Q. My agency (Interior/FWS) put out notice that it will be offering a Voluntary Early Retirement Authority to all employees beginning in January 2012 and ending in September 2013. My service computation date is Sept. 19, 1984. I have over 20 years in covered 6c (law enforcement) positions, and over 25 in federal service. I am 46 years old. Interior has told me they conferred with the Office of Personnel Management and I qualify based on the 25 years at any age for the VERA. However, they say I do not qualify for an enhanced annuity for law enforcement officers, even though I have over 20 years law enforcement (6c) covered service. They state I must have 25 years covered 6c, or be 50 years of age, as stated in 5 USC 8412(d), to receive the enhanced annuity. I believe they are incorrect and would like to know if you could tell me if I should receive the enhanced annuity under law if I take the VERA. Also, if I receive the enhanced annuity based on my 6(c) coverage, should I also receive the special retirement supplement, though I have not reached the standard FERS minimum retirement age of 56? My understanding is MRA does not apply to law enforcement officers retiring under the enhanced annuity.
A. OPM is correct. It’s a matter of law that you would only be eligible for the enhanced law enforcement benefit if you were either age 50 with 20 years of covered service or any age with 25 years of covered service.
Because you wouldn’t be retiring under the law enforcement provision, you wouldn’t be eligible for the special retirement supplement until you reached your minimum retirement age.
