If a person has ten years active duty and they go to work for the V. A. or post office does the active duty time count towards retirement?

2021-03-26T20:08:31-04:00

A former student from many years back came to see me and asked me this question. I don't know the answer. He wants to know if he does ten years with another government agency if he will be able to retire and collect. I told him to call the V. A. and ask and he said he did but nobody could, or would answer the question.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Mar 26 at 2021 8:55 PM

2021-03-26T20:55:17-04:00

For retirement, yes. You can "buy back" your time. Basically you pay into the system to grant you the extra. Every federal agency knows how to do this, and if the VA folks he talked to were clueless, it is because he was talking to the wrong folks. He needs to talk to the HR folks at whichever agency he is considering joining.

Response by SGT Robert Wager made Mar 26 at 2021 9:24 PM

2021-03-26T21:24:31-04:00

As far as the USPS is concerned you can buy back your military time for retirement. It will not get you any seniority for bidding purposes but your time will count towards retirement date and amount you get paid at retirement. Minimum Retirement Age 59 1/2 + 20 years or any age with 30 years. Also an added benefit is your total federal time counts towards your annual leave credit regardless of whether you buy back your military time. The HR office has a computation of service credit they fill out and send to OPM for how much you will have to pay back and it can be deducted from your pay from day 1. Once you go over 5 or 10 years before you buy your time back they tack on a pretty hefty interest rate on what you will have to pay to buy your time back

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 26 at 2021 9:24 PM

2021-03-26T21:24:50-04:00

For both FERS and CSRS, OPM has a whole book about it:

Complete information pertaining to military service can be found in the CSRS/FERS handbook at http://www.opm.gov/retire/pubs/handbook/C022.pdf

C022.pdf

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Response by SPC Steve Bright made Mar 26 at 2021 9:55 PM

2021-03-26T21:55:56-04:00

The comments made are spot on. IF he/she decides to buy back the time it is based on a formula of his/her time in service and rank. This can be a huge benefit if he/she was a low rank and buying in at a higher GS level.

Also, look at the specialized tracks that are not GS. These pay far better and the benefits are superior to that of a typical GS.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 26 at 2021 10:18 PM

2021-03-26T22:18:37-04:00

You should inform your former student that they won't be able to collect a pension at 20 years like with a military retirement. They'll still have to wait till age 60 or so to retire but their ten years will still be credited towards the retirement pay.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 26 at 2021 10:24 PM

2021-03-26T22:24:49-04:00

Yes you can buy back your service years towards your civilian retirement and should, but it won’t impact getting a full military pension when he reaches a combined 20 years using his service time and federal service time. Doesn’t work that way.

Several folks leave after doing their retirement in the military, then they switch over to VA and buy back those years, collect a portion of their military retirement while also collecting their civilian paycheck and then when they hit their years in federal service they can retire and collect that retirement.

Then there is the other route. Many finish out military service with less than their required retirement time. Then they get their service connection completed and draw their disability tax free while drawing their VA paycheck.

Response by LTC David Brown made Mar 26 at 2021 10:39 PM

2021-03-26T22:39:36-04:00

I had to buy my time. Not that expensive.

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Mar 26 at 2021 11:57 PM

2021-03-26T23:57:36-04:00

Short answer, yes the time can be added and credit provided.

Long answer, it’s a process and research should be done.
https://www.opm.gov/retirement-services/fers-information/creditable-service/

Creditable Service

Welcome to opm.gov

Response by SMSgt Bob W. made Mar 27 at 2021 2:08 AM

2021-03-27T02:08:56-04:00

The simple answer is "YES" and "NO". Casey has talks about the "buy back" program. The good Sarge sent you the CSRS/FERS handbook. Good luck. The USPS need a "a few good people".

Response by CPT Andrew Wright made Mar 27 at 2021 2:10 AM

2021-03-27T02:10:34-04:00

Answer up front: Yes. (1)The buy back is calculated based on how much money you made during the active duty time. For recent military service with higher pay the buy back amount can be substantial. For an old timer like myself who served in the 70s and 80s the amount was much lower. (2) You may retire from federal civil service after only five years employment but won't start the getting the monthly check until age 55. (3) From my own experience military retirement checks are much better than civil service!

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Mar 27 at 2021 1:03 PM

2021-03-27T13:03:42-04:00

Yes, I combined my military pension with the pension from working at the VA. I had been awarded the retirement by the ABCMR (Army Board for Correction of Military Records 30%)strangely I wound up still paying into my wife’s SBP. IT IS REALLY COMPLICATED

Response by Cpl Vic Burk made Mar 27 at 2021 6:34 PM

2021-03-27T18:34:26-04:00

Thanks for a lot of answers on here! When I started teaching in Tennessee they gave me step pay increases for my four years of service as well as allowing me to retire four years early (age 56) if I wanted to without the early retirement penalty even though I wouldn't have the full thirty years in. Well, I didn't take advantage of the early retirement without penalty because I enjoy teaching and want to continue on. I could go on Social Security and retire with my teacher retirement but I am waiting until I can get the full amount at age 70. Heck, it is only a couple years now so why not get all I can?! I don't plan on dying anytime soon!

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Mar 29 at 2021 2:44 PM

2021-03-29T14:44:47-04:00

The Office of Personnel Website has information on Civil Service Retirement. http://OPM.gov has a special section for Veterans. You can request your military time be credited toward Civil Service Retirement. The Post Office may be a different matter because they are not a Government entity. They have their own retirement program. https://uspostaltest.com/post-office/careers

U.S. Office of Personnel Management - www.OPM.gov

OPM works in several broad categories to recruit, retain and honor a world-class workforce for the American people.

Response by SFC Cheryl Brightman made May 20 at 2021 2:36 AM

2021-05-20T02:36:27-04:00

Yes he would have to buy back that time and then they add it onto his federal civilian time. I just did that.

Response by LTC John Griscom made Jun 23 at 2021 9:48 PM

2021-06-23T21:48:28-04:00

Has to buy into the Civil Service system.