CORRECTION OF RETIREMENT COVERAGE ERRORS UNDER THE FEDERAL ERRONEOUS RETIREMENT COVERAGE CORRECTIONS ACT

• Citation: 5 CFR Part 839
• Sections: 71

§ 839.101 What is the Federal Erroneous Retirement Coverage Corrections Act?

(a) The Federal Erroneous Retirement Coverage Corrections Act (FERCCA) is Title II of Public Law 106-265, enacted September 19, 2000. The FERCCA addresses the problems created when employees are in the wrong retirement plan for an extended period.

(b) Generally, you must be in the wrong retirement plan for at least 3 years of service after December 31, 1986, before the FERCCA applies to you. Depending on the type of error, the FERCCA provides:

(1) A choice between retirement plans,

(2) New rules for crediting civilian and military service that was not subject to retirement deductions,

(3) Payment of lost earnings on employee make-up contributions to the Thrift Savings Plan, and

(4) Payment of certain out-of-pocket expenses that are a direct result of a retirement coverage error.

§ 839.102 Definitions.

Agency means an executive agency as defined in section 105 of title 5, United States Code; a legislative branch agency; a judicial branch agency; and the U.S. Postal Service and Postal Rate Commission.

Agency automatic (1%) contributions means contributions made to a FERS participant's Thrift Savings Plan account by his or her employing agency under 5 U.S.C. 8432(c)(1) or (c)(3).

Agency matching contributions means contributions made to a FERS participant's Thrift Savings Plan account by his or her employing agency under 5 U.S.C. 8432(c)(2).

Annuitant means the same as Retiree.

Basic Employee Death Benefit or BEDB means the FERS survivor benefit payable as a lump sum or over 36 months, described in § 843.309 of this chapter.

Board means the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board established under 5 U.S.C. 8472.

CSRS means the Civil Service Retirement System, as described in subchapter III of chapter 83 of title 5, United States Code.

CSRS component means the part of a FERS retirement benefit that is computed under CSRS provisions (see § 846.304 of this chapter).

CSRS Offset means the Civil Service Retirement System Offset plan, which is for employees whose service is subject to CSRS deductions and Social Security taxes, as described in 5 U.S.C. 8349.

Employee means an employee or Member individual as defined in section 8331(1) and (2) or 8401(11) and (20) of title 5, United States Code. Employee includes an individual who has applied for retirement benefits, but not separated from service.

Employee retirement deductions means the amount that is deducted from basic pay under section 8334(a) of title 5, United States Code, for CSRS employees; or section 8334(k) of title 5, United States Code, for CSRS Offset employees; or the portion of the normal cost of FERS coverage that is deducted from an employee's basic pay under section 8422(a) of title 5, United States Code.

Employer means, with respect to an employee, that individual's employing agency.

Employer retirement contributions means the employer share of retirement contributions that are required payments to the Fund under sections 8334(a) and 8423(a) of title 5, United States Code.

Former spouse means a living person who was married to you for at least 9 months.

FERCCA means the Federal Erroneous Retirement Coverage Corrections Act.

FERS means the Federal Employees' Retirement System, as described in chapter 84 of title 5, United States Code.

Fund means the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund described in section 8348 of title 5, United States Code.

Government contributions means agency automatic (1%) contributions and agency matching contributions.

Lost earnings means earnings that you would have received had your make-up contributions to the Thrift Savings Fund been made during the period of the error when they should have otherwise been made.

Make-up contributions means employee contributions to the Thrift Savings Plan that should have been deducted from a participant's basic pay earlier, but were not due to an employing agency error.

MSPB means the Merit Systems Protection Board described in chapter 12 of title 5, United States Code.

OPM means the Office of Personnel Management.

Present value factor has the same meaning in this subpart as defined in § 831.603.

Previously corrected means a retirement coverage error that has been properly corrected before March 19, 2001.

Qualifying court order has the same meaning as in § 846.702 of this chapter, referring to court orders that affect CSRS or FERS payments following a divorce or legal separation.

