Eligibility for Retirement
Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS)
General Eligibility Requirements
Under FERS, you must have at least 5 years of creditable civilian service to be eligible for and annuity and be covered by the retirement system on the day of separation.
Exception: The service requirement for disability retirement is 18 months.
Immediate Retirement |
|
AGE |
YEARS OF SERVICE |
MRA |
30 |
60 |
20 |
62 |
5 |
If you retire voluntarily, your annuity will commence on the first day of the month following your retirement. Refer to the “Minimum Retirement Age (MRA) Schedule”.
MRA + 10
You can retire as early as age 55 with as little as 10 years of creditable service (see MRA chart). This allows you to retire at your MRA with 10 to 29 years of service with a possible reduction in annuity. An MRA + 10 retirement is effective the first day of the month following separation from service. However, your annuity will be reduced by 5% for every year under 62. A separating employee can reduce or eliminate the age reduction by postponing the commencing date of the MRA + 10 annuity. A postponed MRA + 10 annuity becomes effective the first day of the month the individual elects to receive payments. (MRA + 10 optional retirement means that you have met the age before separating.)
Early Retirement
|
|
Major RIF (VERA) - Voluntary |
|
AGE
|
YEARS OF SERVICE
|
50
|
20
|
Any Age
|
25
|
Discontinued Service - Involuntary |
|
AGE |
YEARS OF SERVICE |
50 |
20 |
Any Age
|
25
|
Annuity commences the day after the date of the involuntary separation.
Deferred Retirement
|
|
AGE
|
YEARS OF SERVICE
|
MRA |
30* |
60 |
20* |
MRA |
10 |
62 |
5 |
If you have taken a refund of your retirement contributions, you have no annuity right. If you have not taken a refund, you should apply not more than 3 months before eligibility. When you apply, there is no credit for unused sick leave, nor will life and health insurance be reinstated. The annuity is effective the first day of the month after your 62nd birthday or the first day of the month after you meet the MRA + 10 requirement. (MRA + 10 deferred means that you have 10 years of service at separation but not your MRA. When you reach your MRA, you can apply for the annuity.)
- No age reduction because service requirement was met at separation.
Disability Retirement
|
|
AGE
|
YEARS OF SERVICE
|
Any Age
|
18 Months
|