Q. I am a retired FERS employee — 59 years old, with 25 years of federal service. I retired two years ago under VERA VSIP. My employer (Defense Department) was reducing the workforce due to budget cuts and abolished my job. I paid into Social Security for 42 years. I have some health issues and am considering applying for Social Security disability. My question is: Will Social Security disability retirement affect my FERS annuity?
Browsing: Social Security disability
Q. I receive a FERS annuity. If I receive Social Security disability, I understand I lose 60 percent of that pay until I’m 62. Will FERS go back however many months and make me pay back the difference for those months of retroactive pay from Social Security? In other words, if I collect six months of retroactive pay from Social Security do I owe FERS 60 percent of my annuity that I received for those six months?
Q. I retired from the Postal Service on July 1, 2011, under FERS and am receiving a FERS annuity supplement of $746 per month. I also was awarded Social Security disability in April 2011, with payments starting in November 2011. Can I still receive an annuity supplement when I am 62?
Q. As a requirement for approval for federal disability retirement, I have filed for Social Security and was denied. However, I was approved in February 2012 for disability under FERS. Even after approval, am I still required to continuously apply for Social Security until I get approved even if I’m not totally disabled? A. No.
Q. I am a FERS employee with serious medical issues. If I apply for a disability retirement, I will be required to submit an application for immediate retirement. According to the instructions on this application, most annuities begin the first day of the month after separation. How does this work if my request needs to be approved by Social Security? If it were denied by Social Security, then what would happen to my annuity? A. Because you are a FERS employee, if you apply for disability retirement, you must also apply for a Social Security disability benefit. Your receipt of…
Q. I am retired and on Social Security disability. I am 63 and now receiving regular pension since 62. I am covered by FERS BC/BS. I was under the impression that my coverage continued till age 65 when I retired in 2000. I will have to wait till 66 to retire under the new Social Security rules for retiring. Will the health coverage continue till age 66, or will it stop at 65, leaving me with no insurance since I can’t get Medicare till age 66 now? And how does one keep the coverage later? A. First, a correction. The…
Q. In March 2012, I received a one-time OWCP award for a 1996 on-the-job traumatic injury suffered with the post office. I had put in for this award more than once many years earlier and had been permanently stationary for years before resigning from the post office in April 2011. At 58, I am retired from the post office with 15 years. I am also a Navy veteran of 15 years, time I failed to buy back before retiring from the post office. Beside the one-time OWCP award, I have not received any other OWCP benefits since leaving the post…
Q. I am a federal law enforcement officer with four years of service in a 6c covered position. I was injured in the line of duty and my agency is unable to accommodate me in another position, so I am being medically retired. What are the health insurance options for me and my family after my disability retirement? A. Assuming that you are enrolled in the Federal Employees Health Benefits program, as a FERS disability retiree you will be able to continue that coverage. Note: When you apply for FERS disability retirement, you must simultaneously apply for Social Security disability…
Q. I am a FERS employee and have a serious medical condition and was considering filing for disability retirement. I have not done so because of the uncertainty surrounding whether OPM would actually grant the application and, more importantly, because I have tried to maintain my employment as long as possible. My agency is not offering early retirement. Can a person dual-file an early-out application and a disability application? If so what are the pros and cons? A. Yes, but you can apply for early retirement only if your agency has been approved to offer it and the offer applies…
Q. I am on Social Security Disability Insurance because of cancer and diabetes. I need to find some kind of part-time work to make ends meet. I know there are income limits for SSDI, but I was wondering if there are any other problems associated with working while on SSDI, at least as far as the Social Security Administration is concerned. A: For an answer to your question, go to http://ssa.gov/pubs/10029.html#part11.