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• 91092
  

  I would like to know if it would benefit me to buy back my Military time? My situation is similar to some of these postings; however, I don't have the ability to see the responses. I medically retired as a Chapter 61 on 04/28/1996. I was boarded and as a result accepted their decision to retire with a rating of 50% and after further calculations conducted by the board I ended up with a 40% overall rating. I don't get my Military retirement as the amount they provided is consumed in the VA portion as I received an 80% overall rating from them, which, is larger than what I would have been entitled to with a 40% rating. So my question is as follows: ? 1. I'm now working for DOD and I would like to know how and what I might lose if? Provided I can buy back my retirement time with a combined time of 14 year (s), 07 Month (s) and 21 Day (s) ? Basic pay: 16 Year (s), 02 Month (s), 03 Day (s) ? 2. My orders have me as Retirement type and allotment code: Permanent/ 10 ? Statue authorizing retirement: 1201 ? Disability is based on injury or disease received in LOD as a direct result of Armed conflict or caused by an instrumentality of war and incurred in the LOD during a war period as defined by law : No Note: I didn't catch the verbiages on my orders at the time of retirement as closely as I should have as my DA Form 199 states Para (e.) In LD in the time of national emergency or after 14 Sept 78 (incurred or aggravated) is a YES. ? My service comp date on my SF 50 indicates currently 11-27-2006 Just to give an Idea of where I'm currently at in the Federal service. ? I would like to know; if I do have the ability to buy back my time will I lose any of my VA disability payment. ? How will this affect my current position as far as Leave status incurred? ? Would I than have an additional 14 plus years added towards the currently 3 Federal years I have currently and for retirement purposes? ? I sent in my application to make Service Credit Payment and found that I would have to pay 3% if I'm right in my calculations on my Estimated Earnings during Military Service. I have the results of that calculation and would prefer not to mention those results at this time. Any additional information that you may provide would be greatly appreciated in helping me make a rather large determination concerning these issues.

  David E. King Posted November 3, 2009 11:56 AM
• 88259
  

  I served 3 years in the Army and started working as a GS employee Sep 1988. I'd like to know why I have to buy back my Military time? I served my country, doesn't it count for something. As it is too late to buy back my service time, what difference will this make to my retirement?

  Pamela Young Posted October 1, 2009 10:10 AM
• 87778
  

  I was paid severance pay to get out of the military in 2008, it was not under medical reasons. I put in a packet for va disablity compensation. Will i have to pay back the severance pay they paid me to get out with my va compensation?.

  Alfred smith Posted September 26, 2009 12:00 AM
• 86686
  

  I have accepted an offer to become a new GSA employee in October. I am planning on buying back my 4 years of active duty military time (1980 to 1984). Currently, the vacation accrual is 13 days per year until 3 years service then it increases to 19.5 days per year. Will buying back my service time right away also mean that I will earn that higher vacation accrual rate?

  Gary H. Kaplowitz Posted September 12, 2009 8:03 PM
• 86447
  

  I was in the Army from Sep 77 - Apr 1992 and would like information on how I can buy back my military service. I will retire early in 2015 at age 55 and would like to buy back military service.

  Thank you

  Debbie Dantzler-Diamond Posted September 8, 2009 1:34 PM
• 84894
  

  I have been deployed 2 times while a FERS employee with the USPS. I know that if I don't buy back my military time, it will not count toward my federal retirement and it will not be used to calculate my "3-high". However, if I do buy it back, how will that affect my military retirement from the Army Active Duty? Will I lose the time on the military side? Thanks.

  Ron Posted August 16, 2009 4:50 PM
• 83865
  

  I got out in 2007 for medical reasons, and they gave me a severance check because my rating for disability was not high enough to qualify for VA benefits. Now after having 2 surgeries, they said i now qualify for disablitly. And now they are saying i need to pay back the severance money they gave me to get out. Is this correct?

  kelli Posted July 31, 2009 1:07 AM
• 82835
  

  I served for 3 years in the military between 1965-1968. I am 63 years old and do not qualify for SS but I do plan on qualifying (working) after I retire. I have not paid back my military and understand my government pension will not be affected. However, what happens to my pension after I retire and eventually earn 40 or more social security credits? Will my pension take a hit?

