Q. I will retire at the end of March. I am a FERS employee with 30 years service, and am age 57 1/2. My Human Resources office told me I will be penalized on my Supplemental Social Security payment at an amount of 5 percent per year until I reach age 62. My question is: Will this Supplemental Social Security payment increase yearly as I approach age 62, or does it remain the same.
A. It sounds like your HR office was talking about the age penalty that’s applied to the annuities of employees who retire under the MRA+10 provision (minimum retirement age with at least 10 but fewer than 30 years of service). The special retirement supplement is based on the amount of Social Security benefit you would receive at age 62 based on your FERS-covered service. It begins when you reach your MRA and continues to age 62. It remains the same until age 62 when you are eligible for regular Social Security benefits.