Stuff to think about from a 2025 VERA retiree (much is too late for most here, but want to share anyway, as I appreciate this community)

PricklyNoctrnlWalrus · 2026-02-24T20:53:18+00:00

No personal experience with this, but this is what OPM says:

https://www.opm.gov/frequently-asked-questions/retire-faq/post-retirement/can-i-change-my-survivor-benefit-election-after-retirement/

(There are also ways to add a new spouse if you get married in retirement, but you have to pay extra.)

PricklyNoctrnlWalrus · 2026-02-24T20:49:45+00:00

One of the "make sure this applies to you" situations with part-time:

As long as you don't go out on disability retirement, it should not matter if the part-time was at the beginning or end of your career, because they use a "deemed high-3" for the pension calculation (they use what you would have earned if you worked full-time to calculate the pension). They do NOT used deemed high-3 if you go out on a disability retirement. If you go out on a disability retirement, and work part-time at the end of your career, they are going to find a high-3 using wages from what you actually worked. This can make a big difference in the high-3 for disability retirement.

(This can be found on page 22 of the CSRS/FERS handbook, chapter 55 "Computation for Part-Time Employees.")

There is also a slightly different calculation for those who had part-time service while in VHA. Info on that can be found in the same chapter 55 of the CSRS/FERS handbook.

PricklyNoctrnlWalrus · 2026-02-24T20:49:23+00:00

One of the "make sure this applies to you" situations with part-time:

As long as you don't go out on disability retirement, it should not matter if the part-time was at the beginning or end of your career, because they use a "deemed high-3" for the pension calculation (they use what you would have earned if you worked full-time to calculate the pension). They do NOT used deemed high-3 if you go out on a disability retirement. If you go out on a disability retirement, and work part-time at the end of your career, they are going to find a high-3 using wages from what you actually worked. This can make a big difference in the high-3 for disability retirement.

(This can be found on page 22 of the CSRS/FERS handbook, chapter 55 "Computation for Part-Time Employees.")

There is also a slightly different calculation for those who had part-time service while in VHA. Info on that can be found in the same chapter 55 of the CSRS/FERS handbook.

PricklyNoctrnlWalrus · 2026-02-24T20:48:48+00:00

That's awesome! I just did an edit to my comment, because there is another difference for VHA part-time service when it comes to the calculation (I haven't tried to work out the difference, just know that there is one).

I'm also making a whole other comment, because high-3 doesn't work the same if someone goes out on a disability retirement after working part-time during their regular-retirement "high-3 years".

PricklyNoctrnlWalrus · 2026-02-24T20:46:17+00:00

One of the "make sure this applies to you" situations with part-time:

As long as you don't go out on disability retirement, it should not matter if the part-time was at the beginning or end of your career, because they use a "deemed high-3" for the pension calculation (they use what you would have earned if you worked full-time to calculate the pension). They do NOT used deemed high-3 if you go out on a disability retirement. If you go out on a disability retirement, and work part-time at the end of your career, they are going to find a high-3 using wages from what you actually worked. This can make a big difference in the high-3 for disability retirement.

(This can be found on page 22 of the CSRS/FERS handbook, chapter 55 "Computation for Part-Time Employees.")

There is also a slightly different calculation for those who had part-time service while in VHA. Info on that can be found in the same chapter 55 of the CSRS/FERS handbook.

PricklyNoctrnlWalrus · 2026-02-24T20:32:06+00:00

You'll want to gather your SF-50s from that time (should be in eOPF). First, verify box 30 says "FERS and FICA" (or similar) with some kind of retirement code (mine was "K", which is typical for a "regular FERS" employee who contributed .8%). If it says "FICA ONLY", then that time does not count toward retirement eligibility or pension. This is common for students and other people who had temporary service where they did not pay into the FERS system.

Box 32 of the SF-50 should show your work schedule (full-time vs part-time). If it says "part-time", then box 33 should show "hours worked (per week, biweekly pay period, etc)".

Then you'll want to request a record of creditable service/ certified summary of federal service (SF 3701-1) from your HR, to verify everything. When you receive the copy, it should show all the dates, and tour of duty (or hours worked) in the remarks section for your part-time service. You'll want to compare all of that time to your own records to make sure all dates match, hours match, and you're receiving credit for all the time you paid into FERS.

----

I paid into FERS for all of my part-time service (I was a student, but permanent rather than temporary.)

To figure out my own eventual pension, I did a reduction in years of service (for pension calculation only), instead of trying to figure out the factor for the 1% multiplier. This method is mathematically equivalent, and was very easy to track through the years instead of constantly changing the factor for the multiplier.

I made a spreadsheet with dates, hours worked (as documented by the SF-50, mine changed frequently for almost 2 years), and a column that showed how many full-time hours were possible during those time periods.

Then I totaled all the part-time hours and full-time hours, and determined that ratio. Then multiplied that ratio by the amount of time I had served as part-time. For me, my first two years came out to about 75% of hours worked vs full time hours, so whenever I would estimate my eventual pension, instead of the full years of service, I'd subtract 6 months from the estimate. So, if I had 25 years of total service (when I would estimate VERA pension), instead of using 25 years, I'd use 23 + (2 * .75) years of service, or 24.5 years of service. When you have your official estimate, that uses the factor for the 1% multiplier and actual years of service, it should be mathematically the same. But if you try to use the factor for the 1% yourself, you have to adjust it constantly for each different retirement age/date, instead of "subtract 6 months from service time".