  Derald R Lee Posted July 17, 2009 12:09 PM
• 82819
  

  I have read a number of comments on the military service deposits, I am CSRS. I had several terms of Military Service total of @ 7+ yrs. I did the redeposit for the 1st 3 + yrs, but not the last 4. I am now eligible for for Social Security benefits, offset, when I turn of age, will retire from Gov w @ 38-40 yrs @ 57 yoa. How am I effected?

  David Burke Posted July 17, 2009 10:48 AM
• 81309
  

  I have a similar question as Scott. I have been deployed 3 times while a FERS employee. I know that if I don't buy back my military time, it will not count toward my federal retirement and it will not be used to calculate my "3-high". However, if I do buy it back, how will that affect my military retirement from the Army Reserves? Will I lose the time on the military side? Thanks.

  Iris Posted June 25, 2009 5:36 PM
• 80960
  

  I am currently a Federal employee covered under FERS. I have 8 years active duty and four in the reserves.I am considering buying back my active duty for retirement and trying to decide if it makes sense from a purely financial perspective to retire from the reserves in 8 years (payment at 60) I have two questions. 1) I know you cannot recieved both active retirement and buyback that time but can one receive a military reserve retirement if my FERS retirement was augmented with a buy back of 8 active duty years? Do I have to waive a reserve retirement as well? 2) I went on LWOP for a year of Active Duty last year. Can I buy back that year as one of my active years and claim the LWOP year? Or is it one or the other? Thank you.

  Scott Posted June 22, 2009 2:12 PM
• 80512
  

  I am a widow receiving a survivor's annuity from my husband's civil service time. He died at 53. He had 4 years of active duty time and subsequent Reserve duty until he retired in the mid 90s. I recently received notification that since I will turn 60 in September, my husband's annuity will be cut by whatever Social Security he paid in to include his 4 years of active duty. I have tried a number of times to get info on how to pay that back, and recently I was told my someone in Retirement Services at OPM that I only had 30 days to do so after my husband died. That's not what was told at the time. Have I waited too long? Who can help me with this?

  Deanne Phelps Posted June 17, 2009 1:36 PM
• 76782
  

  I was discharged from the Air Force in 1975. I started civil service in 1985 under the FERS. I now have 27yrs of civil service including my four years in the Air Force Do I have to pay back my military time?

  Eddie V. Renojo Posted May 5, 2009 9:42 AM
• 76610
  

  Hello, I am almost 64 and hope to retire on my birthday. I receive 40% VA disability money from my service in Vietnam. (Orange agent diabetes) Will I still get the VA payment when I start drawing social security benefits? I can't find a straightforward answer anywhere. Thanks Jerry

  Gerard Parmarter Posted May 3, 2009 8:59 PM
• 69761
  

  I retired from the Air Force in 1998 after 22 years. I entered the new program where retirees can join the reserves and now I am also an Air Reserve Technician. I was told that if I was to buy back my military time and add the years to my civil service time that I would loose my retirement pay. Who can I talk to, or is their a regulation pertaining to this issue?

  Rick Hiney Posted February 23, 2009 1:22 PM
• 66237
  

  For CSRS military payback, is there a cap for Viet Nam ERA vets on the amount you have to payback ? A co-worker told me he thought it was $ 2,000 max no matter how much you owe, is this true ?

  Stephen Donahue Posted January 10, 2009 8:03 AM
• 66222
  

  Dear Tammy Flanagan,

  It is unfair to an officer versus an enlisted person with the military pay back system. To get the same number of years of military service credit to count for retirement years of service costs more and is not entered in the retirement calculation. For example, an enlisted person may retire at the GS-14/15 level and thus receive a higher retirement pay check and pay back less monies to receive the same number of military years of service credit versus an officer who may retire at the GS-12/13 level (pays back more for the same number of military years credit and yet will retire with a lower amount in his/her retirement check). Additionally, the officer paid for a 4-yr and sometimes an additonal 2-3-yr. degree while not receiving credit in retirement for those years in school.

