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• 91889
  

  Requested retirement estimate several months ago with retire date of 1/1/10. Learned I have 7 months of unpaid CSRS deposits dating back 30 years. OPM Computation shows accrued interest is 3 Xs amount of deposit shortage! I was never notified of shortage until I requested an estimate. Is there any recourse to appeal the excessive interest when I was never aware or notified of shortage!

  S. Sterling Posted November 12, 2009 11:37 AM
• 80022
  

  I found this article on military payback and am more confused than ever. I served in the Naval reserve -2years active duty and 6 years reserve. I am credited with 6 years toward retirement. I will retire this December at 62 with a total of 20 years FERS. Can I get someone to explain to me what, if any, benefit there is to my attempting payback? My payback amount will be very low maybe $1K. What would I realize in increased pension payments?

  Bob Jarrett Posted June 12, 2009 9:19 PM
• 76512
  

  Is it possible to reverse giving the money to get credit for service? Is that a good idea -- not to get credit -- if it makes the difference between being over or under the 5 year threshold for the social security windfall penalty? How do you find out about this?

  S. White Posted May 1, 2009 10:19 AM
• 67786
  

  Can someone please help me I was a military wife working for aafes for about 4 1/2 years in the states and over seas. I'm working for the city of cleveland now and I have 12 years with the city and I was wondering if my time can rollover to city time and if not is there any pensions owed to me for working with aafes thank you for listening email me please

  Loretta Moreland Posted January 31, 2009 9:50 PM
• 63027
  

  I have additional government employment time from the postal service, and AFEES, the United States marshal did not merge time, this was brought to their attention they say the would correct. Its been three months no help given how can obtain proof for theses employment years so I can I send to the United states marshal service?

  ERIC SMITH Posted November 14, 2008 9:44 AM
• 53226
  

  I had a 2 1/2 year break in federal civilian service with the DOI. During this period I worked for an Indian Tribe under a program totally funded with EPA grants. Could this service be credited?

  lynn harrison Posted June 27, 2008 12:51 PM
• 52761
  

  If I do not have documentation, who or what agency can I write to to obtain documentation? I was a GS-03 at a bankruptcy court in San Antonio and I wonder if this qualifies or counts towards my retirement.

  Linda Dilliplane Posted June 20, 2008 8:44 AM
• 51578
  

  I know that Navy ROTC summer cruises are creditable for retirement purposes, but I need to find documentation that I did, in fact, spend six weeks each summer on a summer cruise. Has anyone out there found a special place where the Navy keeps such records? My complete military record is missing those orders. Perhaps I should ask the enlisted side of NAVPERS if they keep separate records for midshipmen.

  Vaughn Bateman Posted June 1, 2008 3:24 PM
• 48855
  

  During the Summer (July - August) of 1963, I served 45 days (6 weeks) active duty for training at Indiantown Gap Military Reservation, PA while enrolled in advanced ROTC at Virginia Tech. Per Section 22A2.1-2, OPM's CSRS/FERS Handbook, this service is creditable toward retirement if service was performed after Oct. 13, 1964. Since my service was prior to that date, is it creditable for civil service retirement, as well?

  Bill Landon Posted April 18, 2008 8:07 AM
• 47385
  

  I am currently buying my active duty time back through monthly payroll deductions. I also remembered that I worked for the US Postal Service for 1 year as a permanent employee. However, it was so long ago that I do not have an SF50 or any documentation. Do you know "how" I can obtain this prior federal employment information so it can be credited to my federal retirement?

  Sherry Kocsis Posted March 27, 2008 4:14 PM
• 46467
  

  Is any of the 2 week active duty time per year, spent in the USAR, applicable towards my government retirement? Also, I would like to know if it is possible to recover the vacation time on Saturdays and Sundays that I was charged for during every two weeks of active duty training for the USAR.

  Richard Fuller Jr Posted March 14, 2008 10:59 AM
• 40506
  

  I took an early out lump sum from the army after 12 years of active duty. if I get a Federal job and work for 8 more years can I get credit for 20 years total of federal time and get a check every month for retirement pay.

  If not , then what do I need to do in order to get federal retirement pay.

  keith dixon Posted December 28, 2007 9:36 PM
• 39872
  

  I stumbled across this site during a random search an thought that I would add a few comments by "Tammy Flanagan Posted January 31, 2006 10:19 PM". It is my opinion that Regular Midshipman NROTC time is credibile for CSRS. In the NROTC Regular Midshipman contract, the obligor is appointed as a Midshipman in the Naval Reserve by SECNAV. An abriged version of the OPM statement on credibility would be "Service performed by NROTC students as members of the Naval Reserve is creditable." Confusion results because there were Contract and Regular NROTC students of which the Contract NROTC students do not receive credible service because they did not take the Oath of Alegiance to enter into the Naval Reserve, receive any pay or receive any scholarship funding. The Regular NROTC students did or received all of this plus were activated to active duty in an enlisted slot if they flunked out of school - some did. The active duty part of the OPM rules is clear, but the "training" is a little murky. Inactive Training duty is defined by "DoD Financial Management Regulation Volume 7B, Definitions" as follows(extract): "Inactive Duty Training: a. Duty prescribed for members of a Reserve Component by the Secretary concerned." which is what being in an organized NROTC unit and going to classes was all about. Comments?

