Q. My wife has 20-plus years of federal service(CSRS, CSRS Offset and FERS). She took a leave of absence to care for an ailing parent, then a year later she resigned leaving 500 hours of sick leave. In 2002, she had an accident that left her unable to walk unassisted, and she has since been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and is on Social Security disability. Is it possible to file for a deferred retirement at her age of 57, or does she have to wait until she is 62? Also, will the Social Security disability affect her retirement?
A. Because she has 20 years of service and was last covered by FERS, she can retire under FERS rules. That means she can apply for a deferred retirement at age 60.
