Q. I am a federal employee under FERS retirement. I would like to leave federal service with 21 years of service at age 57 (MRA=56). I also have over five continuous years of enrollment in FEHB. I am considering the deferred retirement. Question One: Can I start my FERS annuity at age 60, without any penalties? Question Two: can I re-enroll in FEHB and will my agency make similar contributions as when I was federally employed? A. Under your scenario of age 57 and 21 years of service, you would have to retire under the MRA+10 provision. Your annuity would…
Browsing: Deferred retirement
Q. I left the VA after 10 years of service and was under the civil service retirement program. When I left I was a GS-5, step 4. I was employed from June 27,1977 until July 5,1987. I left my retirement funds and did not withdraw them. I thought I might return to federal service someday. I am now 57 years old. As things turned out I did not return and now I am approaching retirement age. I have been told that I may not be able to draw both Social Security and civil service retirement. I need to understand if…
Q. I am currently a FERS employee in the GS system. This is my situation: I had 15 years of active-duty time, at which time I left the Navy and have continued in the Reserves. I started in the GS system, bought my military time back (about $18,000 for 15 years active duty) and in 2011 will have five years as a GS employee to total 20 (military + FERS years). My question is: Can I choose to take a deferred retirement in 2011 if I no longer want to stay with the federal government and pick up that pension…
Q. I am a FERS employee, age 52 with 23 years of service. Due to my spouse’s retirement, we are selling our home and relocating to another state. Although I received an outstanding performance evaluation for the past two years, my request to work from home was denied, based on agency policy. As a result, I am planning to separate and defer my annuity until age 60. I am wondering whether this situation could possibly be considered an involuntary separation. Of course, having it classified that way would allow me to continue FEHB enrollment so this would be beneficial. Can…
My readers seem to be confused about two types of annuities: postponed and deferred. I think the misunderstanding arises because they are using the terms interchangeably. Let me explain the difference, which is a big one. Postponed annuity A postponed annuity is one where you retire after meeting the age and service requirements and postpone the receipt of your annuity until a later date. This option is only available to employees under the Federal Employees Retirement System who have reached their minimum retirement age (MRA) and have at least 10 years of creditable service. If you retire under the MRA+10…
Q: I am a federal employee covered under the Federal Employees Retirement System, and at age 49 will have just over 30 years of service with my military time that I bought back. Can I retire without penalty by postponing or deferring my annuity until my minimum retirement age of 56 years and 2 months, and reapply for the Federal Employees Health Benefits plan for my spouse, and draw on my Thrift Savings Plan, as well? Do I defer my annuity or postpone my annuity under this scenario? What is the better of the two options, or should I not…
Q: I am a federal employee under the Civil Service Retirement System. My wife was a Federal Employees Retirement System employee who left the government after 10 years (1985 to 1995). Is she eligible for a pension, and, if so, at what age? Should I leave her contributions in the retirement system or withdraw them? A: Because your wife had at least five years of creditable service and left her contributions in the retirement fund, she will be eligible for a deferred annuity at age 62. That annuity will be based on her length of service and her highest three…
Q. In 2005, I resigned from my position as a civil servant. At the time I was 51 and had 24 years of service. It was not explained to me that I could retire and defer. I am now 55, and since I am under 30 years of service still could not withdraw without a penalty. Do I have any options in order to still receive a retirement that I earned via 24 years of service? A. As a FERS employee with at least 10 years of service, the earliest age at which you could have retired was 56, your…