GovernmentExecutive.com

Return to Article: Eligibility: Facts and Myths

• 84482
  

  I am 61 yrs old and unemployed. I worked as a civil servant under CSRS from Jul 1970 to Jan 1980. I withdrew my retirement. I worked as a civil servant under CSRS Offset from Oct 1986 to Apr 1996. I withdrew my retirement (Did not participate in TSP). I worked as a contractor under SS from Apr 1996 to Oct 2007 and moved my 401(k) to a rollover IRA. I am going to apply for reinstatement soon and I have three questions. (1) Can I pay back just the second withdrawal and not the first? (2) Which do you recommend I select - CSRS Offset or FERS? (3) If I don't pay back anything, will the >18 yrs count towards my retirement? (I do not know if the position for which I am applying will be needed for 5 yrs.)

  Frances Posted August 10, 2009 5:23 PM
• 83532
  

  Tammy,

  I receive a retirement check from 25 years of active duty in the military. I have been under FERS for 3 years now (currently 47 years old). Am I eligable to retire under FERS at my MRA (56) without giving-up my military retirement? If so, what % reduction applies to me for retiring under FERS early?

  Thanks, Kevin Hillard

  Kevin Hillard Posted July 27, 2009 10:46 AM
• 76555
  

  If I have MRA +21 years (FERS) and my agency has a voluntary early retirement offered as a result of a RIF or furlough, can I get the social security supplement in addition to the reduced FERS benefit? The advice usually offered is for employees with 30 years service and MRA.

  Laura C Posted May 1, 2009 2:30 PM
• 70405
  

  There are instances when a CSRS employee is offered a VERA (i.e. 28 years of service at age 51) and the 2% reduction penalty forevery year under age 55 is waived. This happend at the USPS in 2007. This is usually only done in special cases involving EAS (management) personnel. The craft members (drivers, clerk, carriers, etc.) NEVER have the penalties waived.

  Phil S Posted February 28, 2009 9:16 AM
• 60897
  

  Fact/Myth #10 mentions 20 year retirement eligibility for LE, FF, ATC possible even while working in a position outside of these areas. Am I understanding correctly that 10 years of service as a FE, FF, ATC + 10 years of service as a 'other' federal position qualifies one for 20 year retirement elibibity?

  thomas Posted October 14, 2008 12:01 PM
• 60761
  

  Thank you for all of the great information.

  Have you ever published an article on those who are former federal employees who had enough federal years to obtain some retirement from CSRS? I am currently working for a government contractor and starting to consider retirement, am uncertain where to apply and wonder if delaying retirement beyond 62 will increase my benefit.

  Also, I had 10 years of service not under Social Security --at a very low salary and later returned to federal service for 7 years under CSRS and SS. I noticed you mentioned in this article--or one of the links--that there is some problem with CSRS Offset if you retire at 62.

  I don't have a Human Resource Office to go to for this and would appreciate any help you can give.

  Vicky L Posted October 10, 2008 9:33 AM
• 60760
  

  If I begin work with the fed gov't at 61 and stay until I am 70, how do I calculate my retirement monies?

  christine reighard Posted October 10, 2008 9:31 AM
• 57876
  

  Do NSPS Fire Chief and Assistant Fire Chief position, still have the maxium hire age restriction on them.

  Marvin Hereford Posted September 6, 2008 10:43 AM
• 47392
  

  I have heard that, under the MRA+10 Provision in FERS, the amount of the age penalty is different depending upon the years of service. Is the following true or false? "If you have between 10 and 19 years of service, your annuity will be reduced by 5% for every year your are under age 62. If you have between 20 and 29 years of service, the reduction is the same for every year under age 60". I am a non-law enforcement/non-firefighter FERS member. Thank you for your great column.

  M. Schellentrager Posted March 27, 2008 8:09 PM
• 40513
  

  I have 23 years of Federal Law Enforcement credit. If I were to leave Federal Service LEO at this juncture, how would my benefits be deferred? Would I collect at 60, 62, ? I am in the 20yrs/ age 50, or 25 years at any age category. I am 46 years old with 23 years of service.

  les weyandt Posted December 29, 2007 8:15 AM
• 35995
  

  I, too, would like to see more information on the CSRS Offset issue. It is a very confusing issue and I'm having trouble finding out when I can retire and how much I will have to pay back monthly.

