Evening star., 1945-09-28

graphs, Will IlIlu IL n gllC-eQGeQ IN
vestment, both as to yield and Sc
curity. It even is worthwhile to
make an outside loan just before re-
tirement to make this payment. II
you live the average length OF life,
you will get back several times your
initial investment" Even if you
die prematurely, the death benefit
under the non-forfeiture annuity
option will, with the additional an
nuity you have received, more than
equal the loan for the redeposit.
Don't get redeposit or refund pre-
viously received confused with pur-
chase of service credit for periods
of Government employment not sub
ject to retirement deductions. In
most cases it is not advisable to pur-
chase service credit, since at best
you only get back your moneys
worth" while at worst your bene-
fits might not be increased despite
a sizable additional payment on your
part. Wait until just before retire.
ment to decide whether it is worth
while.
PURCHASE OF NON-GOVERN-
MENT SERVICE.
Several inquiries were directed at
the possibility of purchasing credit
for periods elapsing between two
Government jobs. For instance, If
you were employed by the Govern
ment from 1890 to 1896 and then
went into private employment, re-
turning to the Government in 1910,
can you make up" the period 1887
to 1899? No! Service credit can be
bought only for periods of Govern
ment employment during which
contributions were not collected, as
for jobs originally not covered un-
der the Retirement Act.
The question, upon consideration
answers itself. There is, first, no
service beneftting the Government
which should obligate the Govern
ment to extend credit and, second,
there is no basis on which to calcu-
late the contribution. Employees who
wish to increase their benefits should
take advantage of the voluntary saw
ings program. Deposits may be
made in multiples of $25; and they
earn interest at per cent COM
pounded annually and are used to
purchase an additional annuity at
date of retirement.
WITHDRAWALS BECAUSE
OF SICKNESS.
A follow-up to one inquiry inspired
by this series is likely to result in
material financial gain to the per-
picked employees. This individual
had been suffering for some time
from physical impairment and re-
signed from the service last June.
Subsequently, she learned from her
doctor the illness was apt to be per-
manent and total in nature. These
articles advised her that persons
with at least five years Federal
service were entitled to disability
annuities. They told her also to
file a claim for disability annuity
at once because if she did not do so
within six months after resigning, a
claim could not be made.
| So remember, if you are forced to
resign because you believe you are
in temporary poor health and if you
have not recovered within six
months. file a. claim for disability
benefits. The Civil Service Com
mission will then determine whether
your disability disqualifies you fol-
useful work. But regardless of the
severity of your illness, you will gel
nothing if you wait too long.
Incidentally. it has been asked
whether resignation on account OF
illness or disability, prior to five
years service. is voluntary" or "in-
voluntary" for purposes of refunds
If the latter, the refund would in
clude the individual account plus
"tontine." If the former, only the
individual account IS returnable.
The answer is, fair or not, that
such separations are voluntary" SC
| that the tontine of 81 for each
month of service is deducted. AL
Withdrawals occasioned by fault OF
choice of the employe, whether o.
not voluntary" in the sense thai
the employe acts himself, are con.
sidered voluntary" Transfer to &
Government position outside tht
scope of the Retirement Act also il
voluntary" Generally speaking
involuntary designations are limitee
to dismissals required by reductions
in force or reoroa pizafiopS