Thread: Check In with Social Security Early

Originally Posted by Zebra

I am 63 and planning to retire 31 Dec. 2010 (FERS); so after learning from the ssa.gov website, you can apply for your social security benefits 4 months in advance; I did so this past Monday! Wednesday I had a notice there was a snag......it appears my first social security card was cut using my nickname. I remember this but it was later replaced when I entered military service in 1966. Ok, well SS doesn't have a record of the second card and now I will have to go to the SS office and resubmit SS-5 requesting a name change.

Anyway, some of you may or may not have the same issue, espcially woman who took on their husband last name or vise versa and never updated the SS card, etc.!

I have heard that is is better to retire after the pay increase in january is in effect.

Valkyrie

Unfortunately FERS employees don't that that option, 31 Dec is the last day they can retire, unless they want to loose their use or loose AL, IAW my HR rep

I'm sure the below is not new to u. However u can get your command to roll over your use or lose. There are legal reasons why they can do it for u. Such as your work/project load did not allow u to use the leave.
your hr rep should know this, although most hr rep's only know everything for themselves and what mgmt wants u to know.

Restoration of Forfeited Annual Leave

Agencies may restore annual leave that was forfeited because it was in excess of the maximum leave ceilings if the leave was forfeited because of an administrative error, exigency of the public business, or sickness of the employee, under Section 6304 (d) of Title 5, U.S.C. An agency must restore the annual leave in a separate leave account.
http://www.federaldaily.com/pay/paidleave.htm



http://www.myfederalretirement.com/public/563.cfm
For employees who are covered by FERS or who are "Trans"FERS*, no matter which day of the month an employee retires, retirement takes effect on the first day of the following month with the first annuity check dated on the first day of the following month. For example, a FERS employee retires on Jan 1, 2010. Retirement takes effect on Feb. 1, 2010 and the first annuity check will be dated Mar. 1, 2010. If, however, the employee retires Dec. 31, 2009, then retirement takes effect on Jan. 1, 2010 and the first annuity check will be dated Feb. 1, 2010. In other words, in this example retiring one day earlier at the end of December results in the first annuity check being issued one month earlier.

http://www.myfederalretirement.com/public/315.cfm

Originally Posted by Valkyrie

I'm sure the below is not new to u. However u can get your command to roll over your use or lose. There are legal reasons why they can do it for u. Such as your work/project load did not allow u to use the leave.
your hr rep should know this, although most hr rep's only know everything for themselves and what mgmt wants u to know.

Valkyrie...
But who wants to take a chance on that being approved when your talking thousands of dollars? At some point in time you have to quit looking at the next pay increase, next possible cola, now I might as well stay to get that year added on. Get while the gettin's good and you can still enjoy retirement. Like Z, I'm through taking chances and just want what is mine on Dec 31st.

Z
Congrats on selling the house. We just refinanced ours from a 30 yr/5.75% with 24 yrs left on it to a 15yr/3.875% with only a $100 increase in payment. And time is flying. I love it.

http://www.myfederalretirement.com/public/563.cfm
For employees who are covered by FERS or who are "Trans"FERS*, no matter which day of the month an employee retires, retirement takes effect on the first day of the following month with the first annuity check dated on the first day of the following month. For example, a FERS employee retires on Jan 1, 2010. Retirement takes effect on Feb. 1, 2010 and the first annuity check will be dated Mar. 1, 2010. If, however, the employee retires Dec. 31, 2009, then retirement takes effect on Jan. 1, 2010 and the first annuity check will be dated Feb. 1, 2010. In other words, in this example retiring one day earlier at the end of December results in the first annuity check being issued one month earlier.

Excellent explanation! Thanks for taking the time to point this out, as I totally forgot this even though I knew for retirement (FERS) 31 Dec is the best time to go out! 65 days and a wake up!

Z....Got my password from SSA after doing the sign-up thing online. Logged-in and found out how much I'm getting and when the first deposit will be. Now just waiting on the USPS and Dec 31st. Guess for now I'll keep my BCBS so my 22 yr old son will have medical ins. TriCare rep I talked to said there is a bill in congress to adopt the 26 yr old deal for TriCare but for now it is still 22.

