Can Disabled Veterans Buy Back Their Military Time For Other Federal Jobs

[labonte1000]

Hi everyone, I'm a 20% disabled Veteran. I recently had an interview with the postal service and they told me that disabled Veterans can't buy back their military service towards postal career retirement, because we are already collecting for are disablities and can't double dip, thats what they told me. I thought a federal job was a federal job and that they all counted towards your retirement. Regular Veterans can buy back their military service but disabled vets can't. I was just wondering if anyone out there knows if thats true about other federal jobs. I almost would rather give up the disability to get my six years in service back, I don't think this is fair to disabled Veterans if this is true. I received my disablilty during war time not war. please let me know. thanks

[labonte1000]

I was wondering if thats true what the postal service told me?

Hi everyone, I'm a 20% disabled Veteran. I recently had an interview with the postal service and they told me that disabled Veterans can't buy back their military service towards postal career retirement, because we are already collecting for are disablities and can't double dip, thats what they told me. I thought a federal job was a federal job and that they all counted towards your retirement. Regular Veterans can buy back their military service but disabled vets can't. I was just wondering if anyone out there knows if thats true about other federal jobs. I almost would rather give up the disability to get my six years in service back, I don't think this is fair to disabled Veterans if this is true. I received my disablilty during war time not war. please let me know. thanks

[john999]

Disabled vets can buy back their military time. I did it. You pay about 2% of your military pay if you are FERS. I think it is worth it.

[Ricky]

Your disability has nothing to do with it. A veteran is a veteran and ALL are qualified for this program within the federal government.

[Berta]

There are some excellent sites and even forums on FERS on the Net- just Google FERS-

They also give you a buy back-time period too- dont have to pay it all up front -as I understand it-

I think my daughter had to buy back military credit of about $4,000 (for 7 years of service)but she said this is well worth doing-for anyone going into federal service as a veteran-

My neighbor has been checking his mailbox for 4 months-

he retired from the VA about ten years ago and withdrew his FERS account- then he returned to VA about 5 years ago-and insists they accepted him back into FERS-which is against the FERS policy I understood at the time he withdrew-

(he forgets that the VAMC told him some years ago that he was no longer eligible for FERS)

I dont know if he even meets the FERS disability criteria-he is 10% SC.

My husband as a Federal employee saved every single thing from them as to FERS etc-

my daughter does too-

it is a lot to read but it pays to read it all to make sure you have the coverage you might need down the road.

FERS is an excellent program and the web sites explain it all.

[JR Reihs]

Buy it back ASAP.....sounds like a typical Postal HR quote......SOOOOOO glad I am outa there, watch your back with the PO, it used to be a great job but it is now a cluster

%&*&, due to the management style now in effect.

Jump into the thrift fund and max it out at the begining, you will thank yourself later, I beleive it is now up to 17%...this is the only thing I miss about the PO.

Edited November 15, 2007 by JR Reihs

[labonte1000]

Hey thanks for all the responses and help. I guess the interviewer was just misinformed or lying. I also contacted my taps class instructor which is also disabled, and he also said you can buy back your military time for all Veterans, thats what he did. disabled or not. thanks again