Q. I’m under a federal employee retirement system with a mandatory retirement age of 57 as a law enforcement officer. Additionally, I already bought back approximately four years of active military service. I’m also eligible for a military reserve retirement when I turn 60 after completing 20 years of military reserve service. Would I be eligible to draw retirement benefits under FERS and the military reserve even though I have already bought back my active-duty time? A. Yes.
Browsing: military service
Q. I am a guardsman who has been on continuous active-duty orders since June 2004. Before 2004, I was employed as a civil service technician since 1981 (I am a FERS employee). 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 USERRA rule ran out in 2009, when I was forced to give up my technician position or face being placed in absent-without-leave status. Now that I am nearing the end of my active-duty orders in October (I do not have enough active-duty…
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 Veterans Affairs compensation. The VA compensation was more than the Army pension, which 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 combat-related during my military career. I served from Sept. 21, 1981, to June 19, 1996. Does the military buyback option apply to me without giving up my military pension? In…
Q. I am a FERS employee with nine years’ active duty time. I retired from the National Guard with 20 years but do not receive any annuity. I know I am supposed to buy back my active-duty time to receive credit toward my civil service retirement, but if I do this, will it affect my National Guard retirement? I am wondering if my active-duty time can be counted twice — once toward my National Guard retirement and once toward my civil service retirement. A. Yes, it can be counted twice. Making a deposit to get credit for your active duty-service…
Q. I am gathering information for my federal agency to ascertain how much it will cost me to buy back some or all of my military time. I can’t imagine that my case is unusual, but I haven’t found anyone in my agency who knows or is forthcoming enough to respond to my questions until I have all my documentation in hand. I would really appreciate the answers to a few things before I present them with my paperwork. I have had several periods of long- (up to four years) and short-term (single days) active duty over a 30-year career…
Q. I am contemplating buying back 20 years’ military time (I am retired military drawing a pension) at a cost of approximately $14,500. I will receive approximately $500 a month more should I buy back the military time and retire under FERS. I understand my military retirement check will stop when I retire from the federal government. Are any of my other retirement benefits (Tricare, commissary, exchange, dental insurance, VA disability) affected? Please cite an official publication where this information is located as well. A. It’s my understanding that you will lose none of your other military benefits if you…
Q. I have worked 9½ years in the post office. Now I am active-duty Army. Can I buy back the years from the post office or add my 10 years and eight months to post office retirement? A. Your years of service with the Postal Service cannot be combined with your years of active-duty service. On the other hand, if you return to work for the federal government, you can make a deposit to get credit for your active-duty time in determining your total years of civilian service and used in your annuity computation.
Q. I am currently (and have only been) active-duty Navy and will be retiring within the next six months. I am confused about FERS. On some posts, I read that people waive military retirement. In others, I read that people receive military retirement and civilian government retirement. I want a civilian government job. What options do I have available to me? A. Nearly everyone who has retired from active duty and takes a civilian job with the federal government has a choice to make. He can either make a deposit to the civilian retirement system to get credit for that service and,…
Q. I am working for the Veterans Affairs Department hospital. I served six years of service with the active-duty Navy, in which I was awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and was honorably discharged with an RE1 enlistment code after the Navy. I served 14 years Active Guard Reserve with the Army National Guard. I do not wish to sell my time back, but I want to know why my active-duty time with the Navy does not count toward my time for leave or vacation when there are fellow workers who have less time (3-4 years) that do. A. It…
Q. I have been recently hired as a federal employee. Does my prior military service (five years) count toward the rate at which I accrue sick and annual leave? A. According to the Office of Personnel Management, “An agency may provide credit toward an employee’s annual leave accrual rate for non-Federal service or active-duty uniformed service that otherwise would not be creditable if the individual has prior work experience directly related to the duties of the position to which he or she is being appointed and the prior experience is necessary to achieve an important agency mission or performance goal.…