Q: I am 57 with four years of military buyback and 18 years of uninterrupted federal service. I am confused about eligibility for the special retirement supplement. Some say I am eligible if VERA is implemented, others say eligibility requirements state that only those eligible for an “unreduced” retirement are eligible, which of course would exclude MRA+10 retirees like myself. Please clarify for me.
A: Those who retire under the MRA+10 provision aren’t eligible to receive the special retirement supplement. Those who meet the age and service requirements for early retirement and accept an offer to do that are eligible, once they reach their minimum retirement age. Since you have reached your MRA and have more than 20 years of service, you’d be eligible to accept an offer of early retirement and entitled to the SRS. FYI: The SRS would be based solely on your years as a FERS employee. The active-duty service for which you made a deposit would not be included.