  Has there been any proposal in legislation to change the military payback system based on the number of years of military service in lieu of the salary amount made to receive the same number of years credit? If not, to whom do I write a letter to recommend a change to this unjust payback system for prior military service? Much appreciated with your response. Thank you very much, Deborah A. Lyle, MA PMP CAPT U.S. Navy Reserve

  Deborah Lyle Posted January 9, 2009 6:34 PM
• 65900
  

  I retired from the USMC Reserves in 1999. I became a civil service employee in 2004. I was specifically told I could not make a deposit to the retirement system without waiving that portion of my reserve retirement. I thought it was wrong then, but I continued to ask HR. I finally found this website, provided the documentation to HR and even with that was told I couldn't without waiving my reserve retirement. I forced them to submit a request to the next level--Guess what I am now buying back my reserve time without waiving by reserve retirement. I asked for a waiver of the interest and was denied. Is their a mechanism/or case law to support that this should be waived because of adminstrative error on the part of my HR? Thanks

  Patricia Robertst Posted January 6, 2009 11:02 AM
• 63268
  

  I have almost 20 years working for the navy. I am thinking about buying back my 15 years in the USAF. I went out on TDRL to PDRL. They said that that was a retirement not a disability, The 15 years did not help me on my leave 8 hrs per pay day for 15 years in service. I read in a reg that if you retired on disabilty less then 15 years in service line of duty that your hole time in service counts for leave perpose.After 13 years getting this it was taken away from me, bumping me back to 6 hours per pay days. Was this correct? I have a VA payment comming out of my retirement check, called a VA waver, I will lose my tax free miltary disabilty check from the USAF I know this for fact. But will I lose my VA check? Will they take money out of my Fers retirement check for the VA when I buy back my time in the service, when I retire? I have been asking these questions and it seams no one knows.

  peter nugent ret usaf Posted November 19, 2008 9:15 AM
• 62523
  

  I retired from the Navy with 20 years service. I will be starting a Civil Service job with the DOD (CSRS) and am looking into what the military buyback option is for retirement and annual leave. Would I lose my military pension while still working or do I just lose it when I retire? What do I need to do to find out my options?

  Dan Johnson Posted November 6, 2008 10:51 AM
• 58885
  

  I retired from the AF with 20 years service. I have been with NOAA for 5 years and was looking into what the military buyback option is. Would I lose my military pension while still working or do I just lose it when I retire? What do I need to do to find out my options?

  Mike Anderson Posted September 20, 2008 8:40 PM
• 58778
  

  I was discharged (four years)from the active Air Force (military) in June, 1956. I began my FAA career in April 1997. My service comp date for annual leave is April 1993. Does this date count toward my Federal retirement? Would the date of 20 year retirement be 2013 or 2017.

  Anthony.V.Capitelli Posted September 18, 2008 4:46 PM
• 57944
  

  Need your help. I had 4 years of military service which I paid into my civilian CSRS retirement plan. I retired on VERA/VISIP at age 47. I am a Reservists and put the uniform back on with an additional 10 years of military service. I am approaching at 60 for which I assume I will be able to collect both my civilian retirment and military (reserve) retirement. I have more than the 40 Qtrs for social security. Will it be best to draw SS at 62, 65 or 70? Will I be able to draw SS?

  Don C Posted September 8, 2008 7:27 AM
• 57863
  

  My husband served for 3-1/2 years in the military between 1965-1968. According to the SS updates he receives, he has only 32 Social Security credits and he is currently 63 years old. You say he doesn't have to pay the deposit for military service because he will retire after 62 and doesn't qualify for Social Security. But what happens if he works after he retires and eventually earns 40 or more social security credits? Will his pension still remain constant, or does he then lose military years from his pension? I think you are saying he would be ok, but I need to make certain. Thanks. J. Young

  J. Young Posted September 5, 2008 7:10 PM
• 57307
  

  How does severance pay or separation pay fit into the FERS retirement military buy in equation? In 1990 I was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps with a $50,000 severance package because of a promotional pass over to the rank of Major...I heard that severance pay must be paid back.

  Sandra Posted August 27, 2008 9:48 AM
• 54253
  

  I was in the USAF for nearly 15 years. I got out in 1986. Can military time served be applied to any type of federal career or job for retirement purposes. Can you help me with that question or direct me to an agency that can help me. Thank you.