  C. Rosengrant Posted December 17, 2007 4:31 PM
• 35960
  

  I have 5 months of nonappropriated funds service. Can I get credit for my retirement?

  Marina Galindo Posted October 26, 2007 8:53 AM
• 34417
  

  How do you calculate 13 years of active military service into federal employment time...say if I were to start working for the Dept. of Transportation. How many years would I have to work to retire from them?

  Raul Vargas Posted October 4, 2007 9:19 AM
• 32345
  

  I recently started working at Tobyhanna Army Depot and I was wondering if the 7 years I spent in the Army will go towards my retirement?

  John Wettstein Posted September 6, 2007 1:17 PM
• 28389
  

  I was employed as a parttime clerk in AAFES for a couple of summers while I was in college. Can I take that time and apply it or get credit towards my civil service retirement? I am a federal employee under FERS currently. I was told by the benefits person at AAFES that I had to be full time , Category 1, paying into AAFES retirement in order to transfer the credit to FERS. HELP!

  Mary Grabulis Posted July 13, 2007 12:06 PM
• 27140
  

  I completed 4 years active duty then immediately joined the Reserves where I served for another 7 years. Where do I stand towards retirement if I obtain a federal/civil service job? How does my 7 years as an Active Reservist calculate into the retirement equation?

  Leslie Posted June 29, 2007 11:18 PM
• 23771
  

  How do I know if I fall under CSRS or FERS?

  Christopher A. Ellerson Posted May 21, 2007 7:59 PM
• 23257
  

  Is there such a thing as Special Retirement Supplement (FERS) as a SSA benefit?

  D.Smith Posted May 14, 2007 8:53 AM
• 23166
  

  I am almost 61 years old, have 31 years of service, and will probably retire in four years. I have a 20 year Life Insurance Policy for $500,000.00 which runs until I'm 79 years old. The question I have is, when I retire should I get the Survivors Enuity since my wife would get $500,00.00 if I died before reaching 80 years of age any way? I realize that from 80 through the rest of my life, she would not receive any other money but she will also be receiving a AT&T retirement pension and how much do you need after 80 years of age. If I get the Survivor Enuity, will they deduct 10% of my total annual retirement amount?

  Frank Caltabilota Posted May 11, 2007 10:46 AM
• 21081
  

  The Sick Leave Conversion chart that Mr. Pochodowicz created ("Retirement Planning" column dated February 9, 2007) is an innovative, useful tool for all prospective CSRS retirees. However, it has its limitations, since it ends at 2081 hours of sick leave accumulation. Many long term CSRS employees have far more sick leave. Please convince Mr. Pochodowicz to expand his chart to at least 3,000 sick leave hours.

  Bob Joyce Posted February 9, 2007 9:18 AM
• 20541
  

  Does anyone in the federal government have the formula or better yet the excel spreadsheet for calculating the buy back total cost? I retired in 1981 from the military and started work as a GS employee in Sept 2004. Thanks,

  tjtemp@comcast.net

  TJ Posted January 10, 2007 8:10 AM
• 15200
  

  Example: 25 years FERS, five years military service (deposit made). I know the five years counts toward the retirement calculation. The question is about the social security supplement. Does that five years count toward that?? I am also under early retirement rules, air traffic control. Thank you.

  Robert Gibson Posted March 1, 2006 5:14 PM
• 14965
  

  Here is something that is related to this topic that was found in the President's 2006 budget:

  The administration wants to clarify that employees who receive military annuities for time served cannot also receive civilian annuity credit. The administration also wants to make clear that time in military academies is creditable toward retirement.

  Tammy Flanagan Posted February 18, 2006 3:55 PM
• 14952
  

  First, I would like to thank you for this column. I really do appreciate you. I entered military service (USAF) on Oct. 14, 1974 and was honorably discharged on Aug. 15, 1978. In Sept.1978, I entered the civil service as full time federal employee and a member of the ready reserve. In March 1979 I became an Air Reserve Technician (full time reservist with a civil service appointment). I paid for my active duty time through a pay roll deduction to have counted for my total CSRS time. I understand that my 15-day summer camp does not count as military time. But what about the time that I performed military duty where I used my annual leave to support our mission? What about military time where I performed alert duty two days at a time? I volunteered for these active duty orders and I was not ordered to active duty by the president. Is that time creditable to CSRS? If so, how do I find out how to get my orders to consolidate 25 years of two-day TDY's here, 3 weeks there etc..? What chapter in CSRS Handbook covers this? Thank you.