Qualifying retirement coverage error means an erroneous decision by an employee or agent of the Government as to whether Government service is CSRS covered, CSRS Offset covered, FERS covered, or Social Security-Only covered that remained in effect for at least 3 years of service after December 31, 1986.

Reemployed annuitant means a CSRS or FERS retiree who is reemployed under conditions that do not terminate the CSRS or FERS annuity. (See part 837 of this chapter for additional information on reemployed annuitants.)

Retiree means a former employee or Member who is receiving, or meets the statutory age and service requirements for, an annuity under either CSRS or FERS. This includes individuals who meet the statutory requirements for benefits and chose to postpone the beginning date of the annuity under § 842.204(c) or § 842.212(b)(1)(ii) of this chapter (pertaining to FERS MRA+10 and FERS deferred benefits). Retiree does not include a current spouse, former spouse, child, or person with an insurable interest receiving a survivor annuity. An individual who has left Federal service after completing 5 years of service but has not reached the age at which annuity payments may begin is considered a “separated employee” rather than a retiree.

Retirement coverage means participation in CSRS, CSRS Offset, FERS, or Social Security-Only. Retirement coverage is shown on the Notification of Personnel Action (Standard Form 50) or other similar record of personnel actions.

Retirement plan means the same as retirement coverage.

Separated employee means a former employee or Member who has separated from service and who has not met all the requirements for retirement under CSRS or FERS.

Social Security coverage means service as a Federal employee that is employment under section 210 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 410) and is subject to Social Security taxes.

Social Security-Only means coverage under Social Security without concurrent coverage under CSRS, CSRS Offset, or FERS.

Social Security taxes means the Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance taxes imposed on employees under section 3101(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (31 U.S.C. 3101(a)) and on employers under section 3111(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (31 U.S.C. 3111(a)).

Survivor means a person entitled to benefits under chapter 83 or 84 of title 5, United States Code, based on the service of a deceased employee, separated employee, or retiree.

Thrift Savings Plan or TSP means the Federal Retirement Thrift Savings Plan established by the Federal Employees' Retirement System Act of 1986, Pub. L. 99-335, 100 Stat. 514, which has been codified, as amended, primarily at 5 U.S.C. 8351 and 8401-8479.

§ 839.201 Do these rules apply to me?

(a) These rules apply to employees who had a qualifying retirement coverage error. For all purposes, a qualifying retirement coverage error must have lasted for at least 3 years of Federal service after December 31, 1986, as stated in the definitions section (§ 839.102). It does not matter whether you have left Federal service, retired, or have been reemployed as an annuitant, as long as you had a qualifying retirement coverage error. In addition, the survivor of an employee, separated employee, or retiree who had a qualifying retirement coverage error is also covered by these rules.

(b) An error that lasted less than 3 years of Federal service after December 31, 1986, is not qualifying under the rules in this part.

(c) For errors lasting less than 3 years that involve erroneous placement in FERS during a period that the employee was eligible to elect FERS, see § 846.204(b) of this chapter for guidance.

§ 839.211 If these rules apply to me because I had a qualifying retirement coverage error, can I choose which retirement plan I want to be in?

The FERCCA does not provide an election opportunity in all situations where there was a qualifying retirement coverage error. Even if your error is one that provides an election opportunity under the FERCCA, certain events may disqualify you from making an election under the FERCCA. If you had a qualifying retirement coverage error, your eligibility to choose your retirement plan may be affected by the situations described in the next seven questions.

§ 839.212 May I make a retirement coverage election if I received a refund of my retirement deductions after I was corrected to FERS?

If your qualifying retirement coverage error was previously corrected to FERS and you then received a refund of your FERS retirement deductions, you are not allowed to elect retirement plan coverage under the FERCCA.

§ 839.213 May I make a retirement coverage election if I withdrew all or part of my TSP account after I was corrected to FERS?

