Q & A
What are the benefit amounts for which a spouse may be entitled?
Answer: A spouse receives half of the retired worker’s full benefit if the spouse retires at full retirement age. If the spouse begins collecting benefits before full retirement age, we reduce those benefits by a percentage based on how much earlier…
I had a serious leg injury three years ago and received disability benefits for about 19 months until I could return to work. Unfortunately, my leg problems have returned and I may not be able to continue working much longer. When I first applied for benefits, I waited five full months before I was eligible to receive my first check. If I reapply for benefits, will I again be subject to this waiting period?
Answer: No. If you become disabled a second time within five years after your previous disability benefits stopped, there is no five-month waiting period before benefits start. If your claim is approved, you can receive benefits for the first full month…
I’m thinking about getting a disability insurance policy from a private company. If I become disabled and have a private policy, would it reduce my Social Security disability benefit?
Answer: No. Your eligibility for Social Security disability benefits is not affected by any insurance you may have. However, workers’ compensation and certain other public disability payments may affect your Social Security benefit. For more information go to www.socialsecurity.gov or…
Three years ago, I took a disability retirement from a motor vehicle accident. In the past three years, I rehabilitated myself to go back into the federal workforce to repay monies I had received from the Office of Personnel Management for the disability retirement. I was a GS-05 at the Veterans Affairs Department. Am I eligible to apply for the Career Transition Assistance Program, as well as my Schedule A Hiring Authority when applying for new, open GS-06 positions?
Answer: Yes. Source: Reg Jones, FederalTimes.com – Decemober 8, 2013
I am divorced, but I think I am eligible for benefits on my ex-spouse’s record. Can I get one of those Social Security statements on his record in order to estimate my benefits on my ex-spouse’s record?
Answer: If your former spouse is still living, privacy rules prohibit us from giving you his or her statement. However, we can tell you what benefits you may be entitled to after we have established your relationship to him or her.…
My agency is proposing my removal of federal service due to my condition, which I have had since being hired in 2002. They claim I am “unfit for duty based on my Family and Medical Leave Act paperwork from my physician.” Am I qualified to claim disability retirement?
Answer: You can’t claim disability retirement. You can only apply for it, which is something you ought to do. Your agency personnel office is required to help you do that. Source: Reg Jones, FederalTimes.com – December 7, 2013
At age 65, I sign up for Medicare Part A because it is free and I keep my Federal Employees Health Benefits but decline Medicare Part B. Does that mean my FEHB will pay out benefits as usual as if employed, or will FEHB pay benefits as if I had Medicare Part B? If so, that means I will be paying premiums on FEHB, which provides less coverage than when I was younger and working and not eligible for Medicare.
Answer: Your FEHB plan will be paying benefits as if you had elected to be covered by Medicare Part B. You need to check with your plan to see how that coverage would be modified. Source: Reg Jones, FederalTimes.com – December…
I am a former CSRS employee with 15½ years of service. I left the service in 1993. I need to apply for deferred retirement. Is there any benefit in waiting? I am applying for a federal position that does not close for several months and am wondering what happens once I start collecting my deferred retirement? Should I wait to apply for my deferred retirement? What happens if I take a federal job in a year? I also took a refund of part of my CSRS deductions in 1983 (money was from 1977 to 1983) when I moved to another state. Shortly after I moved, I got a new CSRS position and worked for 10 more years until 1993 and did not take a refund when I left at that time. How does that affect my retirement?
Answer: When you apply for that deferred retirement, your annuity will be paid retroactive to the date you first became eligible for it. Although you took a refund of your retirement contributions for one period of service, you’ll still get credit…
I always thought retiring Jan. 3 was a good idea, but let’s assume I plan to retire in 2014. If there is a retiree cost-of-living adjustment in 2015, and I retire Dec. 3, 2014, will my annuity increase in January by the 2015 COLA percentage? (If not, how far back into 2014 would I need to retire to get the next COLA?) Is it 1/12 of COLA per month prior to the January increase?
Answer: To receive the full January 2015 COLA, you’d have to retire no later than Dec. 3, 2013 (that’s today). If you retired Jan. 3, 2014, you’d receive 11/12th of that 2015 COLA. Source: Reg Jones, FederalTimes.com – December 3, 2013
I was born in 1958 and would like to retire from the federal government with 10 years of service at age 57. Would I be eligible for the special retirement supplement?
Answer: No. Because you’d be retiring under the MRA+10 provision, you wouldn’t be entitled to the special retirement supplement. Source: Reg Jones, FederalTimes.com – December 4, 2013