Q. I am about to retire under CSRS, under which I have worked since 1977. I am now receiving a disability pension from the Veterans Affairs Department for a service-connected disability. I was on active duty from 1969 to 1973. In the past, I had received my disability pension from the military. I have been told that my records show that my military time will count toward my CSRS retirement, but I have to pay for my military time. I see that in the Effect of Military Retired Pay section of OPM Form 1515, for my military service to count…
Browsing: service-connected disability
Q. I’m medically retired from the Air Force with more than 10 years on active duty. I was retired on disability, not on longevity. I have over 24 years in civil service. I’d like to be able to use those years to add to my service years. I’ve been told I can, but if I did I’d have to waive my disability retirement when I retire from civil service, which I would not like to do as it’s all tax-free. I entered service before 1978. So, can I use the years and still keep my disability retirement pay? A. What…
Q. I am in the process of filing for FERS retirement. I currently have 30 years of civil service (GS-11), which includes three years and seven months of military service. I am being told by human resources that they cannot include the three years military time for Retirement Annuity Computation because I receive a check each month from the Veterans Affairs Department for a 30 percent disability rating (service-connected disability). Also, my leave and earnings statement (LES) shows that I have repaid the military time. I have sent human resources a letter from VA showing that I was removed from the temporary…
Q. The fiscal 2008 National Defense Authorization Act requires the military services, upon request, to review certain separations for medical conditions where the rating was 20 percent or less. There is a possibility I will be granted medical retirement under this NDAA, and I am curious as to how this will affect my service-connected disability leave. I have been civil service since Nov. 15, 2005, and have a current SCD leave date of Feb. 11, 1994. My retirement will be based on a service-connected disability that was not incurred in combat or caused by an instrumentality of war; however I…
Q. I retired from Army in 1998 after 20 years. I was hired by civil service in 1999 and am now on leave without pay because of service-connected disabilities. I have 90 percent disability, according to the Veterans Affairs Department and was just approved for Social Security Disability Insurance on July 29. Should I resign from my government job for health reasons or file for disability under Federal Employees Retirement System? I have been LWOP since Feb. 10. A. It would make sense for you to apply for disability retirement. Simply resigning from the government would gain you nothing.
Q: I was reading the June 6, 2011, Personal Advisor and in planning for retirement, item four, it was stated that if one received military retired pay that they needed to make an appointment with the retirement counselor. It was stated that “under limited circumstances you may be able to receive both (military retired pay and one’s retirement annuity). However, in most cases, you’ll have to waive military retires pay.” That certainly got my attention. I served in the Navy for 25 years before joining the VA as a physician in September 2000. My Navy retired pay is fairly substantial. I would…
Q: I am a retired federal employee and currently have health care coverage under one of the Federal Employee Health Benefits plans. I recently found out that I have multiple myeloma. I am also a Vietnam veteran, and after learning of my diagnosis, I found out that any Vietnam veteran who served on the ground in Vietnam between 1962 and 1975 and later developed certain diseases, including multiple myeloma, is presumed to have been exposed to Agent Orange herbicide and would be entitled to free health care for those diseases through the Veterans Affairs Department health care system. However, much…
Q: I just recently became employed as a GS. In reviewing my Notification of Personnel Action form (SF-50), I had a number of questions which I asked of our human resources personnel: The form indicated I have no veterans’ preference and no creditable years of military service, though I have almost 25 years of service. The response I received was that I would have to surrender my pay and purchase the years of military service if I want to have it credited for civilian service. I have no intention of doing this. I was referred to the Office of Personnel…