  Robert T. Phillips Posted July 16, 2008 5:41 AM
• 53504
  

  I retired from the military in 1996 with 20 years of active service. I have worked in CBP for 2 years. Does my military service affect my annual/sick leave catagory? I am in leave catagory 4. Should I get a higher leave accrual catagory based on my military service and if so how do I get the higher rate?

  Ron Hagan Posted July 2, 2008 2:21 PM
• 53387
  

  I retired with 21 years of military service and am 20% disabled. On top of that I have 7 years of service in the reserves. I know I can buy back my military service, but would have to give up my military retirement. I am in FERS. Is there a calculator out there that would tell me which option is best? Should I buy back my military service or not?

  Joe Mikac Posted July 1, 2008 7:11 AM
• 52916
  

  "For many of the questions in this Blog, you should contact your Civilian Payroll Office. Bring the payroll office copies of your DD-214(s) and, if possible, these forms filled out: http://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/opm1514.pdf and https://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/opm1515.pdf. Further guidance on the program is in this OPM document, "Chapter 22: Creditable Military Service": https://www.opm.gov/retire/asd/hod/pdf/C022.pdf. (especially p. 34, for new government employees under FERS). The document includes references to effect on disability retirement. As a comparison, I left the Navy with 11-years active duty (as an O4) and calculated ~$11,500 of payments due in order to benefit from the buyback. I am paying back $50 per pay period, as the interest rate is quite reasonable. Current interest rates that take effect after the grace period, are available here: http://www.opm.gov/asd/htm/bal08.asp (look for BAL 08-102 "Annual Changes")

  AS. Cunningham Posted June 23, 2008 11:57 AM
• 51794
  

  I retired from the military with 20 years of service. I am also 60 percent disabled. Is there a site where I can get information on the process for buying my military service back. I am currently working in the federal governmentand plan on retiring. How does my disability play into the buy back?

  Richard R. Hodkinson Posted June 5, 2008 8:42 AM
• 51484
  

  I have been buying back my Post 1956 military time since 2005 for the amount of $150.00 per month and will retire under CSRS sometime in the near future. Will I be able to claim the amount paid a tax deduction for the interest I am paying? If so, how will it be done?

  James Sneed Posted May 29, 2008 3:03 PM
• 50690
  

  What is the best option for retirement with the government as a civilian as a GS, including time served as an active duty service member.

  R Sims Posted May 15, 2008 2:15 AM
• 50680
  

  I will be getting out of the military in 3 years and was just wondering if i can transfer my time in service which will be 6 years total over to a government job.

  Jeremy Greene Posted May 14, 2008 8:59 PM
• 49740
  

  I'm getting out the Marines in a year. I'll have almost 13 yrs Active duty time in service. I wanted to know if those active duty years will carry over if I decided to get a government civilian job?

  Anthony Posted April 30, 2008 11:42 PM
• 49724
  

  I retired from the military with 20 years of service. I am also 60 percent disabled. Is there a site where I can get information on the process for military service payback. If I retire from the government, after selling back my retired time, do I also lose my disability?

  Beverly Barnes Posted April 30, 2008 2:35 PM
• 49268
  

  Concerning Military Time buy back options under FERS, I read "deposits for military service must be made to your employing agency before you separate for retirement" I am considering quitting (not separating for retirement) my civilian technician job at age 49. I have not paid the balance due to receive full credit for my active military service. Does the balance have to be paid in full before I leave my technician job or does it just need to be paid prior to my receiving any retirement payments? or my MRA ?

  Jim Posted April 23, 2008 11:17 AM
• 48350
  

  I bought back my Post 1956 mil time in 2007 and retired under CSRS on 3 Jan 2008. Can I claim the amount paid as a tax deduction or interest expense? If so, in which tax year?

  F.B. Barrientes Posted April 10, 2008 12:37 PM
• 47957
  

  I paid back my military time and I will retire CSRS. Am I able to claim this money I paid back as a tax write-off?

  Kenneth Hyman Posted April 4, 2008 8:58 PM
• 47697
  

  I was hired in civil service in 1979 after 4 years of active duty. I did reserve service and took LWOP in 2004 and 2005. HR never mentioned that I needed to repay the 7% from two periods of active duty that equaled about 6 months total. Now I am being told that those 6 months will not count towards retirement pay unless I pay back the 7% within the next week or so. Is that true and when did that change happen? I know there is a SS reduction at 62 but not the entire discounting of the LWOP period.