(a) You may not make a retirement coverage election if your qualifying retirement coverage error was previously corrected to FERS, and you later received one of the following TSP withdrawals:

(1) A TSP annuity after separation from service, but before receiving a FERS annuity; or

(2) A single payment or monthly payments after separation from service; or

(3) An age-based in-service withdrawal.

(b) If you received an automatic cashout of your TSP account after you separated (because your account balance was $3,500 or less), or if you received a financial hardship in-service withdrawal, you may make a retirement coverage election.

§ 839.214 Am I disqualified from making an election of retirement coverage under the FERCCA if I withdrew my TSP account after I retired under FERS?

No, you may make an election of retirement coverage under the FERCCA if you made a TSP withdrawal as a retiree.

§ 839.215 May I make a retirement coverage election under the FERCCA if I received a payment as settlement of my claim for losses because of a qualifying retirement coverage error?

You can make a retirement coverage election under the FERCCA if OPM waives repayment of the entire amount under § 839.1202. If OPM does not waive the entire repayment, you must pay back the amount that OPM did not waive.

§ 839.221 If my qualifying retirement coverage error was that I was put into FERS by mistake and then, after the error was discovered, I chose my current retirement coverage, can I now make another election?

No, OPM regulations allow certain employees who were put in FERS in error to choose between remaining in FERS or being covered under their automatic retirement coverage. (See § 846.204(b)(2) of this chapter). If you already had this opportunity to choose your retirement coverage; then you may not make an election of retirement coverage based on the same error under these rules.

§ 839.231 Can I make an election if my former spouse is entitled to a portion of my retirement benefits by qualifying court order?

Yes, but if you want to elect FERS you need your former spouse's consent to the election. If you are subject to a qualifying court order and want to elect FERS, the requirements in § 846.722 of this chapter (Former Spouse's Consent to an Election of FERS Coverage) apply to you.

§ 839.232 If a deceased employee's survivors include both a current spouse and a former spouse, or spouses, who are eligible for survivor annuities, must all of them consent to an election of FERS?

If the employee dies before making an election of retirement coverage under the FERCCA, all eligible potential survivors, that is, both the current and any former spouses, must consent to an election of FERS coverage. If they do not all consent, the election cannot be made.

§ 839.241 Am I eligible to make an election under the FERCCA if I had a qualifying retirement coverage error and none of the conditions mentioned in § 839.212 through § 839.232 apply to me?

If you were in CSRS or CSRS Offset and should have been in FERS or Social Security-Only, or if you were in FERS and should have been in CSRS, CSRS Offset, or Social Security-Only, then you have an election opportunity. This is summarized in the following chart:

You are or were in:

And you belong in:

CSRS or CSRS Offset

FERS.

CSRS or CSRS Offset

Social Security-Only.

FERS

Social Security-Only.

FERS

CSRS.

FERS

CSRS Offset.

§ 839.242 Do these rules apply to me if I had multiple errors?

You must be in the wrong retirement plan for at least 3 years of Federal service after December 31, 1986. You need not be in the same wrong retirement plan during the entire 3-year period. If you had more than one type of erroneous retirement coverage, then you will have a retirement plan election under these rules if one of the errors is of a type that qualifies you for an election.

§ 839.301 What should I do if I am not sure whether I am or was in the wrong retirement plan?

(a) If you are an employee, your employer has your personnel records and will review them to determine whether an error has been made. Therefore, you should notify your employer's human resources office if you believe an error has been made in your case. Notify your current employer even if you believe the error occurred while you were employed at another agency.

(b) If you are not currently employed by the Federal Government, you should notify OPM at: U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Retirement Operations Center, Post Office Box 45, Boyers, Pennsylvania 16017. You can also contact us by electronic mail at [email protected]. Notify OPM regardless of whether you are a retiree, survivor, or separated employee.

(c) You may also get additional information about the FERCCA and whether or not you qualify at: www.opm.gov/benefits/correction.

