Q: This question is in reference to your Dec. 15, 2009, article, “It’s not too late to retire in 2009, or plan for 2010 or 2011” I am planning to retire in 2011; a co-worker is planning to retire in 2010. As per your article, it looks like the planets are lining up, as the leave year and calendar year will end at the same time. Both of us are Civil Service Retirement System employees and work for the U.S. Postal Service. The 2010 leave year ends Jan. 1, 2011. In the Postal Service, we can carry over 560 hours…
Browsing: Postal Service
Q: I have been working at the U.S. Postal Service for 26 years. I am 58 years old, and I will retire very shortly. I know that I cannot collect the special retirement supplement under these conditions, but will I start to receive the supplement when I turn 60? Or does retiring under the Minimum Retirement Age +10 provision require me to forfeit the SRS totally? A: No one who retires under the MRA+10 provision is eligible to receive the special retirement supplement. That’s the law.
Q: Is there another U.S. Postal Service buyout on the horizon? A: We haven’t heard a thing.
Q: I have served in the Navy for seven years. Will I be able to carry over my time to the U.S. Postal Service? A: Yes, but only if you make a deposit to the civilian retirement system. The deposit equals 3 percent of your basic military pay while on active duty, excluding allowances or differentials you may have received. Interest charges are added if you delay making the deposit after you are hired.
Q: I worked six years as rural mail-carrier substitute. There is no retirement plan for subs. After that, I have worked 21 years as a regular rural mail carrier. Have you heard of any new deal where those six years as a sub could be included in my retirement plan? A: I haven’t heard of any change being made or even contemplated.
Q: I transferred to the inactive Naval Reserve in August 1994 with 20 years of service, and I still draw retirement from the Navy. I work for the U.S. Postal Service (under FERS) and I am eligible to retire from the Postal Service in August 2012 with approximately 15 years of service. I know of one individual who claims to have combined his retirement from the Air Force with his retirement from the FAA several years ago. He was Civil Service when he retired from the FAA. What are my options at retirement from the Postal Service? Is there a…
Q: I used to work for the U.S. Postal Service, first as a mail handler, clerk, then a letter carrier. I served for about 10 years. I am 55. What would I do to find out if I have benefits and how could I get them? A: If you didn’t take a refund of your retirement contributions when you left government, you would be eligible for a deferred annuity at age 62. To apply for it, two months before you reach age 62, you’d need to complete OPM Form 1496A, Application for Deferred Retirement (available at http://opm.gov/froms/pdf_fill/opm1496a.pdf), and send it…
Q. Are Post Office appointments excepted service? Also, is USPS service creditable for purposes of Service Computation Date and retirement? A. While the U.S. Postal Service is a separate entity, its employees generally receive the same benefits as other federal employees. For example, they are covered by CSRS, CSRS Offset or FERS and can participate in the Federal Employees Health Benefits and Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance programs and the Thrift Savings Plan. As a rule, your service computation date wouldn’t change if you took a job with the Postal Service, and the age and service requirements to retire would…
Q. I’m in CSRS with the Postal Service. At retirement, will my annuity be credited at 174 hours of sick leave per month or is my total sick leave balance added to my actual service time and rounded down to the month? A. As a CSRS employee, when you retire, your hours of unused sick leave will be added to your actual service time. Any combination of actual hours and sick leave hours that add up to 174 will increase your final service time by one month. Any leftover days will be dropped.
Q. I saw your Web site and am wondering if you might be able to clear up some confusion. My 85-year old mother-in-law receives a pension from the Postal Service, and has health insurance through the Postal Service. She is a retiree. My understanding is that Medicare is her secondary payer. Do you know if the Postal Service health insurance requires that Medicare be the secondary payer, or if she can choose? This is crucial, because she has had a stroke and needs to be in a rehab facility. She is unable to answer many of the questions her children…