Q: I am a Civil Service Retirement System employee who is now receiving a disability pension. What happens if I am able to go back to work but the Postal Service doesn’t have any openings and I can get a job in the private sector? I am 57 years old with 28 years with the postal service. Do I have to wait until I am 60 or 62 years of age to retire (deferred retirement)? Also, is there an earnings limit if I retire as a civil service retiree like there is under Social Security?
A: If your disability annuity was stopped because you recovered from your disability, you would have to wait until age 60 to apply for a deferred retirement. On the other hand, if you haven’t recovered from your disability and your earnings from wages or self-employment didn’t exceed 80 percent of the current salary for the position you occupied when you went on disability retirement, your disability annuity would continue uninterrupted.
