Q. I am an air traffic controller for the Federal Aviation Administration. On Jan. 31, 2018, I will be forced out at age 56. On Feb. 17, 2018 I would have received my 30 years of federal service. So as it stands right now I would get 20 years at 1.7 and nine years and 11 months at 1.0. If I take another federal job for the 17 days, would I then get 1.7 for 29 years and 11 months and 1.0 for the remainder of time? If so, can there be a break in service or does it have to be continuous service? I will be 17 days shy of a full 30 years of service when I am forced out. Is there anything I can do to get the full 30 years? Would a 17-day extension or possibly a different federal job give me the full 30 years at 1.7 since I will be 17 days past my mandatory retirement age?
A. No matter what scenario you dream up, you’d only get credit for 20 years of covered service computed with the 1.7 percent multiplier and all other service computed with the 1.0 percent multiplier.
