Federal Employee Retirement

Deposits and redeposits of retirement funds for civilian service is simpler (and harsher) for FERS employees than for CSRS employees. Here is how it works.

When deciding whether or not to re-deposit money, the most important thing to consider is when did the service for which you received a refund end? If it ended before 10/01/90, breathe a sigh of relief. If it ended 10/01/90 or after, pay it.

Marriage, divorce, remarriage and federal retirement benefits are a volatile mix. The money available is finite, there is often considerable emotion involved, and someone is going to get more money while another person may get less. In this case, wife number one thought she should get the maximum survivor annuity from her former husband. And, in this case, wife number one is the winner.

CSRS employees often ask themselves the following two questions about civilian service as they get close to retirement. “Should I deposit money to cover temporary time early in my career?” The answer may vary depending on your circumstances. Here is an explanation.

The Social Security Board of Trustees today released its annual report on the financial health of the Social Security Trust Funds. While the key dates for program costs exceeding tax revenues and Trust Fund exhaustion remain unchanged, the 2008 Trustees Report shows improvement in the projected long-term financial status of the Social Security program.

Many CSRS and CSRS Offset employees and retirees get heartburn over the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and would like to see these requirements changed. Don’t hold your breath.

What happens to your federal pension benefits if you leave federal service before becoming eligible to retire? Be sure to read this before acting on an impulse to quit your federal job.