What happens to your Federal Employees Health Benefits program coverage if you accept an early retirement offer? It all depends. The law originally stated that an employee had to be enrolled in the FEHB program for the five years of service immediately before retirement or from that employee’s first opportunity to enroll. Later Congress granted the Office of Personnel Management limited authority to waive the five-year requirement, and only where it would be against equity and good conscience not to do so. The requirement then was broadened so that OPM can pre-approve waivers for employees retiring under the Voluntary Separation…
Browsing: Early retirement
Q. I’m planning to retire in October 2019. I will be 58 years old with 30 years of FERS (including 11 years as a law enforcement officer), and eight and a half years of military service (I bought back my time). Will I incur penalties for retiring before 60? Am I eligible for the OPM supplemental Social Security benefit?
As a result of all the early retirement offers and buyouts, a lot of employees leave government for what they hope will be greener pastures. Whatever their motivation, quite a few of them think about returning to work for the federal government. If you are one of them, a potential impediment to your coming back to work is this. If you received a buyout and return to work before the end of five years, with rare exception, the law requires that you repay the entire amount no later than the date on which you report for duty. If you didn’t…
Q. At my age of 59 (60 in December 2016) and with 27 years of service (28 starting in October 2016), would the 5 percent per year for lifetime penalty apply to me if I retire before turning 60?
Q. I am hoping to leave service at 59 years old with 25 years of service. I was planning to postpone my annuity start date until I was 60. My understanding is if I postpone and do not defer my annuity, I could resume as if I just left service. I would be entitled to health insurance and my supplement until age 62; if I deferred I would be ineligible for either. I believe the words “postpone” and “defer” are not the same, though are similar in meaning. Do I need to meet my minimum retirement age to qualify for a postponed retirement?
Q. I’m 50 years old, under FERS and have 32 years of service. I plan to retire at 56 with 37 years with the U.S. Postal Service. Will I be eligible to receive a supplement from OPM until I reach full retirement age? Is there money through USPS that I would receive?
Q. I am under FERS and will be 61 years old in July 2016. I will have 25 years and 4 months of service under my belt. Will I still lose 5 percent for being under 62 years of age if I retire in July 2016?
Q. Is there is a COLA penalty if I retire before 62, or do we get the full COLA as everyone else?
Q: Hi Reg, my wife worked 24 years with USPS.she was under CSRS with 24 years of service. Is she able to collect before age 62? ( 60 with 20 years of service.)
Q. My wife quit her federal government job but did not know at age 62 she would be entitled to an annuity. We have since applied for her annuity. She had worked approximately 17 years. She is 63 years old, and we have applied to OPM. Will they back pay her from age 62?