  Mike Heathfield Posted April 1, 2008 4:46 PM
• 47517
  

  My question is in regards to retirement elgibility based upon character of discharge. I served 6 years in the air force and was discharged with an Under Honorable Condition (General). Am I still eligible to buy back my time under the FERS retirement program?

  Thanks

  Ty James Posted March 30, 2008 7:52 AM
• 46662
  

  As a military technician in the Air Guard I have several short periods of duty under Title 10. From 4 days to 40 days. Although my civilian time was not interrupted I am being told I can buy these periods back and add on to my civilian time. Is this true? If so is there a publication to reference?

  Gregory.Latzig Posted March 17, 2008 5:06 PM
• 46121
  

  I was appointed to a "full time seasonal" position overseas for 2 years (01 -03). I left my monies in FERS when I came back to the states and now 4 years later I am being employed again as a gov't employee (not seasonal) and would like to buy back military time 12 years 77-89). Does my grace period start now or back in 2001 with my "seasonal" employment?

  Deborah Cross Posted March 11, 2008 7:32 PM
• 45802
  

  I have served 5 years active duty with the Air Force.

  I want to leave active duty and get a gov't (GS-scale) job.

  If I understand correctly, I can transfer my 5 years of active duty time toward a 20-year gov't retirement by paying back my service according to the formula found elsewhere on this site?

  Meaning, I pay $X,XXX for 5 years service at the O-3 rate (base pay * the prevailing percentage), and I can retire in 15 years with a Government retirement plan?

  Please let me know if I am on the right path. Thanks in advance!

  Chris Posted March 9, 2008 9:06 PM
• 44723
  

  Can you please tell me how I can get credit for Active Duty periods while I was in the Naval Reserve? I don't mean the weekend drills, but as a helicopter pilot, I had to perform many extra drill periods to maintain my flight qualifications. Additionally, I performed numerous extended active duty periods on top of the two week annual drill requirement. Thank you!

  John Driver Posted February 29, 2008 2:41 PM
• 43696
  

  I was in the Navy 1954 -1957 and enlisted in the Air Force in 1961 retiring in 1977. I entered Civil Service in 1985. I combined my active duty time with the Civil Service and paid the amount due. I retired from Civil Service in 1998 and at that time started recieving the monthly benefits and Social security. My wife also recieves SS benefits. I have paid survivor benefits on both programs My question is if I predecease my wife what will she be elegible for? The CSRS Benefits with my 100% SS or her SS or an offset.

  John Parylak Posted February 15, 2008 11:50 AM
• 42843
  

  I Posted a Comment/Question on December 27, 2007. My email address was provided, but I never recieved a response. Iv'e searched the archives for an answer with no luck. I've heard that it's a good idea to pay the military deposit if you have some military time, but not if you are retired military. What's the formula?

  Rogelio Ortiz Posted February 1, 2008 3:42 PM
• 42022
  

  I'm 70 years old and I'm thinking of retiring. I bought 3 years of military time back. I started with the VA in March 25 of 1991. Buying my military time back has my date at 04/88. Does buying my time back help with retiring and what formula do I use to figure my retiring under FERS. ?

  James E Carnall Posted January 23, 2008 8:28 AM
• 41468
  

  I bought my 4years & 4months of military service 3/2/01. In 1998 to left government service withdrawing all my retirement and rolling it over to my church retirement fund. Upon my return to government service in 2000, I was informed that I had lost my years of service and military buy back time. I was also told I could not by the military time back once it was taken out in 1998. Has anything changed? I retire this April with 7 years of service instead of the 15 I would have had. Big difference in my retirement pay!!

  raymond c. korry Posted January 14, 2008 5:12 PM
• 41390
  

  I am retiring on 1 Feb 2008 and have paid my military deposit. I drew money from a mutual fund IRA to make the deposit. Must I declare the amount withdrawn as income and/or can any of the amount be declared as a tax deduction on my income tax?

  Thomas McCaughey Posted January 12, 2008 10:18 PM
• 41348
  

  I'm looking at the possibility of retiring at age 60 with 20 years of FERS service. I bought about 4 years of active military service to get to 20 years. I will also be eligible to retire from the Army Reserve when I turn age 60. I was told that reserve retirement does not affect my FERS retirement; is this correct?

