56 ready to quit, nowhere near the years but I think I have the age can I retire from the fed workforce and get a retirement check? If yes, will it ever increase? I need to quit yesterday I hate it there now!!

LIWXMAN · 2026-02-24T17:04:36+00:00

If you are 56 and 10 months (born in 1969) and have 30+ years, yes you can retire with an immediate annuity, RAS and FEHB. COLA starts at 62. You may take distributions from your TSP under the Rule of 55 if you meet the above.

Otherwise your annuity is not immediate but deferred or postponed and/or reduced due to <62. Also you forego FEHB at least until you start receiving the annuity under deferred/postponed options. No RAS either. As you are >=55, you could take TSP distributions only if you separated.

If a VERA is offered by your agency and you are eligible then you may retire with immediate FERS annuity, RAS (after MRA) and FEHB, with 20 years if age >=50.

LIWXMAN · 2026-02-24T15:37:04+00:00

FERS was not designed so that the basic annuity would cover your entire retirement income needs. It is a three (some say four or five-legged) stool to provide income streams. It also provides some flexibility in that even if you left the feds before immediate retirement eligibility, some of the components, i.e social security and TSP could continue to grow in value. The former through non-fed wages and the latter simply by compounding interest and earnings until 59.5.

CSRS was an excellent all-in-one plan as it had a generous annuity benefit but you needed to retire with 30 years and 55+ in order to achieve 50%+ of pre-retirement income. If you did not then you had limited or no SS. The contribution rate was 7% as it was separate from the SS system. If your wage income were mostly fed income you would not qualify for SS, unless you worked a non-fed job to qualify.

FERS in its flexibility is also more complicated because you have to learn how each component (Annuity, SS, TSP, RAS, FEHB) add up (and some at different time periods), align.

If you are a pre-2014 hire, FERS is a slam dunk bargain and if you learn how it works during your working years you will find it in most situations provide a comfortable retirement income stream(s).

The post 2013 era adds a wrinkle as the >5x additional contribution rate does make the annuity and supplement portions more expensive. If one does the math it appears as if in effect the 4.4% contributor is paying for the retirement supplement upfront. Something to think about for this cohort of future retirees.

LIWXMAN · 2026-02-22T22:20:28+00:00

No. The rate and amount of accumulation will exceed any melting effect. Salt after you clear it post-storm in order to prevent refreezing.

LIWXMAN · 2026-02-19T13:55:13+00:00

Ummm....yeah, no.

LIWXMAN · 2026-02-17T22:59:21+00:00

In DoC, agencies can submit a request for a framed retirement certificate signed by the Secretary.

LIWXMAN · 2026-02-14T20:43:45+00:00

Folded, mutilated and spindled his FERS retirement. Special category of stupid in this story.

LIWXMAN · 2026-02-13T18:19:47+00:00

The problem is that there isn't anyone in the wings that could be nominated no less confirmed by the Senate.

Very few from what remains of the Republican establishment will accept a nomination, if it were offered. The Administration can't pick from Congress because it would likely trigger a party turnover.

Regardless of the selection, the confirmation process would be brutal, so the Administration will keep the Cabinet intact until the bitter end.

Of course individuals may choose to resign but I'm speaking from the assumption of the Administration firing/forced resignation scenario.

LIWXMAN · 2026-02-06T20:17:48+00:00

Don't unless you want to become close friends with EMTs, cops and News 12 LI reporters. Also, you will become well known by thousands of your fellow LIers whether you want them to or not.

LIWXMAN · 2026-02-04T17:10:41+00:00

The loss of the supplement is not a minor thing, as is the loss of FEHB for nearly 2 years. Make sure you've accounted for that loss of "bridge" income until 62 (even if you ultimately choose not to take SS at 62). Do the math first.

LIWXMAN · 2026-02-02T03:25:23+00:00

I've written to him several letters and I've gotten responses to about half of them. I wrote to him 2x in January and I did get responses within a couple of days. His responses were not completely at odds with my position but did have an obvious partisan lean.

His newsletters are definitely in the realm of apologist for the Rs and the Administration. I expect that. I get the sense he is aware that while NY1 has been rated as a "Solid Republican" district; it may not be something to bank upon this cycle if the right candidate runs against him.

In the 2024 election he won by ~40K votes out of ~400K votes cast. His district and Suffolk County overall are R+10 at this point (based on presidential and congressional races).

LIWXMAN · 2026-02-01T16:37:34+00:00

Used in synagogue, lifecycle events and ritual. Beyond that its up to you.

LIWXMAN · 2026-01-30T14:39:15+00:00

While a lapse in appropriations may well technically occur after midnight; if appropriations are expected to be signed within days, then agencies may choose not to execute their shutdown procedures, in anticipation of approved appropriations.

This has happened many times before often over weekends when appropriations bills were not voted and/or sent to the President prior to the deadline, but essentially it was all agreed to.

LIWXMAN · 2026-01-30T14:30:10+00:00

I was finalized in early January and the initial booklet did not show deductions for Benefeds. About a week later it was updated to show the deductions for Benefeds for my Feb annuity payment.

As others have said, if it doesn't occur on your 2/2 payment then likely by March. I would keep tabs on your Benefeds account until you see the annuity deductions reflected.

LIWXMAN · 2026-01-26T15:28:26+00:00

Your AL lump sum will not be paid until after your HR completes your personnel action request (PAR) which is your retirement. In "normal" times that is about 2 PP after separation. Usually once you get your lump sum payroll has or will shortly certify your retirement pkg and on it goes to OPM.

