I'm getting ready to retire from the military with 23 years and probably 50-70% disability. One option is to start a GS-13 job under the FERS system. If I do 10 years as a GS employee, can I retire and receive all three at full value (Military/Disability/FERS)?

Also, I've been told that I can buy back my 4 years at West Point towards the FERS retirement. Does anyone have any info on how this works? Can I do 1 year as a GS, buy back the 4 years and have a total of 5 years towards FERS retirement after only one year of service?

Thanks

Is your profile correct? It doesn't seem to match up with your post.

Currently you will get CRDP to cover part of the VA wavier. You will also get the remaining of your DOD retirement and the VA pay is tax free. I can not answer for FERS but if I remember there are rules that are more complex than you have been described. I did find this.

Crediting Military Service for CSRS/FERS When You Are Receiving Military Retired Pay
You cannot receive credit for any military service in your CSRS/FERS retirement computation, if you are receiving military retired pay, unless you were awarded the retired pay:

* On account of a service-connected disability either incurred in combat with an enemy of the United States or caused by an instrumentality of war and incurred in the line of duty during a period of war,

However, you can elect to waive the retired pay and have the military service added to your civilian service in computing your CSRS/FERS annuity.

quote:

Originally posted by Rich87:
I'm getting ready to retire from the military with 23 years and probably 50-70% disability. One option is to start a GS-13 job under the FERS system. If I do 10 years as a GS employee, can I retire and receive all three at full value (Military/Disability/FERS)?

Also, I've been told that I can buy back my 4 years at West Point towards the FERS retirement. Does anyone have any info on how this works? Can I do 1 year as a GS, buy back the 4 years and have a total of 5 years towards FERS retirement after only one year of service?

Thanks

Are you National Guard Technician/Civil Service already?

When I retired from the Guard, I had a legitimate military-associated disability, but I was told that whatever disability I might draw would be deducted from my retirement, and/or social security; thus, no "double-dipping". So I made no attempt to get the disability, leaving my military retirement simple and intact, avoiding chances of deductions and additions getting screwed up...

It can get very complicated in those types of things. I'd suggest you get with a financial officer who really knows what is going on with Military Retirement, Civil Service Retirement, Disability Payments, and Social Security and get it all down clear and cold. The government will only throw money at you from 4 different directions if you have initials like AIG. For the rest of us, they take money out of one pocket and move it to the other, but the amount won't rise, and most likely might go down with transaction charges. And if you get over-paid by their screw-up, they take it all back in Spades as if it's your fault. So again - get with a finance officer and get it all clear and straight - -

I posed my question to OPM and you should probably do the same. They have experts who can provide an exact/correct answer- this is a complicated area and rules change.

I am a FERS employee, gray area retiree and receive a VA disability payment. The OPM told me the disability payment is totally separate from my FERS- even if I subsequently receive a FERS disability retirement due to the same condition.