Q. I was just hired as a GS-0081 with the Department of Veterans Affairs after retiring from 20 years in the Air Force. I was hired at age 38 thanks to the recent ruling by OPM to repeal the maximum entry age. My concern is whether I will be able to complete my 20 years for the FERS retirement from the GS-0081. As it looks now, I will come up just a few months short. Are there going to be any changes to the maximum retirement age? This doesn’t seem fair if I’m still able to do the job and pass an annual physical.
A. Relax. According to OPM, “If the law enforcement officer or firefighter attains the standard mandatory separation age and has not yet completed the required 20 years of service under the special provisions, he or she must be separated on the last day of the month in which he or she completes the 20 years of service.”
