Q. In 2011, I left my civil service job for 175 days to deploy to Afghanistan as an active-duty officer. While deployed, I used a day or two of annual or military leave every pay period to pay for my health care benefits. FERS payments also were made on the days I was on paid leave. When I got back from my deployment, I was told I had to buy back the time, and I put in paperwork with DFAS to do so. However, I just read in my agency’s furlough FAQ that: The amount of a CSRS or FERS…
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Q. I am a GS employee who was fully employed by my agency from 1992 to July 2004 and then involuntarily recalled to active duty (reservist), title 10, for two years. I am still affiliated with the agency and have an active SF-50. I am also still on active duty, but on voluntary orders with a five-year limit. Can I buy back my Title 10 military service for a FERS employee while on LWOP-US or annual leave while on voluntary military orders? The result would be 14 years of federal service, to include two years of military service and 12…
Q. Would you please explain the differences between using leave without pay and leave without pay-uniformed services and how it impacts someone at retirement? Am I automatically placed on LWOP-US when activated for Reserve training (title 32), or can I request LWOP and not have to make a deposit? I have been making deposits for a lot of LWOP-US over my career and would hate to find out I didn’t have to make those payments for stints less than six months. A. No, you don’t have a choice. When called to active duty, you are automatically placed on LWOP-US unless…
Q. I am currently working as a General Schedule employee, and I have bought back my eight years active duty. It is paid in full. If I go back on active duty, would I get that deposit paid back to me, or do I lose it? A. It would only be paid back in you separated from the government and asked for a refund of all your retirement contributions. Doing so would void all future entitlement to a retirement annuity.
Q: I was active-duty Navy for five years, then worked for the U.S. Postal Service under the Federal Employees Retirement System for seven years, during which time I bought back my military time. After 9/11, I went back into military service (active-duty Army), and I will retire with 20 years active service. Who do I need to contact to get a refund of my deposit with the USPS? A: While you can’t get a refund solely of your deposit for active-duty service, you can get a refund of all your contributions and deposits to the retirement fund. Download a copy…
Q: I am a reservist and had 8 1/2 years of civilian federal service (under FERS) when I was recalled to active duty right after 9/11. I have been a reservist on active duty for the past 10 years and am still on leave without pay status (LWOP) with the agency I was recalled from. How long would I have to return to the agency in order to make a deposit on my 10 years of active duty? I have about 80 hours of leave on the books. Is there a certain time period that I would have to return to the agency to…
Q: I am 58 years old, and I started work for the government in 1981. I have 30 years of service as a Defense Department civilian employee and four years as an active-duty service member. I am under the Civil Service Retirement System and plan to retire at age 62 with 38 years of total service. I have not bought back any of my active-duty time. What impact will that have on my retirement annuity and what impact will that have if I decide to take another job after I retire? A: Because you were first hired before Oct. 1,…
Q: If I buy back my military time, can I collect both military retirement and Federal Employees Retirement System benefits? My situation is this: I am 58 years old, and I started a job with the federal government Sept. 26, 2010. My prior military service consists of nine years on active duty and 14 years in the reserves. I have submitted the forms to the Defense Finance and Accounting Service and have received my cost calculation to buy back my active-duty years. I am eligible to collect my military retirement when I turn 60. I plan to continue working for…
Q: I was in the National Guard from January, 1970 until January, 1976. I was only on active duty for six months then; the rest of the 5 ½ years were weekends and two weeks a year on active duty. Can I buy any of that time back? A: Only the six months that you were on active duty.
Q: If I buy back my active-duty military time to put it toward my Federal Employees Retirement System retirement, do I then lose that time toward my Navy Reserve retirement? A: No. Making a deposit for your period(s) of active-duty service will have no affect on reserve retired pay. You’ll get full credit for that time.