Q. I am a National Guard technician being medically disqualified from my military position, which is causing me to lose my civilian position. I have educated myself I think pretty well on my overall retirement package. OPM regulations state that if I am medically disqualified from my civilian job, I am entitled to severance pay. I called my local human resources office and was told that because I am getting an annuity, I do not qualify for this. That office has told me many things that are not true, so I do not believe that. I was also told that…
Browsing: military service
Q. With five years of federal civilian service and eight years of military paid for, if I left federal service, would I be able to apply for the MRA+10 retirement option when I reached that age, since that would be more than 10 years? Or would it just be a deferred annuity at 62 that I would be eligible for? A. Age 62.
Q. I will be 60 years old in February. I will have 16 years and five months of total service with Customs and Border Protection and am covered for retirement with FERS. What does the 5 percent penalty mean “if I retire under the age of 62”? Does this apply only to my Social Security benefits or my FERS retirement? I will not ask for any Social Security benefits until I reach the age of 62. I am also retired from the military with 20 years of total service. A. Because you have fewer than 20 years of service, you’d…
Q. Will I benefit from my husband’s Social Security pension once he applies for benefits at full retirement age? Beginning Jan. 3, I will begin collecting CSRS retirement. My husband (a retired lieutenant colonel) indicated that once he reaches full retirement age, he’ll apply for Social Security benefits and that I will be entitled to a spouse’s pension from his benefit. I think that, because my CSRS pension is so high ($75,000), my benefit will offset any benefit I would be eligible to receive from him. A. Because you are receiving an annuity from a retirement system where you didn’t…
Q. I’m applying for a VA position as a GS civilian (Catholic priest). I’ve been in military service continuously since Feb. 6, 1994, and still serve in the Air Force Reserve. I have a DD-214 that documents 12 years, eight months and four days of active military service. In my VA application, I’m being asked to report my service computation date. For the purposes of my VA application, is my SCD the same as my Total Active Federal Service Date in the military? My TAFSD is 12 years, eight months and four days ago, Jan. 13, 2000 — but that…
Q. I am a retired chief petty officer with 17½ years of service. I am an information technician specialist under the Federal Employees Retirement System. I am buying my military time back and will have it paid off shortly. I have a couple of questions: 1. Will my military retirement check stop as soon as I pay the military deposit off, or does it stop when I retire from the federal government? 2. Part of my military retirement goes to the Veterans Affairs for my 30 percent service-connected disability, which is then sent back to me from the VA. Do…
Q. I worked one year at the veterans hospital in Palo Alto, then joined the Navy. I am exploring retirement from the Navy after 26 years of good service. Can I link my federal service toward military retirement? Every year of military service means 2.5 percent more toward retirement. Most people are asking about the opposite. A. No.
Q. I am 48. I was active-duty enlisted Navy from 1983 to 1993, so I have 10 years’ active duty. I got out as an E-6 with an honorable discharge. I am also 10 percent disabled, which happened when I applied for the CAVET program. I live in California. I took an early-out special separation bonus lump sum to get out after 10 years. President Reagan was drawing down the forces at the time and offered the early out. I don’t see any money because I understand I have to pay back the SSB lump sum. I have been working…
Q. I’m 64½ years old, retired FERS with Federal Employees Health Benefits. No dependents. I am also retired military, but I have never used Tricare. I am now considering what to do in this open season and as I reach 65 years of age. This is my plan: 1) Enroll in a cheaper (I have Kaiser now), more reasonably priced FEHB during open season. 2) Suspend that new FEHB coverage using form RI 79-9 to OPM. 3) Use my Tricare Standard until I reach 65 years (five months from now). 4) Find a Physician who take Tricare Standard. 5) Enroll…
Q. I just started getting my military retirement (at age 60) and I am receiving a federal disability retirement. Does the military income from the retirement offset the federal retirement amount? A. No.