Roseanne is a retired USPS employee with an extensive background in USPS retirement, disability retirement, OWCP, EEO, Labor Relations and HR. She conducts individual and group counseling and is able to comprehensively discuss the pros and cons of employees who are on OWCP, disability retirement and regular retirement. Roseanne will be happy to answer your postal retirement questions. Contact Roseanne at roseanne.jefferson@icloud.com.
Good Day Postal Employees!! I want to wish you all a healthy and prosperous New Year!
Q 1. It’s me again! I have long since met my MRA and my 30 years will be up on 5/5/2018. I have set my retirement date as 6/1/2018.
Will this make me eligible for the SS supplement? Does it look like the supplement will still be available at that time?
In the future, if congress eliminates the supplement after I retire, will it affect me or just retirees after congress elimination?
What are the advantages of taking monthly payments and a lump sum out of my thrift savings?
Why should I NOT take all of my thrift savings out at one time?
What percent tax will be taken out of money I take out of thrift saving.
After 6/1/2018 the post office cannot/will not help me with retirement.Actually, they are not now? (OPM?). What should I be doing about retirement 6 months out
When I started with the PO in 1988, I was the only FERS employee in our tiny office. It was almost 4 years until I knew what Thrift Savings was. I worked my first 6 years as a PTF averaging 35 hours of work each week. Will this affect my retirement in any way
Thank You! TC
A 1. Hi TC, As long as you are at or beyond your MRA and have 30 years you are eligible for the supplement. If congress eliminates it…well, that is something that one cannot predict. Who it will affect, if the supplement is eliminated, will be determined by the regulations of that statute…and the date it becomes effective. Perhaps those who are already retired would be grand fathered in. But of course that is asking me to be a mind reader and I’m not. The advantages to monthly payments with TSP, was that once a year you could change the monthly payment amount. However recent changes in TSP allow monthly changes…it’s the best deal going in my opinion.
Why should you not take all the money out of TSP…..TAXES of course…all the work it took to build it up, you give back in taxes if you take it all out all at one time.
Not sure what you mean by not helping you with retirement. If you are looking for conversation….no they are not going to. They are there to process the paperwork and forward to OPM, which is what most of my readers tell me.
If you are six months out, request an annuity estimate so you have a good idea of what you are dealing with in terms of the FERS retirement part, keep in mind you have a 3 part retirement plan. As far as the 35 hours in the beginning of your career….it will have no effect. Roseanne
Q 2. Good morning & Happy Thanksgiving Roseanne, now that I am nearing the eligible age for Social Security; because of receiving the supplemental portion towards my retirement, will I be forced to accept the reduced amount of social security at age 62 or can I apply at a later age w/o losing that supplemental portion of my retirement after age 62? NT
A 2. Hi NT, You are looking at it wrong…..because you’re Special Supplement IS GOING TO STOP AT 62….now it’s YOUR choice if you decide to not apply for your Social Security at age 62….they are NOT going to automatically send it…..so to say you are being “forced”….is really not the case…..what is the fact – is that the supplement is going to stop on the month you turn 62. Choosing to wait until 66 or 67 is your choice, but is not a good financial choice. Roseanne
Q 3. WHATS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EAS AND CRAFT ANNUTITY? RS
A 3. Hi RS, Well actually not much in the calculation of it…..the true difference is between CSRS and FERS, not craft and EAS. EAS does have more annual leave that can be refunded, because an EAS employee can carry 560 hours versus craft 440. There are valid differences in PCES…but that was not your question. Roseanne
Q 4. Dear Roseanne, I turn 56 this 4/28/18 I will have 30 yrs in on 6/18/18 when is the earliest date I can retire? And also I have over my career I have accumulated about 10 months of LWOP no more than 4 weeks in any year…..thank -you for your time and when is a good time to start my paperwork? Sincerely Yours
A 4. In your case the best date to retire is 6/29/2018, you need to work all the way until June to be eligible for the Special Supplement. You should begin to prepare for retirement paperwork March or April at the latest. Roseanne
Q 5. Hi Roseanne, I am planning on retiring in two years. Do I need to stop contributing to the FSA now? Will it affect my pension and/or my social security if I keep contributing until I retire. Thanks, R
A 5. Hi R, I think you meant, TSP….because FSA is Flexible Spending Account, and you would contribute to that fund until you retire. FSA does NOT carry over in retirement, and has no bearing on your federal pension or Social Security. You need to continue to contribute to the TSP fund absolutely until you retire….keep in mind, your TSP is about 40% of your overall monthly income when you are retired. Roseanne
Q 6. I am a CSRS employee, who worked part time for years (actually too many years).
