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.
