Q. Our Postal Service plant is going through a transfer of function. Jobs are being offered out of the area. If I refuse a position, I want to postpone my annuity until age 60 with more than 28 years of service. I have been told by human resources that if I postpone, I will not receive the special retirement supplement. Also, I will not continue Federal Employees Health Benefits during my postponement because of cost out of pocket but restart FEHB once my annuity begins at 60. Is this all possible?
A. Your agency is correct. You would be retiring under the MRA+10 provision (minimum retirement age with at least 10 but fewer than 30 years of service). No one who retires under the MRA+10 provision is entitled to the special retirement supplement.
If you postpone the receipt of your annuity to a later date, you would be able to re-enroll in the FEHB program when your annuity begins. That’s assuming that you had been enrolled in the program for the five consecutive years before you retired.