§ 839.302 Will my employer give me a written explanation?

(a) Your employer must provide you with written notice of the error. The notice must include an explanation of the error, your options regarding the error, and any time limits that apply.

(b) Your employer must inform you if they find that you do not have a retirement coverage error.

§ 839.303 Is my employer required to find employees with a retirement coverage error?

The FERCCA requires your employer to take reasonable and appropriate measures to identify individuals affected by a qualifying retirement coverage error and notify them of their rights under the law.

§ 839.304 What if my employer does not notify me?

(a) If your error has not previously been corrected, the 6-month time limit on making an election of retirement coverage under the FERCCA (see § 839.611(a)) does not begin to run until you are notified of the error.

(b) If your error was previously corrected, the 18-month time limit on making an election of retirement coverage ends on September 19, 2002. Employers and OPM may extend the time limit if you were prevented from making a timely election due to a cause beyond your control (see § 839.612).

§ 839.401 What can I elect if I was put in CSRS or CSRS Offset by mistake?

If you were placed in CSRS or CSRS Offset due to a qualifying retirement coverage error and you should have been in FERS, you may elect CSRS Offset or FERS. If you were placed in CSRS or CSRS Offset due to a qualifying retirement coverage error and you should have been in Social Security-Only, you may elect CSRS Offset or Social Security-Only. This is summarized in the following chart:

You are in:

And you belong in:

You may elect:

CSRS

FERS

CSRS Offset or FERS.

CSRS Offset

FERS

CSRS

Social Security-Only

CSRS Offset or Social Security-Only.

CSRS Offset

Social Security-Only

§ 839.411 What can I elect if I was put in FERS by mistake?

If you were placed in FERS due to a qualifying retirement coverage error and you should have been in CSRS, you may elect FERS or CSRS. If you were placed in FERS due to a qualifying retirement coverage error and you should have been in CSRS Offset, you may elect FERS or CSRS Offset. If you were placed in FERS due to a qualifying retirement coverage error and you should have been in Social Security-Only, you may elect FERS or Social Security-Only. This is summarized in the following chart:

You are in:

And you belong in:

You may elect:

FERS

CSRS

FERS or CSRS.

FERS

CSRS Offset

FERS or CSRS Offset.

FERS

Social Security-Only

FERS or Social Security-Only.

§ 839.501 What can I elect if my employer moved me out of CSRS or CSRS Offset?

If you were moved out of CSRS or CSRS Offset due to a qualifying retirement coverage error and were placed in FERS, you may elect CSRS Offset or remain in FERS. If you were moved out of CSRS or CSRS Offset due to a qualifying retirement coverage error and were placed in Social Security-Only, you may elect CSRS Offset or remain in Social Security-Only. This is summarized in the following chart:

You were in:

And your coverage was previously corrected to:

You may elect:

CSRS

FERS

CSRS Offset or FERS.

CSRS Offset

FERS

CSRS

Social Security-Only

CSRS Offset or Social Security-Only.

CSRS Offset

Social Security-Only.

§ 839.511 What can I elect under the FERCCA if my employer put me into FERS by mistake and then I was not allowed to remain in FERS when the error was discovered?

An employee who was erroneously placed in FERS during a time when the employee should have had an opportunity to elect FERS is allowed to keep the erroneous FERS coverage. If the employee was given an opportunity to remain in FERS, then the employee is disqualified from making an election of retirement coverage under the FERCCA (see § 839.221). If you were not allowed to remain in FERS and were placed in CSRS due to a qualifying retirement coverage error, you may elect FERS or remain in CSRS. If you were not allowed to remain in FERS and were placed in CSRS Offset due to a qualifying retirement coverage error, you may elect FERS or remain in CSRS Offset. If you were not allowed to remain in FERS and were placed in Social Security-Only due to a qualifying retirement coverage error, you may elect FERS or remain in Social Security-Only. This is summarized in the following chart:

You were in:

And your coverage was previously corrected to:

You may elect:

FERS

CSRS

CSRS or FERS.

