Q. I was a federal employee for 26 years and, from 1987 onward, was under FERS. I left my last federal job in June 2009 at age 58, after having passed the minimum retirement age and having been enrolled in the Federal Employees Health Benefits plan over the entire 26 years of my federal employment. In June 2009, I said that I intended to take a postponed retirement, some time after I reached age 60. It is my understanding that my enrollment in FEHBP was suspended at the time I left my last federal employment, in June 2009. I had…
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Q. I am 65 years old and am employed full time by the federal government. I will continue my federal employment for several years. I am covered under Federal Employees Health Benefits and pay for Blue Cross/Blue Shield insurance. If I decline Part B now and decide to take it later, will I be subject to the Medicare Premium penalty? A. Yes, you can decline Part B while you are still employed without penalty. When you are no longer employed, you’ll have an eight-month window in which to enroll, penalty-free, which begins the first full month after you retire.
Q. I am 61 years old. I have more than 17 years of civilian service. I would like to retire early by age 62. Is this an option with MRA+10? Voluntary early retirement is not an option yet. A. At age 62, you could retire on an immediate, unreduced annuity with as few as five years of service.
Q. I am a FERS employee with 25 years of service (21 Postal Service, four military, which I bought back). I am 45 years old. As a FERS employee, will I be penalized 2 percent or 5 percent a year for accepting an early-out offer? If so, what other penalties will I face? A. If you accept an offer of early retirement, you won’t be subject to the age penalty. And there aren’t any other penalties that would apply.
Q. As a FERS employee retiring at the end of March after 27+ years at age 65. How will the sequestration and continuing resolution affect when I will get my check for unused annual leave? Will there be any effect on the delivery of my first annuity and Social Security checks? A. There shouldn’t be any delay in the delivery of your annuity and Social Security checks. Whether there would be a delay in your lump-sum annual leave payment is something that only your agency can answer.
Q. I work for Customs and Border Protection. I am 59 years and eight months old with 20 years and three months of service. If I retire ASAP, can I receive the special retirement supplement? Any information for early buyouts for us? It would make more sense to give us early buyouts and not furlough the front-line officers. A. If you are a law enforcement officer, you can retire at any time. If you aren’t, you can only retire under the MRA+10 provision unless you are offered an early retirement opportunity by your agency. If one is offered, you’ll learn…
Q. I am 56 years old with 22 years of service in the Defense Department. Am I eligible to retire early? A. You have the age and service needed for early retirement. However, you can only retire if your agency offers you an opportunity to do so.
Q. I’m 53 with 27 years and 10 months. I could get six months of military service for Army Reserve full-time training credit. I’m in a term position. If I’m given a reduction in force, what are my options? Can I defer my retirement until my minimum retirement age of 56? If so, would I lose my health and insurance benefits? If I’m RIF’ed and do not defer, does that means I lost health benefits? A. If you receive a RIF notice, you have two choices. You can either sit tight and see if you are going to be separated,…
Q. I am 54 and have 24 years with the federal government. I will hit my 25-year mark in November, when I also turn 55. If early-outs are offered, will I be eligible to retire being that I won’t hit 25 years until after October? Also, prior to working for the federal government, I worked for five years with nonappropriated funds. I was originally told by human resources that those years would count toward my service computation. This year, I requested a retirement estimate from HR, and they say those five years don’t count. Is this correct? A. If you…
Q. I am a federal employee with the Department of Agriculture who will turn 54 on March 18. I have been with USDA for 35 years and eight months. I understand, under CSRS, that the Office of Personnel Management has to approve early retirement for the federal agency I work for before I can take it. Is there is an option under CSRS where I could get early retirement to care for an elderly family member without requiring overall agency approval from OPM? A. No, there isn’t.