be affected? Will my monthly retirement pay increase? A: If you don’t make a deposit for your active-duty service and, at retirement, waive your military retired pay, you won’t get any credit for it in determining…