  GovExec.com Reader Posted January 11, 2008 12:54 PM
• 41288
  

  Im on Civil Service disability. I had about 10 years active duty time in Reserve, with 20yr retirement letter awaiting age 60.

  Can I recieve a VA disability compensation at the same time as Civil Service Disability?

  john C Posted January 10, 2008 5:37 PM
• 40446
  

  I retired (USN)with 20 yrs. I'm under FERS and a GS-11 and want to retire from FERS. I'm debating weather to keep my retirement pay or pay the Military deposit. How do I figure out what to do? What formula do I use to calculate the difference?

  Rogelio Ortiz Posted December 27, 2007 11:05 AM
• 39584
  

  I am currently in the military (Navy) I have 13 years in but do not plan to reenlist. If I go to work for the DON (civilian side) would may 13 years carry over. Or would there be some sort of buy back program for retirement purposes.

  Tonya Riddick Posted December 13, 2007 1:54 AM
• 34713
  

  I have 15.5 years combined enlisted, reservist and commissioned time. In 1993 I met the requirements and took advantage of a Temporary Early Retirement Act and retired as an O3E (USNR). Where can I find out how much I would owe, if any. I believe I am covered by the Provisions of Title 10. Very informative article(s) and the follow on comments.

  Robert Wimmer Posted October 10, 2007 4:35 PM
• 34705
  

  My husband served almost 14 years in the Air Force from 1991-1985 he is now deceased. How would I find out what happens to his Military Service Credit?

  Lori Posted October 10, 2007 2:48 PM
• 34053
  

  I worked as an Army Civilian Nurse in Europe from October 1st 1985 until May 1991. I resigned my position to become an Army Active Duty nurse. I served as an officer from May 1991 until July 2000. I will be 62 this October. I was under FERS and I didn´t retire my contributions when I left. Do civilian and military time count for my retirement? Thanks

  Zapata Myrna E. Posted September 28, 2007 8:30 PM
• 33755
  

  I retired with 20 yrs active. I'm under FERS and a GS-11. I want to retire at 56 that would give me 36 yrs in civ service. If I make my military deposit can I find out what pension monies would be?

  john cobleigh Posted September 25, 2007 9:19 AM
• 33737
  

  I have not seen anyone address the issue of individuals with post-56 military service who reach their 40 quarters of social security coverage after they have reached age 62 and are Civil Service retired.

  Leonard Smigelski Posted September 25, 2007 6:25 AM
• 33567
  

  Can you address how divorce affects this process. My ex-spouse gets a portion of my military retirement. If I pay the military deposit and combine the two retirements what will happen to the portion of my military retirement that my ex-spouse receives?

  V. Johnson Posted September 21, 2007 1:16 PM
• 33527
  

  I have 3years military service '72-75, and I'm planning to retire next year with 35+ years with military time, I'll be 55 1/2 years on retirement date 1/2/09. I have not brought back my military time. I do not plan to work after retirement and I do not have 40 quarters of SS. Question: Will my retirement be reduce at 62?

  Gary Hazel Posted September 21, 2007 8:54 AM
• 33244
  

  i had ~5 to 6 years of military service. how do i find out the amount owed and percentage affixed to paying back?

  billy ousley Posted September 18, 2007 12:26 AM
• 28870
  

  I'm in the process of interviewing for federal government jobs. How does that affect my 22 years spent in the AF, specifically, do I have to combine my retirements? What effect does the military time have on benefits, specifically, vacation? Please advise.

  Michael D. Anderson Posted July 19, 2007 6:54 PM
• 28171
  

  I am an Officer with Customs and Border Protection. I am a legacy Customs Isnpector. I did 9 years active duty in the USCG 1978-1987, I stayed in the USCG reserves and will have my 20 good years soon. I also paid a military deposit to Customs for the 9 years active duty. Will I be able to collect both my CBP/FERS retirement and my military retirement?

  Robert Nettleton Posted July 11, 2007 2:34 PM
• 28095
  

  Regarding Edward Chandler's comments posted June 26, 2007 --

  1. Do I have to waive my Combat Related Special Compensation pay if I combine military and civil service time when I retire in Dec 07 (I know I have to waive regular military retired pay if I do combine the time).

