Q. I am confused and the booklets don’t make it very clear. I will be 56 in January 2011. At that time I will have 26 years and four months of service. I am a FERS employee. It was my understanding that I may be eligble for early out under the provision of 25/Any Age. Our agency has recieved an Early Out Authority from OPM. Since I am at MRA, will I have to pay any penalty for retiring before I have reached 59 — the year I will reach 30 years of service (i.e: the fractional amount for every month I am less than 30 years of service)?
A. When an opportunity to retire early is offered by an agency, employees only need to meet the following qualification requirements: age 50 with 20 years of service or at any age with 25. There is no age penalty for retiring early.
