Q: I work for the Federal Bureau of Prisons. In November, I will have 20 years’ service in law enforcement and will be 49 years old. If I decide to retire right there and then, do I have to wait an extra year to collect benefits? Can I retire at age 49 with 20 years of law enforcement plus 4 years of active-duty military service? A: No, you can’t retire on an immediate annuity at age 49. You’ll have to wait until age 50 to retire under the special provision for law enforcement officers. You could, of course, resign from…
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Q: From 1968 through September 1978 I worked in the private sector and paid Social Security. My taxed Social Security earnings for those 11 years were $40,520. According to the Social Security Administration, seven of those years were “substantial earnings years.” Beginning in October 1978, I entered federal civil service as a federal law enforcement officer and paid no Social Security. In June of 1983, I left federal service and re-entered the private sector. From June 1983 through August 1985, I remained in the private sector. My total taxed Social Security earnings for those three years were $74,650. According to…
Q: I’m about to receive my pension from the Navy because I’m about to turn 60. I’m also a FERS retiree. Would I be able to receive both annuities? What would happen to my FERS annuity supplement? A: You’ll be able to receive both annuities. Further, your special retirement supplement won’t be affected because it would only be reduced if your earnings from wages or self employment exceeded the annual limit. An annuity, regardless of who pays it, is not considered to be earnings.
Q: I retired from the Army in 1993 with 20 years of service. I retired as warrant officer, no disability, and began collecting retired pay in 1993. In 2000, I began employment has a civilian with the Army Corps of Engineers. I have paid into Social Security since joining the military in 1973, including private-sector jobs. When I stop working, will I be able to receive my full military retirement pay, full Social Security and full civilian retirement pay, or are these connected in some way that means I would receive less. A: Yes, you will be able to recieve…
Q: Regarding your May 24 post, “Credit for Military Service,” your last paragraph states, in part, “If you are approved for regular LWOP, you make take up to six months leave within a calendar year and get credit for that time without having to make a deposit.” Could you please identify the statute that you draw that from? A: Title II – Leave, Civilian Personnel Law Manual, Chapter 5, Part F – Leave Without Pay authorizes agencies, at their sole discretion, to grant leave without pay to its employees. While a separate authority exists to protect the rights of members…
Q: I have a question regarding locality pay determination. I have been accepted to attend the Army War College starting in July. I will be there for 10 months. Since I am at Fort Monroe and will be reassigned to the Pentagon but will be TDY to Carlisle Barracks to attend the War College, shouldn’t my locality pay be determined by where I am assigned? A: While I don’t know what your official duty station should be, I can give you some information that may be helpful. Certain location-based pay entitlements, such as locality pay, are based on the location…
Q: I served 12 years of Army active duty, from October 1987 to July 1999. If I were to obtain a GS 13 position, would my 12 years go toward a government retirement plan? How many years would I need to continue to work at the GS position until I would be able to retire with 20 years? A: That period of active-duty military service would only be creditable if you were to make a deposit to the civilian retirement system. That deposit would be 3 percent of your basic pay while on active duty (not including allowances or differentials).…
Q: I’m confused by what I’m reading regarding forfeiting military retirement pay. In some cases, your answer states the individual will not lose his military retirement pay if he buys back the time. Other answers say that the individual must waive his military retirement. Do only the 20-year active-duty retirees forfeit military retirement pay? I’m a reservist who will retire in three years at my 20-year total service mark, 11 of which were active duty. I’ve been offered a GS position that I am considering. I would like to receive credit for those 11 years, and it appears that my…
Q: I understand that active-duty time counts, but do weekend drills and the two-weeks-a-year tour also count toward retirement? A: No, they don’t. You are already receiving credit for your two-week periods of active-duty training, which are treated for accounting purposes as if you were still on the job. Weekend drills are generally on your own time. If one were to fall on what would otherwise be a work day, it would be treated in the same way. Simply stated, you can’t get credit twice for the same period of time.
Q: I have completed three periods of military active duty. Each period was separated by years from the other two. I made a military deposit for two of the three periods. One source told me that this was not permissible; that if I didn’t buy back all periods, I would get a check back after retirement for the 2 I bought back, and would receive no military credit. Another employee told me that this was nonsense, and that it was my choice to buy back two of the three periods, and that I would get credit for the military time…