  CRSC is based upon the amount of your military retirement pay that is offset by your VA disability compensation. If you receive no retirement pay then you are not eligible for CRSC.

  Q2. OPM wrote back and referred me to FERS handbook, Chapter 22, Section 22A3.1-3.

  Not familiar

  3. I wrote back, stating Chapter 22, Section 22A3.1-3 Condition: Waiver of Military Retired Pay states generally an employee must waive military retired pay (which I fully understand) unless he/she is receiving military retired pay on account of a service connected disability incurred in combat or caused by a instrumentality of war. My question to them was if a military retiree is receiving Combat Related Special Compensation (CRSC) as authorized by Congress in Dec 02 for combat related injuries, must it also be waived?

  Now this is a good question. It appears you have found an exception to the rule that to receive civil service retirement credit for active duty time one must waive one military retirement pay. And that exception is retirement pay based on combat related disabilities. That would imply that only Chapter 61 medical disability retirees would qualify for this exception, but then I am not a lawyer. On the other hand, as you are now receiving CRSC as restoration of your retired pay under concurrent receipt (10 USC Section 1413a) you are, in effect, receiving retirement pay based on combat related disabilities.

  4. They wrote back referring me to my agency retirement counselor.

  Go armed well with the facts that you have and start now ... it is too late when you are thinking of retiring.

  BTW one other exception to the waiver of military retired pay for active duty time credit for civil service retirement is that the retirement pay of an age retired reservist is specifically excluded from the waiver requirement.

  Charles Revie Posted July 10, 2007 6:42 PM
• 26793
  

  Do I have to waive my Combat Related Special Compensation pay if I combine military and civil service time when I retire in Dec 07 (I know I have to waive regular military retired pay if I do combine the time).

  2. OPM wrote back and referred me to FERS handbook, Chapter 22, Section 22A3.1-3.

  3. I wrote back, stating Chapter 22, Section 22A3.1-3 Condition: Waiver of Military Retired Pay states generally an employee must waive military retired pay (which I fully understand) unless he/she is receiving military retired pay on account of a service connected disability incurred in combat or caused by a instrumentality of war. My question to them was if a military retiree is receiving Combat Related Special Compensation (CRSC) as authorized by Congress in Dec 02 for combat related injuries, must it also be waived?

  4. They wrote back referring me to my agency retirement counselor.

  5. Any help you can give me would be GREATLY appreciated.

  Edward Chandler Posted June 26, 2007 1:58 PM
• 23565
  

  I retired from the U.S. Marine Corps on 1 August, 1991. I immediately started working for the federal government. Shortly after starting to work for the federal government, I elected to start buying back my military service in the event I later decided to use that credited military service to combine with my federal government service for federal government retirment purposes. At this time, I do not intend to combine my military and federal goverment service (but for now I would like to keep that option open). I'm still in the process of buying back my military service time. Should I evenually decide not to use my military service time upon retirement from government service, will I receive the money back that I payed in to buying back my military time upon my federal retirement?

  Thomas D. Ryan Posted May 18, 2007 7:29 AM
• 20706
  

  Until now, I thought I had completed my military service deposit. But now I have discovered that I have more military service creditable for active duty time -- about 17 weeks at ROTC Basic & Advanced Camps, FTX as a Reservist, Airborne School, and Air Assault School. Do I get verification of this service from St. Louis (NPRC), or go through my agency and let them take care of it? Technically, this means I have not completed my military service payback, so I should be eligible for a refund of my partial payment, if done before I retire. Is this correct?

  Tim Syzek Posted January 19, 2007 2:59 PM
• 18274
  

  I retired from the U.S. Air Force June 1, 1990, and almost immediately started working for the federal government. I had planned to retire in November 2011, at age 60. But for health reasons I now wish to retire in 2008. After collecting $1,200 in monthly retirement payments for the past 16 years, approximately how much would I be required to payback under FERS, to roll my 20 years of military time into federal retirement time? Is there a calculator for this, if so where?

