Deferred Retirement – Early Separation

Deferred Retirement

When you separated from Federal Service under FERS, but did not retire, what steps did you take?  Are you still eligible to receive an annuity?

Employees covered under FERS with 5 years of creditable service may be eligible for deferred retirement at age 62 or if the employee completed 10 years of service, 5 years of civilian service, with eligibility upon reaching the Minimum Retirement Age (MRA).

• Also Read: Early Retirement for Federal Employees: The Must-Do List Before You Hand In That Notice
• Also Read: What Does the Federal Retirement Process Look Like?
• Also Read: Basics of Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS): You Should Know These

When an employee reaches the MRA he or she may choose to postpone the date they receive their annuity so as to avoid the age reduction provision.  MRA depends on the year of your birth.  Persons born between 1953 and 1964 have a MRA of 56.  Those born after 1969, which represent a significant portion of the federal service, have a MRA of 57 years.

FERS employees are eligible for an immediate annuity the first day of the month after the MRA is reached given the creditable service requirements have been met.  When federal employees separate from service without retiring and with no plans to return to service, it is a good idea to contact the Retirement Division at OPM and speak with a specialist about your options.

Your situation is very much as if you had retired as far as who has jurisdiction over you as a separated federal employee.  You separated from your agency and the agency is no longer responsible for you, but OPM is.  As a separated employee, you do not have a CSA number because you have not retired. Nonetheless, all of your questions should be forward to OPM.

 

P. S.  Always Remember to Share What You Know.

 

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