Q. My agency sent out a Voluntary Early Retirement Authority/Voluntary Separation Incentive Pay form to inquire about interest. Some got it, while others did not. It seemed only personnel going anyway got the buyout. I was told the reason I did not get it was I did not qualify. At the time, I was 54 and had 21 years of service. Does this VERA/VSIP constitute a reduction in force or restructuring? If so, why would I not qualify?
A. A VERA may be offered to anyone who meets the age and service requirements to retire. A VSIP can be offered to anyone, whether they are eligible to retire or not. While you meet the age and service requirements for early retirement, your grade, series or location may not have met the criteria for the current offer. You should ask whoever said that you weren’t qualified what the criteria were.
