Q. I will be 60 years old in February. I will have 16 years and five months of total service with Customs and Border Protection and am covered for retirement with FERS. What does the 5 percent penalty mean “if I retire under the age of 62”? Does this apply only to my Social Security benefits or my FERS retirement? I will not ask for any Social Security benefits until I reach the age of 62. I am also retired from the military with 20 years of total service.
A. Because you have fewer than 20 years of service, you’d be retiring under the MRA+10 provision (minimum retirement age with at least 10 years of service). As such, your annuity would be reduced by 5 percent for every year you are under age 62 (5/12 percent per month). The fact that you are retired military is irrelevant.