The closer I get to Dec 31st the more tolerable this place is. Always smiling now. lol

Plenty of SHORT Guys here, have patience it will be GREAT!

Originally Posted by Valkyrie

For employees who are covered by FERS or who are "Trans"FERS*, no matter which day of the month an employee retires, retirement takes effect on the first day of the following month with the first annuity check dated on the first day of the following month. For example, a FERS employee retires on Jan 1, 2010. Retirement takes effect on Feb. 1, 2010 and the first annuity check will be dated Mar. 1, 2010. If, however, the employee retires Dec. 31, 2009, then retirement takes effect on Jan. 1, 2010 and the first annuity check will be dated Feb. 1, 2010. In other words, in this example retiring one day earlier at the end of December results in the first annuity check being issued one month earlier.

http://www.myfederalretirement.com/public/315.cfm

Does this just apply to Dec 31 retirements or is Dec 31 used as an example. Would the following scenario also be correct...
If one retires Nov 30, then retirement takes effect on 1 Dec and the first annuity check will be dated 1 Jan ?

Hmmm? It has not happened as Valkyrie has explained below for me. For Example, I retired 31 Dec 10 and it is now Feb. 13th and I have yet to receive any retire pay.

Originally Posted by nnuut

Plenty of SHORT Guys here, have patience it will be GREAT!

Not wanting to damper any ones hopes, but here is what I have heard. A memorandum went out to our Agency CEO's just last week. I did not personally see it, but I did get my information from someone who did.

OPM is predicting up to a one year wait for the processing or retirement. Currently, it is taking up to 6 months due to the back log. OPM had hoped to hire more people and authorize overtime to try and catch up, but with the CR and and outlooks for a budget??? the rest of the year, the backlog is supposed to grow up to 100,000.

I have been told you'd be lucky (even with the supposed increase in interim payments promised by OPM) to receive 60% of what you should receive as interim payments. However, the good news is that they only take federal tax out. Health benefits are not deducted. You will keep your health benefits and when OPM settles up and you get your lump sum to make up for the difference between your interim payments and what you actually should have received for retirement they will deduct the health benefits.

And for those of us that go at the Minimum Retirement Age or younger (Law Enforcement) you do not get the Social Security Supplement from OPM while your receiving the interim payments. Yes, you will get it eventually, and they will give you a lump sum for the months you were receiving interim payments when they finally give you your official retirement payment.

I wonder why this issue has not been front and center with FEDSMITH, FEDERAL TIMES, the National Association of Retired Federal Employees, etc., etc?

I have a couple years until I am first eligible. Who knows, by then the back log might be even longer???????

Originally Posted by Kaufmanrider

Not wanting to damper any ones hopes, but here is what I have heard. A memorandum went out to our Agency CEO's just last week. I did not personally see it, but I did get my information from someone who did.

OPM is predicting up to a one year wait for the processing or retirement. Currently, it is taking up to 6 months due to the back log. OPM had hoped to hire more people and authorize overtime to try and catch up, but with the CR and and outlooks for a budget??? the rest of the year, the backlog is supposed to grow up to 100,000.

I have been told you'd be lucky (even with the supposed increase in interim payments promised by OPM) to receive 60% of what you should receive as interim payments. However, the good news is that they only take federal tax out. Health benefits are not deducted. You will keep your health benefits and when OPM settles up and you get your lump sum to make up for the difference between your interim payments and what you actually should have received for retirement they will deduct the health benefits.

And for those of us that go at the Minimum Retirement Age or younger (Law Enforcement) you do not get the Social Security Supplement from OPM while your receiving the interim payments. Yes, you will get it eventually, and they will give you a lump sum for the months you were receiving interim payments when they finally give you your official retirement payment.

I wonder why this issue has not been front and center with FEDSMITH, FEDERAL TIMES, the National Association of Retired Federal Employees, etc., etc?

I have a couple years until I am first eligible. Who knows, by then the back log might be even longer???????

To your point...
http://www.executivegov.com/2010/10/...ds-80-workers/

Also, contact your Senator's office... A congressional inquiry on your behalf will move your paperwork to the top of the heap! Anyone who has had to answer a congressional inquiry knows what I mean = )