Q. I have bought back my military time, doubling my civilian retirement from 12 to 24 years. I also have a letter from National AmeriCorps showing nine months working for them. And I have a reserve computation showing I earned two years in the Army Reserve. However, the personnel office said neither of these can be added to my retirement. Is that right, and if so, why not? A. Your personnel office is correct. By law, only active-duty service is potentially creditable. And only nonfederal civil service employment that is specified elsewhere in law is creditable. National AmeriCorps service isn’t…
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Q. I worked for the Postal Service under CSRS. I worked continuously for 36 years and 10 months, and got one month credit for my sick leave. Concurrently with my service with the Postal Service, I was in the California National Guard and later the Army Reserve. I had a few months of active-duty time, but I never separated from the Postal Service, nor did I have any nonqualifying years. When I retired, I was told that since I was never separated, the time would not affect my annuity, and indeed I never submitted any paperwork, nor did I fill out…
Q. My husband is retired civil service employee and veteran. He draws a pension/annuity paycheck each month. Once he passes away, will this be lost, or will I receive it? We have been married since 1989, and I believe he retired in 1995. Also, I am currently covered by his medical insurance. Will I still be covered under this Federal Employees Health Benefits plan once he passes? A. Your husband was required by law to provide a full survivor benefit for you, unless you agreed in writing to a lesser amount or none at all. Assuming that he elected the full survivor…
Q. I will be retiring under FERS at the age of 72 with 25 years of service. I draw my Social Security but not under disability. I have a case with the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs open, but I don’t draw any money from them. I have checkups and medications under my case number. I want to retire no later than December. I don’t know if any disability I would get through Social Security would have to be offset by my civil service retirement. I have an Air Force retirement and I get so much from the Veterans Affairs Department due…
Q. My father is very ill and might not make it. I have no idea what his finances are. I know he served in the military for two years and retired from the Postal Service with over 20 years. Is there any way to get information about his benefits, if he has any? I don’t know if he was with FERS or CSRS. A. If he was receiving an annuity, that fact should be noted in his personal records and in his bank statements. You might check his wallet to see if he’s carrying an identification card issued by the Office…
Q. I retired from Army under CSRS last year at age 56 after 32 years of service and full benefits. I wish to return to federal service. Is this possible? Would I have to give up my pension? Can I be hired full time under my old position or one similar? A. Yes, you can be hired as a civilian employee of the federal government if an agency wants to do that. In theory, the agency in which you worked before retiring could hire in the position you previously occupied; however, it may not be possible. Most military departments have a bar on doing that…
Q. I served in the Navy from 1973 to 1982 and received an honorable discharge. Also, I received 10 percent disability. I am considering entering federal service this year. Will my active-duty time count for benefits (vacation, retirement, etc.)? A. The Office of Personnel Management’s Vets Guide is the definitive source of information about the benefits available to members of the military who join the civilian federal government. Go to www.opm.gov/StaffingPortal/Vetguide.asp and scroll down to Service Credit.
Q. I’m on active duty until September with 15 years of service, but because of the recent Enlisted Review Board, the Navy has forced me out. Are there government jobs that will employ service members with this amount of timed served and allow them to still receive a 20 year retirement? A. If you are hired by the federal government, your active duty military service would be creditable if you made a deposit to the civilian retirement system. However, to be eligible to retire, you would have to be employed as a civilian for five years to be vested in…
Q. If an employee is covered under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) and is receiving military pay as a result of a service-connected disability, will/he she be entitled to receive credit for both retirement and leave purposes without waiving their military retired pay? What are the exceptions to the rule? A. You would only be able to get credit for that period of service without having to waive your retired pay if you were awarded it on account of a service-connected disability either incurred in combat with an enemy of the U.S. or caused by an instrumentality of war and…
Q. I am 58 years old, and I have a service date of 1975. I am under the Civil Service Retirement System. I recently retired from the military after 33 years of reserve service (no active duty service over 90 consecutive days). My reserve pay was subject to Social Security withholding. What impact will my military reserve retirement pay have on my CSRS annuity? Will my CSRS or military retirement be subject to a reduction, or do I have to redeposit money? How do I determine whether I have to redeposit any money? Do I still get to Social Security at…