  Thank you, Mike Gantt

  Mike Gantt Posted August 16, 2006 1:50 PM
• 17929
  

  Having paid my military service deposit in full, I do not plan to retire for 10 years. Why do I have to wait until after retirement to request a refund of my military deposit? It seems that our government is getting the use of my money, which is being tied up for at least 10 more years! Is it because they feel that I can only make a proper, informed decision when I've completed my government service? I'm sure I can calculate whether I should waive my military retirement pay now, based on what my situation will be in the next decade!

  Tim Syzek Posted July 26, 2006 12:38 PM
• 17858
  

  I am a military retiree and I will be retiring in three years from civil service, 10 years (FERS). I would like to convert my 22 years of military time to civil service for a total of 32 years. What percentage would my (post 1956) pay back be and what percentage would my civil service retirement be?

  Ernest Porter Posted July 22, 2006 4:52 PM
• 17215
  

  Ms. Flanagan,

  Thanks for the clue. I requested my military deposit estimate, and when it came back, I found that for a deposit of $612.34, I could increase my annuity by approximately $5,500.00 per year, or about fifty five thousand dollars over a ten year period. That is significant. No doubt, my wife will be the real beneficiary, as she will undoubtedly outlive me by many years.

  FERS, in Detroit

  GovExec.com reader Posted June 7, 2006 4:43 PM
• 15369
  

  For a military retiree, generally a decision has to be made whether to keep the military and civilian careers separate or to combine them into one civilian retirement benefit. If the careers are combined, then the employee will need to "waive" the military retired pay at the time the combined retirement begins. Also, the military deposit would have to be paid in order to credit the military service towards the CSRS or FERS retirement. There are some exceptions when credit can be given under both civilian and military retirement at the same time. These exceptions include a military retiree who retired under the Provisions of Title 10 (reservist) and those who retired as a result of a service connected disability. When a military retiree waives his/her military retirement, they do not waive other benefits such as Tricare or commissary privileges.

  Tammy Flanagan Posted March 10, 2006 6:19 AM
• 15176
  

  Once again, thank you for this great series of articles. I do have a couple of questions. If you are already retired from the military, that is drawing retirement pay, what impact does "converting" time to civil service have on that pension? Does it disappear immediately? When one retires from civil service and begins drawing that pension? Any change when you begin to receive Social Security? What is the effect of electing the deposit of moneys into civil service retirement on medial care and other benefits such as commissary/BX? And a question that probably effects only a small number of folks, but right after Desert Storm the Air Force offered retirement at the 15-year point. Is there any effect from those of us who retired with full benefits but prior to the 20-year point?

  GovExec.com reader Posted March 1, 2006 8:20 AM
• 15122
  

  I was drafted in 69 but then enlisted for 3 years, I'm under CSRS. I was told that when I reach 62 if I didn't have 40 quarters for Social Security and hadn't paid back anything, my FAA retirement would be affected. If, on the other hand, I did have the 40 quarters and had not paid back the post-military, then the FAA pension would be affected big time. Since I currently have 32 quarters and plan on working part time when I retire, I chose to pay it back. If this would have been explained to me correctly 20 years ago I wouldn't be paying nearly $5,500 in interest now.

  GovExec.com reader Posted February 27, 2006 8:42 AM
• 15094
  

  I was told that the impact of not paying the deposit for those employed before 1982 was more than the loss of credit for military time. I was told that at age 62, the retirement benefit would be recalculated as though you had just retired. Is that true? This means the COLA increases that had been received since CSRS retirement would be lost, as well as the reduction in entitlement. Depending on the COLA over the years, the net change in monthly payments could be double the amount of benefit reduction.

  GovExec.com reader Posted February 24, 2006 11:24 AM
• 15088
  

  Thank you, thank you, thank you. I appreciate your taking the time to write and publish the article! In these times of employee self-administration/do-it-yourself, the article has saved me a lot of time researching and trying to understand how the Military Service Payback program works. The article has explained it in a simplified nutshell!

  Sabrina Posted February 24, 2006 9:47 AM
• 15079
  

  I have read all of the columns relating to this subject but would like comments on the impact on retired military personnel. If I understand the process, I (Retired from Active Army) can buy back my military time but will then give up my military retirement payment every month when I start drawing my civilian retirement. I have fellow government employees that tell me they can buy their active duty time as reservist, and when they turn 60 can also collect their full reserve retirement check.

  Thanks. Ron

  Ron Gant Posted February 24, 2006 7:20 AM