  Sandi Evans Posted October 26, 2007 12:22 PM
• 35411
  

  Tammy, I would like to get a definitive response as to whether I will get an additional % added to my retirement annuity for my unused sick leave. I will have 42 years and 11 months at retirement. I also have 2700 hours of sick leave. The OPM retirement representative I talked to didn't know. My personnel office told me no but from the various documents that I have been reading, it appears that I do. I enjoy reading your articles and I am relying on them for the facts. Thanks

  Marlene Lemro Posted October 19, 2007 10:56 AM
• 34433
  

  I would like to get some claarification on my retirement eligibility. I am 50 years old and have 17 years of service. (FERS). According your chart, my MRA is 56. Will I be eligable to retire at age 56? For some reason I thought I had to be age 60 with 20 years of service.

  Beverly Richards Posted October 4, 2007 11:03 AM
• 29236
  

  All the comments and information as been on CSRS and FERS -- what about CSRS Offset. Could you post some facts/myths on CSRS Offset for retirment.

  Nora Bryant Posted July 24, 2007 4:14 PM
• 28180
  

  The FERS enrolled Federal employee pays the same social security as a private industry employee. Why is social security considered a "benefit" for us? Do FERS employees get any different Social Security payment as non-Fed employees? Is there any risk of it being considered "double dipping" and therefore reduced since other portions of our retirement are also Federal?

  PJ Posted July 11, 2007 4:21 PM
• 27978
  

  in fact #8 above you strated it is possible for a FERS employee to get 100% at retirement. how would i do this. i contribute the max % to TSP what else is needed?

  Thyrman F. Smiley Posted July 9, 2007 2:22 PM
• 27895
  

  For Mike: What about #1 do you see as not correct? My point of this first "myth" was to be sure that employees know that early retirement is not available to everyone. It is a tool that agencies can use to accomplish downsizing necessary for budget considerations, base closures, reorganizations, etc. Employees should not plan their career around a potential early retirement offer as it may not happen. For most employees, if they leave federal service prior to their minimum retirement age, this is called a "resignation" not early retirement. VERA (voluntary early retirement authority) and VSIP (voluntary separation incentive payment)offers are not made available to all federal employees.

  Tammy Flanagan Posted July 7, 2007 4:26 PM
• 27894
  

  For Patty: I think you are confusing the MRA + 10 retirement category with a "deferred" retirement benefit - two different things. I wrote about deferred (and postponed) retirements last week. If an employee separates with at least 5 years of creditable civilian service, they are entitled to a deferred retirement payable at age 62 if they have less than 10 years of service. If they have at least 10 years of service, then they are eligible as early as the "MRA."

  Tammy Flanagan Posted July 7, 2007 4:21 PM
• 27893
  

  For Frederick: The supplement is only payable to those who are entitled to an "immediate" unreduced retirement. If you leave at age 58 or 59 and postpone the benefit until age 60, that would not be an immediate retirement. If you wait to retire until you are 60, then you will be entitled to the supplement.

  Tammy Flanagan Posted July 7, 2007 4:18 PM
• 27892
  

  For T. Rowan: I was looking for the history on the mandatory age when I was writing this week's article... thanks for filling it in for us!

  Tammy Flanagan Posted July 7, 2007 4:17 PM
• 27891
  

  For Mabel: If you retire at age 74 with at least 5 years of creditable civilian service (or more), you will be entitled to an unreduced FERS (or CSRS) retirement benefit. If you are already receiving Social Security retirement, you may be affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) if you will be receiving a CSRS retirement benefit. The WEP can cause a reduction to your Social Security benefit, not your federal retirement benefit. If you are retiring under FERS, you will not be affected by the Windfall adjustment.

  Tammy Flanagan Posted July 7, 2007 4:15 PM
• 27890
  

  For Sheryl: It is all I can do to keep current on the civilian retirement benefits. I'm sure there is a need for a columnist who is a military retirement specialist! My area of expertise is strictly civilian retirement (CSRS and FERS). Good luck to you and you certainly deserve the best retirement benefits our government can offer you!

