Q. I am planning to retire at the end of this year with 30 years’ service under CSRS. I received my last cost-of-living increase Jan. 3, 2010. I received my final step increase Nov. 10, 2010. To use the cost-of-living increase toward/as my high-3, do I have to stay until at least Jan. 3 to get full credit? If I go on Nov. 1, will I lose the benefit of staying until Jan. 3? My EOD date is Oct. 17, 1982.
A. Your high-3 will be based on the average basic pay you received during 78 consecutive biweekly pay periods. You can take it from there.
