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Return to Article: The Retirement Process

• 66168
  

  Thanks so much for all of your wonderful articles. We get more info from you than we could ever pry out of our human resource offices! I've got 18 years CSRS plus 900 hrs sick leave, plus all creditable service paid back, followed by a short break in service, followed by 13 years FERS. I plan to retire with 17+ yrs FERS at age 62.5. I hope to delay drawing my Social Securiy until age 67 if possible. What should my concerns be to maximize my retirement benefits from this cauldron of confusion without diminishing any of them? Can I retire from the feds, work in the private sector (most likely making considerably less money),keep SS high and still receive the payment that is supposed to bridge the time until I apply for SS, or do I have to apply for SS as soon as I retire. I am confused. Thanks for your help...from all of us out here!

  Laura Posted January 9, 2009 10:26 AM
• 28364
  

  I am a rare bird in that when I retire I will have 55 years of service. To that end I have made continuous contributions to CSRS. Are these contributions like "VC" or are they treated differently? I would like some information on whether to withdraw this extra contribution and how, or would buying an additional annuity be wise?

  Donna Burris Posted July 13, 2007 8:47 AM
• 27077
  

  What about if you have met your MRA with over 20 years of gov service, been covered 20 years by health/life insurance and want to leave now but want to start my annuity at age 60? Can I pick back up my health/life insurance? Will I qualify for the FERS supplement or do I have to come back to gov work close to my 60th birthday and work for a couple months so when I turn 60 (60 is when I plan to start receiving my annuity) I will be elegibale for the supplement? I have not seen anything on this, every thing I have seen is if you are NOT elegable to receive an immidate annuity, but, if you have met the MRA, what are all the options?

  Loretta S Posted June 29, 2007 9:06 AM
• 27074
  

  Great article. Would you consider doing an article on TransFERS - those CSRS employees who transferred to FERS? I did so with 10 years CSRS, 900 hours of saved sick leave creditable to CSRS service, and have another 19 years of FERS service.

  Michael McLaughlin Posted June 29, 2007 8:52 AM
• 26732
  

  I agree Nancy, these are great articles and always informative. I plan to retire at the minimum age and defer it until I'm 62 it sure wouldn't hurt to know all there is about doing it that way. Keep up the good work Tammy.

  Rick Posted June 26, 2007 5:39 AM
• 26627
  

  I really enjoy your articles. However, there has not been much information on deferred retirement - i.e., when someone leaves the government before they're eligible for immediate retirement, but after they're eligible for a retirement benefit. It would be great if you could address the pros and cons of leaving early, what your deferred retirement benefits are, and how to go about claiming your deferred retirement benefits.

  Nancy Bennett Posted June 25, 2007 7:09 AM
• 26561
  

  Excellent summation. I retired in January and OPM quickly processed my paperwork so that by May 1st I was caught up and receiving my pension in full. The interim checks started coming in late February. But it is important that anyone getting ready to retire should do as much research as possible about what they need to do and what to expect. This article succinctly covers the process. Although I am "retired" I still look at govexec dot come weekly for updates that apply to me.

  Keith Barton Posted June 23, 2007 8:10 AM
• 26491
  

  In Tammy's "Best Dates to Retire 2007 (11-2-06) article "#3. Retire at the end of the year to get the maximum lump sum leave payment. ..."Employees must use this accumulated leave each year to avoid losing it to the carryover limit -- except in the year they are planning to retire."

  If I retire on February 2 or March 1, 2008, would I still be able to carryover the 208 hours from 2007 or would that only apply if I retired on January 5, 2008? January 5, 2008 is the last payperiod at my Agency (payroll handled by DFAS) to use the use or lose leave in 2007. If I retired on March 1, 2008, would my leave balance total 240 hours(carryover limit) + 208(2007 accumulated leave)+ 32 (4 payperiods leading up to March 1, 2008?

  Brenda Atkins Posted June 22, 2007 8:55 AM
• 26489
  

  I am a CSRS employee retiring after 30 years in Sept. 2007, my question is does a cash award from an appraisal count in your High-3 computation? Love your columns, keep up the great work!

  GILROY PHAUP Posted June 22, 2007 8:52 AM
• 26479
  

  Great article. Now that I'm getting close, I NEVER miss your retirement articles .... the best thing Gov Exec does.

  Walt Allen Posted June 22, 2007 8:15 AM