“I had to retire on a regular annuity earlier than I would have liked, due to health issues. I did have 33 years of federal service under FERS.

1) Am I eligible to return to work for the federal government and or private sector?

2) If so, will my social security benefits be reduced because of the federal pension I am receiving?

3) Does it matter how many hours I work/amount of salary as a reinstated retired federal employee?

4) Also, can a former federal retiree return to federal service as ft or pt?

Reg’s Response

1) As a regular retiree, you are indeed eligible to return to work for the federal government or in the private sector. If you returned to work for the government, the salary of you new position would be reduced by the amount of your annuity. If you went to work for the private sector, it would have no affect on your annuity.

2) Regardless of where you went to work, if you are under your full Social Security retirement age, your Social Security benefit would be reduced by $1 for every $2 you earned over the annual Social Security earnings limit. In the year you reached your full retirement age, it would be reduced by $1 for every $3. After that there would be no reduction.

3) and 4) There is no limit on the amount of time you could work or the salary you could receive; however, as noted above, your salary would be reduced by the amount of your annuity if you went to work for the federal government.

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Got a question for the Federal Times expert? Send inquiries to: fedexperts@federaltimes.com.

Reg Jones, a charter member of the senior executive service, is the resident expert on retirement and the federal government at Federal Times. From 1979 until 1995, he served as an assistant director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management handling recruiting and examining, white and blue collar pay, retirement, insurance and other issues. Opinions expressed are his own.

Reg Jones, a charter member of the senior executive service, is our resident expert on retirement and the federal government. From 1979 to '95, he served as an assistant director of the Office of Personnel Management handling recruiting and examining, white and blue collar pay, retirement, insurance and other issues. Opinions expressed are his own.

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