Q. I retired Dec. 3 on disability retirement after 13½ years’ service with the USPS. I am receiving 60 percent of high-3 the first year and 40 percent of high-3 the second year until age 62, which will be in July 2014. In applying for disability retirement, I cited 5 Department of Labor-accepted, on-the-job injuries to feet, two torn biceps and shoulder surgeries, as well as intercostal chondritis. I also cited worsening back condition and other conditions I am receiving VA compensation for. My high-3 is approximately $54,000, and I receive $2,708 from OPM under FERS disability retirement. I was…
Browsing: military service
Q. I have 14 years’ federal civilian service and my minimum retirement age is 56. I retired from the U.S. military with 22 years’ active-duty service. I have already purchased my military time back and I have paid my deposit in full. I intend to waive my military retired pay and retire under FERS this year when I reach my MRA. Will my annuity be reduced 5 percent for each year that I am younger than 62? A. No, because you will be retiring at your MRA with more than 30 combined years of service.
Q. As a retired Air Force reservist, I (and my wife) went under Tricare Prime when I turned 60 on Nov. 28, 2010. Before that date, we were covered under Blue Cross Blue Shield federal health insurance as our primary provider. When I retired from federal service after 40 years of service Jan. 1, 2011, I suspended our Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance and made Tricare Prime our primary health insurance provider. Because of problems we have encountered with Tricare Prime, I would like to reinstate Blue Cross Blue Shield as our primary health care insurance and drop my Tricare…
Q. I separated from the Air Force in 2008 as a major with 13½ years of service and received a lump-sum voluntary separation payment. I’m employed as a government civilian and would like to buy back my military time. Do I have to repay the entire lump sum I was paid when I separated to do this? A. Whether you are required to pay back some or all of your VSP is a matter between you and your branch of service. It has nothing to do with your ability to make a deposit to get credit for you active-duty service.…
Q. I am a 56-year-old retired military man. I have 10 years in with civil service. I have filed for military disability due to health problems associated with my military career. Can I draw 100 percent disability from the VA and file for disability from my civil service job and Social Security? If so, how does one calculate the resulting monthly payment? A. If you are approved for disability retirement, your annuity for the first 12 months would be 60 percent of your high-3, minus 100 percent of any Social Security disability benefit to which you are entitled. After that,…
Q. I am on active duty under Title 10 for a 225-day involuntary recall deployment. I am also a 15-year federal employee. Upon coming into the federal position in 2003, I bought back my four years of active-duty time, which has been applied to my FERS position. I would now like to have the deployment days added onto my federal career. I am on leave without pay. However, I am receiving differential of pay. Would I be authorized to have the deployment time calculated to my federal position? I was also informed that I would receive no evaluation or SF-50…
Q. I am eligible to retire this year from federal law enforcement (age 51 with 20 years as an officer). I am serving on active-duty military orders, which will continue for the next three years. If I retire from my law enforcement position, can I suspend (NOT cancel) my health care coverage option (and premiums) while I am on active duty and covered by Tricare? I would not be eligible for Tricare between ages 55 and 60 and therefore would not want to lose access to this important coverage when my military tour ends. A. Yes, you can suspend your FEHB coverage under…
Q. I retired from active service with 30 years. I recently obtain a federal government job and am inquiring if I am eligible for the buyback program and, if so, if is there a cost comparison worksheet to review so I can determine if the buyback is advantageous to me. A. Yes, you are eligible to make a deposit for your active duty service and have it used in determining your total years of civilian service and annuity; however, at retirement, you would be required to waive your military retired pay. To find out how much you would owe, complete…
Q. I am thinking of retirement at age 62 years, two months and 10 days on Dec. 31. I am a retired Navy E-6 and draw a retired military pension. I will have just over 17 years of federal service and am covered by FERS as a GS-9 Step 10. I would like to apply for Social Security benefits at age 62. Would I be eligible to draw all three payments without reduction? A. Yes. However, your Social Security benefit will be less than it would be if you waited until your full Social Security retirement age, which, for those born between 1945…
Q. I have been a federal agent under FERS for nine years. When I joined the agency, I purchased my 13 years of military service. I am considering completing my military service in the Reserve so I can retire from the military and from federal service. 1. Will having purchased my military time for federal employee retirement credit affect my time in service for the military? 2. Is it applied to both or one or the other? A. The deposit you made to get civilian credit for your active duty service will have no affect on any military retirement benefits…