About Author

Reg Jones was head of retirement and insurance policy at the Office of Personnel Management. Email your retirement-related questions to fedexperts@federaltimes.com.

10 Comments

      • Somebody earlier mentioned depending on GS grade and what military grade retirement and years, so just adding that to my original question would it be worth buying my 20 years military service and retire FERS with 37 years Volunteer Reitrement

  1. I retired with 21 yrs FERS and 11 military. Bought my military time back within 36 month finance Free grace period. I ONLY receive $685 SRS…..civilians who retire FERS with 32 years are making like $1200 a month for their SRS. I would have kept working if HR had told me the Truth; but, I think they just don’t know. My total retirement is $1590 a month with taxes and health insurance ONLY deducted. Hope this clears it up for you!

  2. If you have been working for the gov for 17 years and NOT bought back your time as of yet, then it will NOT be cost feasible because of the interest. Call your HR to find out how much the 20 years of military service will cost you THEN make ur decision.Kaaa

    • I bought back 21 years at around the time I had 12 years of Federal Service and it cost me a little over $16K. Assuming I retire at 56 my SRS is calculated to be around $700/month and it will take me 23 months to make that up (break even) on the buy back amount. That means I’ll have another 4 years to collect the SRS, about $33K worth. I wish I would have done it within the first few years of Federal Service to save on the interest charge but listed to bad advice I didn’t do my own research. Still worth it though.

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