Because of life insurance policies that we have, instead of taking the reduced annuity for my husband to continue with if I predecease him, I want to an annuity so he can continue with the health insurance.
I know I can leave him $1.00 per month (would probably leave $50.00), but how do I fill out the form for this
I know it is in Section F -Annuity Election, and it would be option 2I just reread it for the umpteenth time, and think I understand what it says, but just want to make sure.
I believe if I wanted to leave him approximately $50.00 per month, I would put $1,100.00 in the space on line 2. My other question is how would this effect my annuity. Currently my figures are:
Unreduced Monthly Annuity $2,804.04
Reduction for Survivor Benefit $257.90
Gross Monthly Annuity $2,546.00
Current survivor annuity $1,542.0
Also, do you know anything about the windfall social security? I have had a small part time job for a church for years, and have my quarters in, my most recent statement from social security has a payment of $907 at full time retirement. I know this is reduced because I am a CSRS employee, do you know how much it is reduced? Thank you MS
A 6. HI MS, If you are a CSRS employee, you can select a reduced annuity for your spouse, with their consent (form is provided in your paperwork). You cannot leave him 50.00 per month. The minimum you can leave a CSRS spouse is 55% of a $3600.00 per year, which calculates as $1980 per year, or $165.00 per month as the spouse’s monthly annuity should you predecease him. By selecting this option, your spouse will be entitled to federal health insurance. The Social Security check will be reduced by about 2/3d’s of the figure they have on the their paperwork. Roseanne
Q 7. Hi Roseanne Where is the estimated annuity? So I can compare early retirement versus part time at the beach until 62. I really want to leave. I now have elbow issues, had back surgery in 2015 and shoulder surgery in 2016. And the stress level is crazy…people do what they want anymore, and the bosses have no clue how to manage.. we are growing…And with no help!! Help!!
A 7. Well…..unless you are within 3 years of retirement, you probably cannot get an annuity estimate, unless it was a disability estimate, and that is SO FAR off from what a regular retirement is….it’s crazy. I don’t think there is a way to “compare” a difference in what you receive in retirement if you went to a job that was less than 40- hours a week. The number of hours determines the pro ration factor…..so that is just an unreachable shot in the dark kinda question. Roseanne
Q 8. Hey Roseanne, I have a question concerning applying my sick leave toward my FERS annuity. I have 22 years with usps and I turn 60 in February. I want to work until I am 61. My question is at age 61 can I apply a years worth of sick leave toward my FERS annuity and not be penalized 5% for not being 62? Also, would I be eligible for the special supplement if I can apply the sick leave? B
A 8. Hi B, YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BE REDUCED !!! If you are at least age 60, with 20 or MORE years of credible service….you are NOT going to be reduced!! Your sick leave will count in full months for adding to your credible service, which will add extra months to your overall retirement calculations……retire!! Roseanne
Q 9. Roseanne,
I worked for the USPS from March 1992-March 1995 before being hired on as “career”. I worked straight thru this time period without one day of break in service. Does this qualify as holding a Civil Service position that I can be eligible to buy back service credits for this time served? From the time period 1992-1995 I was a casual, and Postmaster relief, again with no break in service during this three years.Thank you for being there for all of us. Sue
A 9. Hi Sue, No it does not. Sorry, I know my answer was not what you wanted to hear. Roseanne
Q 10. Hi Roseanne, Today is my officially my last day on the books at the Postal Service ?. I would like to take this opportunity to thank you so much throughout the years of your knowledge and guidance about the many different subjects on FERS retirement.
You made me understand the process so much easier by reading all of your articles. Now I know what to expect in the coming months as I transition into retirement.
P.S. I would NEVER give up my FEHB plan for Medicare as you stated in a previous article that federal employees do NOT have to take Part B when reaching the age of 65. FEHB plan and Medicare handbook page #6.May you and your family have a Happy and Healthy New Year. All the best RF ?
A 10. Hi RF – Very much appreciate that. No one (hardly ever), takes the time to say thank you. But I am so glad that I was able to guide and assist you through this maze of retirement crazy. Good luck and best wishes….& if no one else tells you congratulations ?? you made it, good job!! Happy New Year…Roseanne ?
Till we speak again!!!! Roseanne