Q. When will federal employees be allowed to take phased retirement? And are you eligible for this if you take a Voluntary Early Retirement Authority or postponed retirement (MRA+20 years)?
A. Agencies are waiting for the Office of Personnel Management to issue regulations and guidance. Until then, “when” will remain an unknown. Here’s what is known: To participate, an individual must have been employed on a full-time basis for the preceding three years. Under CSRS, the individual must be eligible for immediate retirement with at least 30 years of service at age 55, or with 20 years of service at age 60. Under FERS, the individual must be eligible for immediate retirement with at least 30 years of service at MRA (minimum retirement age 55-57 depending on year of birth), or with 20 years of service at age 60. Therefore, no one who takes a VERA or leaves with eligibility for a postponed retirement would qualify to participate.