FERS

CSRS Offset

CSRS Offset or FERS.

FERS

Social Security-Only

Social Security-Only or FERS.

§ 839.601 How do I make an election?

You may make your election using the form issued by OPM. If you are an employee, your employer will provide you with this form. If you are not a current employee, OPM will provide the form.

§ 839.602 What if I don't make an election?

(a) If your qualifying retirement coverage error was not previously corrected and you fail to make an election within the time limit under § 839.611(a), your retirement coverage is summarized in the following chart:

If you are in:

And you belong in:

You are considered to have elected:

CSRS or CSRS Offset

FERS

CSRS Offset.

FERS

CSRS, CSRS Offset or Social Security-Only

FERS.

CSRS or CSRS Offset

Social Security-Only

CSRS Offset.

(b) If your qualifying retirement coverage error was previously corrected and you fail to make an election within the time limit under § 839.611(b), you are considered to have elected to remain in your current retirement plan.

§ 839.603 Can I later change my election?

Your election is irrevocable once your employer or OPM processes it. If you do not make a timely election, the resulting coverage (see § 839.602) is also irrevocable.

§ 839.604 When is my election effective?

Your election is effective on the date that the retirement coverage error first occurred. This means that your election will be retroactive, or will change your retirement coverage for a period of service in the past.

§ 839.611 What are the time limits for making an election?

(a) If your qualifying retirement coverage error was not previously corrected, you have 6 months from the date you receive notice of the error under § 839.302 to make an election.

(b) If your qualifying retirement coverage error was previously corrected, the time limit for making an election expires on September 19, 2002.

§ 839.612 Can I make a belated election?

(a) If you are an employee, your employer can waive the time limit for making an election if you request such a waiver in writing. The employer would have to determine that you exercised due diligence, but could not make an election within the time limit because of circumstances beyond your control.

(b) Your employer's decision not to waive the time limit under this section must be in writing and include notice of your right to request OPM to reconsider the decision.

(c) OPM can waive the time limit for separated employees, retirees, and survivors who exercised due diligence but could not make an election because of circumstances beyond their control if a request is submitted to OPM, and OPM concludes that a waiver is justified.

§ 839.621 Can I cancel my FERS election if I was in the wrong retirement plan at the time I elected FERS coverage and I have an election opportunity under the FERCCA?

If you were erroneously in CSRS, CSRS Offset, or Social Security-Only at the time you elected FERS and you have an election opportunity under the FERCCA, you can choose whether you want the FERS election to remain in effect. However, you may not choose whether you want your FERS election to remain in effect if you chose FERS after your employer notified you that you were put in FERS by mistake (see § 839.221).

§ 839.622 Can I cancel my FERS election if my qualifying retirement coverage error was previously corrected and I now have an election opportunity under the FERCCA?

Yes, your FERS coverage election does not disqualify you from making a retirement coverage election under the FERCCA. You can choose whether you want the FERS election to remain in effect. However, you may not choose whether you want your FERS election to remain in effect if you chose FERS after your employer notified you that you were put in FERS by mistake (see § 839.221).

§ 839.623 If I decide to keep the FERS election in effect, may I change the effective date of the FERS election?

No, If you decide to keep FERS, the original FERS election will remain unchanged.

§ 839.701 Is it correct that even though I had a qualifying retirement coverage error under the FERCCA, I may not have a choice of retirement coverage?

Under the FERCCA, the types of retirement coverage errors listed in § 839.241 trigger a right to make a retirement coverage election. The following chart summarizes the types of errors that do not trigger an election right:

You are in:

And you belong in:

Your coverage must be corrected to:

CSRS Offset

CSRS

CSRS.

CSRS

CSRS Offset

CSRS Offset.

Social Security-Only

CSRS

CSRS.

Social Security-Only

CSRS Offset

CSRS Offset.

Social Security-Only

FERS

FERS.

