Q. I am 50 and have 8.5 years of active military service (covered on DD-214) and 179 days of consecutive active-duty time as a reservist (no DD-214). I have approximately 3.5 years of competitive, permanent career federal civil service time but am no longer a civil service employee (resignation, no negative reasons). I do not count the 179 days of active reserve duty in my retirement calculations. I have not done the military buyback yet for my 8.5 years’ credited military service. If I land another permanent, career full-time federal civil service job and buy back my 8.5 years, would…
Browsing: military service
Q. I served 9.5 years in the Air Force and just short of five years for the FAA under CSRS. When I left the FAA in late 1987, because of a misunderstanding of how CSRS worked, I thought I had to withdraw my contributions to CSRS because I had fewer than five years. Counting most of my Air Force time, I have 39 years of substantial contributions to Social Security. I returned to government employment two years ago and am considered CSRS Offset. Since I plan to retire in four years, I am trying to determine my best option regarding…
Q. I am a VA employee with 31 years of VA service and three years in the Marine Corps. I am 60. If I qualify for a FERS MRA+30 retirement (which I believe I do), would it make a significant difference in the monthly SS portion of my benefits if I bought back my three years of military time before I actually retired? A. Making a deposit for that time would increase the amount of your annuity; however, it would not affect your special retirement supplement or your actual Social Security benefit.
Q. I am 55 and was hired Dec. 29, 1984, under CSRS and forced into FERS when it was implemented. I have since paid a deposit for four years of military service, and according to my SF-50, my service computation date is Dec. 29, 1981. I want to retire Dec. 29 with 32 years. With 28 years of federal service and 4 years of deposit paid military time, for a total of 32 years, will I be eligible for the FERS special retirement supplement? Or will I have to complete two more years of FERS to be eligible for the…
Q. I am an activated reservist who has been on military leave without pay from my civilian job as a federal firefighter for four years. I have two questions, one regarding my retirement and the second concerning leave earned on MLWOP. I was hired at age 36 (in 2006) and under normal conditions should be able to retire after 20 years of service at 56 and immediately draw my full retirement (without penalty). Will my four years of activated reserve time be considered part of those 20 years? That is, will I still be able to retire at 20 years…
Q. I’m 54 and have been working for the government for the past nine years. I’m planning on staying for 20 years but already spent 22 years in military and am receiving my monthly pension faithfully. If and when I’m done, do I receive a separate check or do they combine them as one, and do I still get my Social Security benefit at the proper age? A. You will receive separate payments for you military and civilian service. When you apply for a Social Security benefit, you will receive that as a separate payment. In the last case, if…
Q. In March 2012, I received a one-time OWCP award for a 1996 on-the-job traumatic injury suffered with the post office. I had put in for this award more than once many years earlier and had been permanently stationary for years before resigning from the post office in April 2011. At 58, I am retired from the post office with 15 years. I am also a Navy veteran of 15 years, time I failed to buy back before retiring from the post office. Beside the one-time OWCP award, I have not received any other OWCP benefits since leaving the post…
Q. I will be 56 by mid-January. My service computation date is May 13, 1992. I am a GS-13, level 8. I have received my 20-year pin (I bought back six years of Navy active-duty time) yet the payroll department at our Veterans Affairs medical center now tell me I only have 17 years. I left the VA system for private business in 2003 for three years, then came back to my previous position in VA. I left my FERS money in the system when I left. Would this make me eligible to retain those three years toward my retirement,…
Q. I am a postal employee looking to continue my service with the Army Reserve. Child care cost is about to pass my income level with the Postal Service. With my wife as the main bread winner, we are considering having me separate from the Postal Service to be a homemaker. I have 15 years with the Postal Service and some military time. If I enter the Army Reserve, could I combine my Postal Service years with the reserve retirement? A. No, you can’t. There is no provision in law that would permit you to get credit for your civilian…
Q. I am a retired Marine veteran with 27-plus years of service. I have been employed since in 2004 (the same year I retired from the Marine Corps). I am employed with the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Am I allowed to draw Social Security benefits since I retired from the military? And can I still work at my present employment while collecting Social Security? I enlisted in the Marine Corps in November 1975 and retired in February 2004. I am 55 years old. A. While you could apply for a Social Security benefit at age 62 while still working, you…