AFPC offers guidance to civilians nearing retirement

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The Air Force Personnel Center's Benefits and Entitlement Service Team here encourages civilians who want to retire in the next few years to plan ahead and seek counseling early.

Potential retirees should contact BEST at least one year before retirement to receive one-on-one counseling over the phone, and to request a counselor-prepared estimate.

Employee information is available to benefits counselors who are able to cover issues important to retirees.

"Planning ahead cannot be overstressed," said Janet Thomas, an AFPC human resources specialist. "Many individuals retire, only to discover their retirement pay is insufficient to live on. In addition, many are not prepared to meet financial commitments occurring between date of retirement and receipt of the first retirement check, which can sometimes take up to two or more months."

Many employees believe all the service in their service computation date for leave is creditable toward retirement. For many, this simply isn't true, according to Ms. Thomas.

"Employees who previously took a refund of their retirement contributions, or owe a deposit for temporary service or military service, may discover this service is not creditable for retirement," Ms. Thomas said. "Individuals who are retired military might need to know whether it would be advantageous to combine their military and civilian service."

In planning for retirement, there are many factors to consider, such as whether to provide a survivor benefit for the spouse in the event of the employee's death after retirement, whether they are eligible to take health and life insurance into retirement, sick leave credit, Thrift Savings Plan withdrawal options, and direct deposit. In addition, it's important not to change the mailing address or bank account for direct deposit during the few months before and after retirement.

Those ready to retire should submit their retirement applications to BEST 90 to 120 days before the effective date of retirement. During the process, three letters are sent to update the potential retiree on the status of his/her application.

-- The first letter acknowledges receipt of the application.

-- The second verifies he is eligible to retire.

-- The third is notification the retirement application package has been sent to the servicing payroll office.

More information is available on the BEST Web page at http://ask.afpc.randolph.af.mil/best/default.asp?prods3=272&prods2=264&prods1=44.

Click the "Retirement" link on the far left side of the page and select from the available items. 

The final stop for the retirement application is the Office of Personnel Management, where the final authority for approval of the retirement resides. OPM also starts the retirement payments.

Air Force-serviced civilian appropriated-fund employees serviced by BEST may reach BEST benefits counselors weekdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. CDT. Employees located in the United States can call toll-free 1-800-616-3775 (press 2, then 2 again and follow the prompts).

Overseas employees will first dial a toll-free AT&T direct access number for the country they are in, then 800-616-3775. More detailed instructions on reaching a counselor are available at http://ask.afpc.randolph.af.mil/docs/best/docs/BEST_Telephone_Menu.pdf.

Hearing impaired employees may reach a benefits counselor by calling toll-free TDD 1-800-382-0893, or commercial 210-565-2276 if located in San Antonio.

Employees of the Pentagon and Air Logistics Centers (with few exceptions) should contact their local civilian personnel offices for retirement counseling and processing information.