§ 839.702 How do these rules apply to me if I don't have an election right under the FERCCA, but I did have a qualifying retirement coverage error?

After your retirement coverage is corrected to the proper plan, your retirement deductions will be adjusted in accordance with subpart H of this part and your Social Security taxes will be adjusted in accordance with subpart I of this part, if applicable. You may also file a claim for losses in accordance with subpart L of this part.

§ 839.801 Do I owe more money if I had a qualifying retirement coverage error and the employee retirement deductions for the new retirement plan are more than what I already paid?

(a) No, your employer is responsible for paying any additional amount to the Fund. Your employer will not bill you for any additional retirement deductions.

(b) For qualifying retirement coverage errors corrected under this part, the rules at § 831.111(b) of this chapter (pertaining to employee options when the employer fails to withhold CSRS or CSRS Offset retirement deductions) do not apply.

§ 839.802 If I was in CSRS during my qualifying retirement coverage error, paid into the Fund more than I would have paid as a CSRS Offset, Social Security-Only, or FERS employee, and end up retroactively in one of those retirement plans, will I get a refund of the excess I had withheld from my pay?

CSRS Offset and FERS require employees to pay Social Security taxes in addition to retirement deductions. When you are retroactively changed under the FERCCA to CSRS Offset, FERS, or Social Security-Only, the deductions you paid in under CSRS will be used to pay both the amounts required for retirement deductions under CSRS Offset or FERS, as applicable to you, and also the Social Security taxes that you would have paid had you been in CSRS-Offset, FERS, or Social Security-Only.

§ 839.803 If I am like the person in the previous question, but the amount I paid as deductions under CSRS is more than the amount of combined retirement deductions and Social Security taxes due for my new retirement coverage, will I get a refund of the excess?

Yes, either OPM or your employer, as appropriate, will issue the payment in accordance with OPM instructions.

§ 839.804 If my qualifying retirement coverage error occurred while I was a reemployed annuitant, and I am later corrected retroactively to a different retirement plan, will I have to pay any additional amount for retirement deductions?

(a) If you (as a reemployed annuitant) were erroneously in CSRS and had retirement deductions withheld from pay, and later are corrected to CSRS Offset or FERS coverage, the amount erroneously withheld under CSRS will be used to pay the retroactive CSRS Offset or FERS retirement deductions and Social Security taxes.

(b) If you (as a reemployed annuitant) were erroneously placed in CSRS and elected not to have retirement deductions withheld from pay, and later are corrected to CSRS Offset or FERS, your share of retroactive Social Security taxes will be treated as an overpayment of salary. If you are corrected to CSRS Offset, you may elect to have retirement deductions withheld from future salary as a reemployed annuitant and may also make a deposit to cover the retirement deductions for past service as a reemployed annuitant in accordance with § 837.503(c) of this chapter. If you are corrected to FERS, your retirement deductions under FERS will be treated as an overpayment of salary.

(c) If you (as a reemployed annuitant) were erroneously in CSRS Offset and had retirement deductions withheld from pay, and later are corrected to CSRS or FERS coverage, the amount erroneously withheld under CSRS Offset will be used to pay the retroactive CSRS or FERS retirement deductions. The employer is responsible for paying to the Fund any additional retirement deductions.

(d) If you (as a reemployed annuitant) were erroneously placed in CSRS Offset and elected not to have retirement deductions withheld from pay, and later are corrected to CSRS, you may elect to have retirement deductions withheld from future salary as a reemployed annuitant and may also make a deposit to cover the retirement deductions for past service as a reemployed annuitant in accordance with § 837.503(c) of this chapter. Your retirement deductions under CSRS will be treated as an overpayment of salary.

(e) If you (as a reemployed annuitant) were erroneously placed in CSRS Offset and elected not to have retirement deductions withheld from pay, and later are corrected to FERS, your retirement deductions under FERS will be treated as an overpayment of salary.

