Q. I have worked as a clinical dietitian for more than 20 years (part time — 24 hours/week for the past 12). I am considering leaving to do private practice full time. How will this affect my pension, retirement, etc.? Will I still be eligible for my pension after a certain age? A. If you don’t take a refund of your retirement contributions when you leave, you’ll be eligible for a deferred annuity at age 60.
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Q. I plan to retire in 2½ years on Dec 31, 2014 (at age 60) from federal civil service under CSRS Offset with 33 years of service. I am contemplating working a part-time job, nonfederal employment, but wondered if I will have my annuity reduced due to additional earnings. Also, is there a maximum dollar amount I am allowed to earn annually beyond what I am paid in my retirement annuity before my retirement is reduced? FYI, I worked four years federal service with an interim break of about five years before re-entering federal service for what will be 27…
Q. I was a half-time Veterans Affairs Department psychologist at an outpatient clinic from 1981 to 1993. During the first part of the period of employment, I recall that I was part of the standard VA retirement system. If my memory is correct, I was compelled to join the Thrift Savings Plan and also had some reduced level of participation in the some retirement plan (maybe it was Social Security) in the final years of my employment. I received an annual notice regarding TSP, but I have not received any other information on any possible retirement benefits. I am now…
Q. I’m a fed with 25 years of service. I’m 53 years old. Unfortunately, I’m having a lot of health issues. While I may be able to qualify for retirement disability, I prefer to try and hang on as long as I can in my job. Fortunately, I have a sympathetic employer that has allowed me to be off of work. I’ve lost all of my 2,000 hours of leave. If I take leave without pay or use the Family Leave Act, is there a minimum number of hours I must work to earn a year of service? If there…
Q. I worked for customs for 13 months and resigned about 10 years ago. I did not my accrued sick leave, nor did I transfer it when I left. I was recently hired by the Department of Homeland Security/Transportation Security Administration part time. 1. How do I get the unused sick leave I had when I resigned credited back to me? 2. Can I start to contribute to TSP right away, along with receiving the agency’s matching contributions, or do I have to wait like all new employees? 3. Is there a formula for calculating FERS retirement for part-time service;…
Q. I am now retired from federal civil service under CSRS with 33 years of service. I have contemplated working a part-time job, nonfederal employment, and maybe becoming self-employed but wondered if I will have my annuity reduced due to additional earnings. Also, is there a maximum dollar amount I am allowed to earn annually beyond what I am paid in my retirement annuity before my retirement is reduced? A. As long as you aren’t re-employed by the federal government, you can make as much as you want without it affecting your CSRS annuity.
Q. I’m a Defense Department employee under FERS. I have about five years before I can retire. I would like to apply for special pay or Social Security when I retire. Would that affect my being able to work part time, or would I have a limit placed on my income? A. If by special pay you mean the special retirement supplement, you don’t have to apply for it. It will automatically be added to your annuity when it is finalized. Moving on, both the SRS and the Social Security benefit are subject to the Social Security earnings limit. If you have…
Q. I am 44 years old, and I am covered under FERS with a scheduled leave date of November 1985 but did not start working full time until August 1989. I recently enrolled in the Federal Employees Health Benefits plan, as my wife’s insurance coverage was better than FEHB. If offered, would I be eligible for a VERA/VSIP without any penalty? A. Yes. Although you worked part time for several years, your service computation date shows that you were given full-time credit for those years of service. The only effect of having worked part time is that your annuity will…
Q. The Office of Personnel Management defines part-time employment as 16 to 32 hours a week, and full time is “generally” considered 40 hours. What about 33 hours, or any schedule between 33 and 39? How is that classified? I’m guessing 33 hours would be classified full time, but the pay and annuity calculation would be based on the actual number of hours worked. Is that correct? I’m also wondering if one can apply for full-time positions and negotiate a schedule between 33 and 39 hours (provided the agency is amenable). A. According to OPM, “Once an employee works between…
Q. How much money can I earn part time without negatively affecting my disability pension? A. The maximum you can earn is 80 percent of the current rate of pay for the position you held when you retired on disability. If you exceed that amount, your disability annuity would be stopped until such time as your earnings fell below that level.