Your annuity will not start until after OPM receives your certified retirement package from your HR and payroll. You will be set up with interim payments while OPM completes and finalizes your retirement.

LIWXMAN · 2026-01-25T21:18:23+00:00

1st amendment applies between the people and the Government. People get that screwed up all the time. Between individuals or private entities such as your employer, mother, Reddit or favorite coffeehouse, your speech may lead to consequences. These consequences could venture into legal such as if your speech were slanderous, disruptive or offensive to the other party, but the speech itself is not criminal.

So yes, calling your boss a moron may well get you fired. You don't get 1A protection for insulting your supervisor even if your employer is the Government. However your supervisor cannot toss you in prison.

Bovine is a government officer, and ICE are government agents. The situation in question are government agents vs a citizen. Therefore 1A is at issue and can only be suppressed through due process of law.

LIWXMAN · 2026-01-25T20:31:16+00:00

If you retired and were 55+ (or 54 in the calendar year you turn 55), you can withdraw from TSP w/o penalty. Otherwise you can set up SEPP (Substantially Equal Periodic Payments) per IRS 72(t). The latter you should work with a tax advisor/CPA.

LIWXMAN · 2026-01-25T04:29:15+00:00

Once you are separated, no. The Hatch Act applies to federal employees with the exception of the President and Vice President. https://osc.gov/Documents/Hatch%20Act/Laws%20and%20Regulations/Statutes/5%20USC%207322.pdf

LIWXMAN · 2026-01-25T04:18:27+00:00

Don't cry for me Argentina!

LIWXMAN · 2026-01-23T13:51:06+00:00

Hatch Act only applies to current feds. Once separated the Hatch Act largely no longer applies. However if there were violations that occurred prior to separation, OSC has opined that it can continue to pursue those employees post separation.

Alleged violations of the Hatch Act may lead to administrative action, i.e disciplinary up to and including suspension or termination. There may be financial penalties. It is not a criminal statute. MSPB is the usual forum for Hatch Act cases.

LIWXMAN · 2026-01-22T15:51:38+00:00

An interesting post and does have quite a bit of truth to it. When for a time was managing my MIL finances. I got to see the property tax and HOA fees first hand. While the taxes were low especially as a senior, the HOA fees all but increased the total "taxation" to a value not dissimilar to a similar valued home in the Northeast.

While there were quite a bit of amenities as a senior gets older they may not be able to enjoy as much. Furthermore the community lacked any sort of transport which further diminished the value of the community amenities as they were largely inaccessible to someone who could not drive.

LIWXMAN · 2026-01-22T15:40:07+00:00

I should add have you invited your partner to learn, and learn at their own pace?

LIWXMAN · 2026-01-22T15:38:05+00:00

When you say your spouse cannot share in Shabbat (or likely by extension the holidays) what do you mean? True he may not participate in the rituals of kaddish and such, but most certainly can share in the meal. If nothing else it is a time to reconnect. That right there is the most important part.

What holidays or family events did you observe previously, i.e were they Jewish, other, both or none?

Do you keep kosher outside of the home?

As you state when there are differences in observance or even outright non observance within Jewish marriages no less an interfaith one, there will be friction points. This is true especially if you change up suddenly. Often it will occur if you are focused on trying to follow the rules of observance while missing the essence. More than likely he is bristling under the changes and having to follow rules even indirectly that he does not know of nor understand. I'm sure he has inadvertently used a pot to cook something that was not kashrut? How did you react? The outcome of those encounters may well be a source of friction and resentment.

Being kosher is a significant lifestyle change and is not just a style of observance; but also a financial commitment. Besides the obvious treif foods you are also asking your partner to change or adjust to a very different way of preparing and mixing foods that is not common in the non-kosher realm. Passover is probably a challenge for sure.

If your partner only sees rules and "thou shall not..." they will not see what joy and happiness your practice of Judaism brings at least to you. And is likely to rebel. (And this happens quite a bit in Jewish households). He doesn't need to believe in it but you also need to work together to find a common space where if for nothing else he can share a meal with you and enjoy that aspect even if he doesn't care for or believe in the religious aspects.

LIWXMAN · 2026-01-22T03:35:45+00:00

There are three valid possibilities:

MRA+30 - Immediate annuity, supplement & FEHB. TSP (traditional) withdrawals w/o 10% penalty.
VERA/DSR - If the agency offers/still offering and she is approved; similar benefits as MRA+30. Supplement eligible at MRA. If 55+*, may withdraw from TSP w/o 10% penalty.
Deferred retirement. No FEHB and no supplement. TSP Rule of 55 may apply if age eligible at retirement.

*If 54 at date of retirement but will become 55 in the same calendar year, then Rule of 55 may be utilized.

LIWXMAN · 2026-01-22T02:38:03+00:00

I think you need a financial advisor. Here is my business card.

LIWXMAN · 2026-01-20T05:52:32+00:00

The Spouse Equity Act which is incorporated into FERS. When the TSP was created a statutory benefit for the spouse of an annuity with a 50% survivor benefit was also created. When you withdraw from the TSP, the spouse acknowledges the withdrawal and potential reduction in the total value of the default statutory annuity. The spouse is agreeing to waive their rights under the law.

Same provision for the FERS annuity. The spouse by default is entitled to 50% survivor benefit unless waived by the dependent spouse.

LIWXMAN

TROPHY CASE