(f) A reemployed annuitant erroneously placed in FERS and later corrected to CSRS or CSRS Offset is considered to have elected retirement deductions as a reemployed annuitant under the corrected coverage. The employer is responsible for paying to the Fund any additional retirement deductions under the corrected retirement coverage.

(g) If you have a salary overpayment, your employer will inform you of your rights regarding the overpayment.

(h) These rules are summarized in the following chart:

Wrong coverage is:

And retirement deductions were

And you are corrected to

Then

(1) CSRS

Taken

CSRS Offset or FERS

• The erroneous CSRS deductions are used to pay the retroactive CSRS Offset or FERS deductions and Social Security taxes. • Retirement deductions will continue to be withheld from salary. • Social Security taxes must be withheld from salary.

(2) CSRS

Not taken

CSRS Offset

• Retroactive Social Security taxes are treated as an overpayment of salary. • You may elect to have retirement deductions withheld from future salary. • Social Security taxes must be withheld from salary. • You may pay a deposit to OPM for past retirement deductions.

(3) CSRS

Not taken

FERS

• Retroactive Social Security taxes are treated as an overpayment of salary. • Retirement deductions and Social Security taxes must be withheld from salary. • Your retirement deductions for past service under FERS are treated as an overpayment of salary.

(4) CSRS Offset

Taken

CSRS or FERS

• The erroneous CSRS Offset deductions are used to pay retroactive CSRS or FERS retirement deductions. • Retirement deductions will continue to be withheld from salary. • Social Security taxes must be withheld from salary if correct coverage is FERS. • Employer must pay any additional amount of retirement deductions.

(5) CSRS Offset

Not taken

CSRS

• You may elect to have retirement deductions withheld from future salary. • You may pay a deposit to OPM for past retirement deductions.

(6) CSRS Offset

Not taken

FERS

• Your retirement deductions for past service under FERS will be treated as an overpayment of salary.

(7) FERS

Taken

CSRS or CSRS Offset

• You are considered to have elected retirement deductions as a reemployed annuitant under the corrected coverage. • Employer must pay any additional retirement deductions due for past service.

§ 839.811 Does my employer owe more money if I had a qualifying retirement coverage error and the employer retirement contributions for my new retirement plan are more than what was already paid?

Yes, your employer must pay any additional retirement contributions to the Fund.

§ 839.812 Will my employer get a refund if I had a qualifying retirement coverage error and the employer retirement contributions for my new retirement plan are less than what was already paid?

No, if you were erroneously in CSRS, CSRS Offset, or Social Security-Only, then a correction of a retirement coverage error will not reduce the employer retirement contribution owed. Also, the FERCCA states that an employer may not remove from the Fund FERS employer contributions when correcting a qualifying retirement coverage error under this part.

§ 839.821 Who is responsible for correcting my records?

(a) Your current employer will correct your records in accordance with OPM instructions. Your employer must not delay correcting your records.

(b) For former employees and retirees, the last employer will correct the records. For survivors, the employee's last employer will correct the records. If an employer no longer exists as an organization, and there is no successor agency, then OPM will correct the records.

§ 839.822 Which employer is responsible for submitting the employee and employer retirement deductions and contributions and correcting my records if I had different employers?

Your current or most recent employer will be responsible for this purpose. Even if that employer was not involved in the retirement coverage error, it must issue corrected records for the entire period of the retirement coverage error.

§ 839.901 When will my employer begin withholding Social Security taxes if I was erroneously in CSRS during my qualifying retirement coverage error and my corrected coverage will now require me to pay Social Security taxes?

(a) If you are in CSRS by mistake and belong in CSRS Offset, FERS, or Social Security-Only, your employer must begin withholding Social Security taxes by changing your retirement coverage to CSRS Offset. Your employer must begin this withholding as soon as possible after the error is discovered.

(b) Your employer will correct your retirement coverage back to the date the error first occurred once you are notified of the error and have an opportunity to make any elections that you are eligible to make.

