Browsing: Veterans Affairs Department

Q. I was a former term employee with Army from Nov. 23, 2008, to Dec. 22, 2010. My last SF-50 was as GS-12, step 3. The Department of Veterans Affairs just offered me a position as GS-07, step 1. I thought they would have to pay me for GS-07, step 10 vice step 1? A. No. However, you can ask to be hired at a higher step. An agency has no obligation to agree to that. But it may, based on your prior experience and earnings.

Q: I am a 58-year-old physician with 16 years of military service from 1978 to 1994. I am taking a job with the Veterans Affairs Department. In the benefits booklet I received, there is a note as follows: “Physicians and dentists covered under Title 38 provisions must complete 15 years of creditable service in order to use Physicians/Dentists Special Pay as basic pay in determining the high-3 average salary used in the computation of a [Federal Employees Retirement System] annuity. If I buy into FERS for my 16 years of military service, does this count toward “creditable service,” or is…