  Tammy Flanagan Posted July 7, 2007 4:10 PM
• 27889
  

  For Paula: If you leave federal service at age 46, it will be called a "resignation" and you would not be eligible to begin receiving your CSRS benefit until age 62. The only exeption would if you are offered early retirement or discontinued service retirement. It doesn't matter that you will have 30 years of service... you also need to be age 55 before you are eligible for immediate retirement. See myth #1 above!

  Tammy Flanagan Posted July 7, 2007 4:07 PM
• 27866
  

  Tammy, a sincere thank you for your help understanding the tangle of government regulations!Also, I have a question. If I make a deposit for military service can I use those years towards meeting my required years of service to retire? I am age 42 and have 17 years civilian government service as a LEO plus an additional 6 years of military service. Can I retire under the special provision for LEO's in three more years, ie at age 45 with 20 years civilian LEO service and 6 years military credit for total of 26 years service or does the 25 years any age rule apply to strictly 25 years LEO service??

  Jay Posted July 7, 2007 3:53 AM
• 27826
  

  I am a CSR employee. I plan to retire when I have 30 years service, but I'll only be 46 years old. I've been told that I can retire, but it will be with a 2% penalty for every year that I'm not 55 years of age. Is this correct?

  Paula S. Goodwin Posted July 6, 2007 11:31 AM
• 27816
  

  I will be 74 in December, will my annuity be reduced when I retire?

  Mabel Steward Posted July 6, 2007 9:52 AM
• 27813
  

  Regarding Myth No.6, the mandatory retirement age was indeed 70 until 9/30/78, at which time the "Whitten Amendment" expired. This dated back to the 1950's (and also included the legal basis for the time-in-grade restrictions, which are now based solely on OPM regulations in 5 CFR, Part 300). Prior to 9/30/78, J. Edgar Hoover and a few select other senior bureaucrats were required to receive annual reauthorizations from the President to continue working beyond the age of 70. Some folk memory of this old legal provision obviously still lingers among the ever-shrinking cadre of CSRS employees.

  T. Rowan Posted July 6, 2007 9:14 AM
• 27811
  

  this is a wonderful summation, thanks.

  barbara viney Posted July 6, 2007 9:01 AM
• 27806
  

  Retirement is a big step and I plan on retiring at age 60 with 22 years of service. Because I am a FERS employee I will also receive a "monthly FERS annuity supplement" at 60. This supplement will last until I am 62. My question is: if I decide to resign at 59 and hold up my retirement until I am 60, can I still collect the "monthly FERS annuity supplement" when I do take my retirement at age 60?

  Frederick Conover Posted July 6, 2007 8:52 AM
• 27801
  

  What a well thought out, "quick reference," tool! I've already passed it along to our personnel folks. Thanks!

  Bill Ashley Posted July 6, 2007 7:44 AM
• 27800
  

  Tammy states in part, "7. Fact for FERS, Myth for CSRS: There is only one age for a deferred retirement under CSRS -- 62. FERS employees may apply for deferred retirement benefits as early as their MRA as long as they had at least 10 years of service when they left the government (and did not apply for a refund of their retirement contributions)." I believe she may be mistaken about 10 years required for FERS deferred retirement. I believe the FERS employee is totally vested in the retirement annuity after 5 years of service. That would indicate to me that a person could terminate federal employment with 5 years of service (after their MRA and without a refunt of retirement contributions) and take a deferred retirement at age 62. If this is not the case, would somebody please explain why not.

  Patty Romigh Posted July 6, 2007 7:39 AM
• 27788
  

  I beleive that number 1 is not correct as stated.

  MIke Hawes Posted July 6, 2007 6:30 AM
• 27781
  

  You have written/provided many articles on civilian retirement and the benefits and options that exist. I would like to know more about the advice you have for military members. The military retirement is not what it used to be. Most of us cannot live on our retirement checks after 20 years of service. How much should we have in savings? Should we contribute the max to the TSP (no matching contributions)? Should we have that six month buffer even though we have a retirement check? What are the medical benefits? Will we have to pay for dental? I know the answer to many of these questions, but the more I speak to my militray counterparts, the more I know that we are in need of information and advise.

  Thank you

  Sheryl E. Brooks Posted July 6, 2007 12:54 AM