By Reg Jones
Discontinued service retirement
July 2nd, 2012 | Uncategorized
Q. I am 45 years old. I have been working for the federal government since June 7, 1985, approximately 27 years. Our government facility is closing its doors. I was offered a job outside of our local travel area and had to turn it down due to personal reasons. Can I still qualify for discontinued service retirement? What would the penalties be? I have plenty of years but not the age. I have performed all my employment under FERS.
A. Because the position you were offered was outside your commuting area, the fact that you turned it down wouldn’t keep you from being eligible for discontinued service retirement unless you are under a geographic mobility agreement. If you are, then you wouldn’t qualify. You’ll have to verify your status and options with your personnel office.
Tags: Discontinued Service Retirement, Eligibility, FERS, locality adjustment, penalty
Special pay rate and locality adjustment
April 28th, 2011 | RETIREMENT
Q: I am an employee at a VA hospital under the TCF program. I am a TCF intern, so I am on a special pay pate. With the elimination of the FCIP program that hired me, I have been converted to a permanent employee. Before the conversion I was getting paid an additional locality adjustment on top of my special pay rate, but now I am getting my special pay without the locality adjustment. Am I supposed to get an additional locality adjustment on top of my special pay, or should I only be receiving my special pay rate without the locality adjustment?
A: It’s possible that your special pay matches or exceeds the basic pay for your grade, including locality pay. If it does then you wouldn’t be entitled to any further adjustment. Check with your payroll office.
Tags: FCIP, locality adjustment, special pay rate