§ 839.902 Will my CSRS retirement deductions be used to pay the Social Security taxes for the period of the qualifying retirement coverage error if I was erroneously placed in CSRS and did not pay Social Security taxes?

(a) If your qualifying retirement coverage error was not previously corrected, the amount erroneously withheld for CSRS retirement deductions will be:

(1) Used to pay your new retirement deduction amount; and

(2) Applied toward any Social Security taxes you owe for the time you were in the wrong retirement plan.

(b) You will get Social Security credit for all the time you were erroneously covered by CSRS. Your employer will send the Social Security Administration a record of your earnings for all the years you should have had Social Security coverage.

§ 839.903 What happens to the Social Security taxes I erroneously paid when my employer corrects my retirement coverage to CSRS?

(a) Except for the last 3 years, the money you erroneously paid into Social Security will remain to your credit in the Social Security fund. The Social Security Administration will include all but those last 3 years in determining your eligibility for, and the amount of, future benefits.

(b) The amount you paid into Social Security for the last 3 years will be used to help pay your CSRS retirement deductions.

§ 839.1001 Does the FERCCA allow me to increase my TSP account if I was in CSRS during my qualifying retirement coverage error and my correct coverage will be FERS?

The Board's error correction regulations (5 CFR 1605 of chapter VI) generally allow you to increase your TSP account through a schedule of make-up contributions to replace the missed employee contributions. In addition, the FERCCA allows certain employees who have completed a schedule of make-up contributions, or who plan to schedule make-up contributions, to receive lost earnings on those contributions under certain circumstances. Employees are (and have been) entitled to lost earnings on the make-up agency contributions they receive as a result of the correction of an agency error.

§ 839.1002 Will OPM compute the lost earnings if my qualifying retirement coverage error was previously corrected and I made TSP make-up contributions?

If you made contributions to the TSP after your qualifying retirement coverage error was previously corrected, OPM will compute the lost earnings on your make-up contributions to the TSP under the following circumstances:

You were in:

And were previously corrected to:

And under these rules you elect:

CSRS

FERS

FERS.

CSRS Offset

FERS

Social Security-Only

FERS

No election required.

Social Security-Only

CSRS

Social Security-Only

CSRS Offset

§ 839.1003 How will OPM compute the amount of lost earnings?

(a) Lost earnings will generally be computed in accordance with the Board's lost earnings regulations (5 CFR 1606 of chapter VI). However, the FERCCA states that OPM may compute the lost earnings in an alternative manner if such a computation is not administratively feasible. The alternative manner will yield an amount that is as close as practicable to the amount computed under 5 CFR 1606 of chapter VI.

(b) Your employer is required to submit to OPM all information required to compute the amount of lost earnings.

§ 839.1004 Are lost earnings payable if I separated or if the employee died?

(a) Yes. If the TSP account is not withdrawn, the lost earnings are paid to the account.

(b) If there is no TSP account at the time the lost earnings are payable, you or your survivors will receive the payment directly.

§ 839.1101 How are my retirement benefits computed if I elect CSRS or CSRS Offset under this part?

Unless otherwise stated in this part, your retirement benefit is computed as if you were properly put in CSRS or CSRS Offset on the effective date of the error. All the eligibility and benefit computation rules for CSRS or CSRS Offset apply to your retirement benefit.

§ 839.1102 How are my retirement benefits computed if I elect FERS under this part?

OPM will compute your retirement benefit as if you were properly put in FERS on the effective date of the error. All the eligibility and benefit computation rules for FERS apply to your retirement benefit.

§ 839.1103 If my qualifying retirement coverage error started when I should have been placed under FERS automatically, but my agency put me in CSRS because I had some past service, will I get a CSRS component in my FERS annuity for the service before the error if I elect FERS?

No, employees who should have been automatically placed in FERS (generally because they did not have 5 years of past service under CSRS rules) do not have a CSRS component in their future FERS benefit. All service must be treated as FERS service in this circumstance.