  Rick Hart Posted February 17, 2006 12:22 PM
• 14942
  

  I want to know if the college courses of mandatory (for male students) ROTC taken during 1966-1967 would count toward my creditable service for retirement purposes from AAFES (a DoD, federal branch of government)? Thanks.

  Please respond to "mcclurg@aafes.com"

  GovExec.com reader Posted February 17, 2006 7:40 AM
• 14792
  

  Question on ROTC/AFROTC for creditable retirement service, etc.: 1. Good news on credit for summer camp training -- will follow up on this. 2. Question: Would not the 4 years of AFROTC at Ohio State University that I was enrolled in leading to my commission not count for training and creditable service? Why is summer camp any more or less training? It was done under Air Force supervision and guidance?

  Ted J.Bembenek Jr. Posted February 10, 2006 10:11 AM
• 14790
  

  Prior to my federal employment, I was a state employee in a program that was fully federally funded (child welfare). Any way to get credit for that six years?

  GovExec.com reader Posted February 10, 2006 9:21 AM
• 14697
  

  In my previous comment below, I provided a reference from the CSRS and FERS Handbook that verifies that ROTC summer camp training periods are creditable under CSRS and FERS. This handbook is written by OPM and provides guidance to agencies in interpreting the laws that govern federal retirement programs.

  Tammy Flanagan Posted February 7, 2006 9:35 PM
• 14597
  

  There appear to be two personnel specialists that are giving contrary information. I understand that the ROTC summer camps are creditable for service. I just can not seem to get a straight answer on this issue. Is there a source at OPM that can answer this once and for all???

  GovExec.com reader Posted February 2, 2006 11:15 AM
• 14577
  

  One more thing on ROTC (and any military service): In addition to documenting the beginning and ending dates of active service, employees may also need to make a military service credit deposit in order to credit military service toward their retirement.

  Tammy Flanagan Posted February 1, 2006 10:42 PM
• 14554
  

  Please clarify the credit for ROTC comment in the inaugural column. There was a comment posted saying it was not allowed, at least in the Navy. As retirement looms any additional credit is good. Thank you.

  GovExec.com reader Posted February 1, 2006 6:19 AM
• 14551
  

  Active duty for training is creditable toward CSRS or FERS as long as veterans can verify the beginning and ending dates of the training period. This information might be on their "orders" if they are stamped on the back showing they completed the training. Otherwise, they can get a "statement of active service" from the St. Louis Military Records Center. Here is the reference that allows credit for summer camp service during ROTC: http://www.opm.gov/asd/hod/pdf/C022.pdf

  Section 22A2.1-2 Definition of Military Service

  B. Other Service Creditable as Military Service

  2. Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) Service performed by NROTC students when they are ordered to active duty or training duty (including summer cruises) as members of the Naval or Marine Corps Reserve is creditable.

  3. Army Reserve Officers Training Corps (AROTC) Service performed after the effective date of Public Law 88-647 (Oct. 13, 1964) by AROTC students is creditable during periods when ordered to active duty or training duty as members of the Army Reserve.

  Tammy Flanagan Posted January 31, 2006 10:19 PM
• 14512
  

  Nice job regarding the information needed for retirement. However, how about informing the government on what it can do for us when it comes to processing our retirement packages.

  They are now telling us that it will be eight to 12 weeks before we will get a partial annuity check. This is outrageous, if I took eight to 12 weeks to pay them they would have me incarcerated !!!!

  Thirty-one years of dedicated service, and this is how we are treated.

  Joseph Grillo Posted January 30, 2006 10:02 PM
• 14503
  

  According to Virginia Orenstein, Human Resource Assistant, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft, Tel: 732-323-2979, email: virginia.orenstein@navy.mil, ROTC is not creditable service. If you have seen differently, please explain. Your article will confuse those that have been in ROTC.

  GovExec.com reader Posted January 30, 2006 12:56 PM
• 14485
  

  If your first civilian hire was under FERS, and you had any temporary service after 1989, it will not be creditable toward retirement even if you had military service that puts your retirement computation date prior to 1988. I had over 6 years of military service (which I received credit), but took a temp job from 1988 to 1990. My SCD for retirement was 1983 but I could not get credit for two years temp service.

  GovExec.com reader Posted January 28, 2006 8:17 AM
• 14468
  

  In addition to service credit, a reinstated employee can get original sick leave restored and even in some circumstances can get into CSRS instead of FERS. (The employee would have had to be originally enrolled in CSRS).

  GovExec.com reader Posted January 27, 2006 9:02 AM