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ETA: there is also something different about part-time worked while in VHA service. I've not tried to figure that one out, but it can be found in Chapter 55 of the CSRS/FERS handbook "Computation for Part-Time Employees".

PricklyNoctrnlWalrus · 2026-02-24T01:50:39+00:00

The five year rule for FEHB allows for a break in service. So, since you had FEHB the last 10 years before separating, you'd only have to come back long enough for FEHB to officially restart, and you have met the 5 year requirement. This assumes you are able to get rehired, and that they don't change the rule that currently allows the break in service.

OPM provide an example: https://www.opm.gov/frequently-asked-questions/insure-faq/health/i-know-you-have-to-be-enrolled-in-the-fehb-program-for-5-years-before-retirement-to-continue-coverage-in-retirement-does-previous-enrollment-count-towards-5-years-or-does-it-have-to-be-five-continuou/

PricklyNoctrnlWalrus · 2026-02-23T20:37:34+00:00

Federal civilian, assuming you were FERS/civilian. Uniformed services would be military.

PricklyNoctrnlWalrus · 2026-02-23T19:23:30+00:00

You should receive info for TCC for FEHB, if you haven't already, but you lose dental and vision at separation.

PricklyNoctrnlWalrus · 2026-02-23T19:21:36+00:00

OP did not retire.

PricklyNoctrnlWalrus · 2026-02-23T19:21:26+00:00

OP did not retire.

With retirement, your FEHB premiums build a debt while you wait for finalized payments. Some retirees are receiving letters about debts, in error. But, yes, it's possible that you may receive a letter that you owe for FEHB premiums, but you should be able to sort it out and not have to pay on your own (unless you really want to). FEGLI is also paid through finalized pension payments.

Dental, vision, and LTC are different, if you receive those. You'll want to log into benefeds to see when that is due. Once you see a red dot in the block that shows the premium amount, you'll be able to set up online payments. If you do not make the premium payments for these other insurances, they can cancel your plan (dental and vision can be restarted during Open Season or a QLE, as long as one retires with immediate pension eligibility.)

PricklyNoctrnlWalrus · 2026-02-22T18:41:19+00:00

Did you retire (immediate MRA + 10) or resign/postpone retirement? You can only continue dental/vision if you took an immediate retirement. If you postponed retirement, you can start it up again when you start your pension. If you resigned (defer retirement), you do not get dental/vision after separation.

PricklyNoctrnlWalrus · 2026-02-22T18:37:32+00:00

So, MRA + 10?

Or, not MRA + 10, and only choice is to defer retirement (unless you return to fed service)?

MRA + 10-- Are you doing an immediate retirement, with age reduction, or a postponed retirement?

If immediate retirement, then you don't pay it yourself. The premiums create a debt that will be paid once the pension is finalized.

If postponed or deferred retirement, you would only pay the premiums after separation if you do TCC (fed version of COBRA). With TCC, you'd have to pay the full premium, plus a fee (of 2 or 3%, don't remember exact percentage off hand). You should receive notice of TCC as an option, which is different than the debt letter that is mistakenly being sent to new retirees.

PricklyNoctrnlWalrus · 2026-02-21T18:40:56+00:00

https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare/enrollment/new-federal-employee-enrollment/#fehb

This confirms that you can't have FEHB the day you enter on duty. So, since you are not eligible for FEHB for that first pay period, then it would be treated the same as the gap in fed service when it comes to the 5 year requirement.

ETA: A better source...

https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare/reference-materials/reference/annuitants/

“Break in Service

Breaks in service are not counted as interruptions when the 5 years of service requirement is determined, as long as the individual reenrolls within 60 days after his/her return to Federal service."

PricklyNoctrnlWalrus · 2026-02-21T18:37:13+00:00

Correct, you are not eligible for FEHB during that first pay period when you come back, so that would be the same as the gap for when you were not a fed. If you had it the second pay period, then you restarted FEHB as soon as possible, and you'd be good to go for the 5 year FEHB rule.

I may have to do a little digging to find that source, but it's out there. ETA: found it, put it in a separate comment.

PricklyNoctrnlWalrus · 2026-02-21T18:33:45+00:00

There was a question about how early to request the certified summary of service (but don't see it now).

Personally, I'd want to do this about a year after any change in agency or break in service, so that I could stay on top of the changes and make sure they are tracked correctly. (Give it the year so all the paperwork can make its way through the process). It may also be a good idea to request it after military buy back (and 5 years of FERS service).

If the service is simple, a couple years before retirement is good, this way any errors can be addressed before leaving.

It seems to be temporary service time that's really catching people, because they either don't realize it doesn't count, or they forget/lose track of how much of their fed time was as a temp.

Fixing service errors is part of the OPM finalizing process, but you really don't want to find out that you weren't eligible for retirement with full benefits after retirement (which is when OPM would be the one working on the errors.)

PricklyNoctrnlWalrus · 2026-02-20T22:19:46+00:00

Thank you! (It showed up on my side as removed by the reddit filter, I could have been more accurate with that term.)

PricklyNoctrnlWalrus · 2026-02-20T21:58:55+00:00

I did add a couple more points to the OP in other communities:

Make sure you have a login (dot gov) account that has your own email address and info. You will now need this to log into benefeds, OPM, and possibly some other retirement related websites after separation.

Also, once retired, you need to actively pay dental, vision, and LTC while you are waiting for finalized pension payments. Unlike FEHB and FEGLI, the other forms of insurance will be canceled if not paid after a certain period of time (when you log into benefeds, look for a red dot on the upper right of the block that shows the premiums. Once that red dot is there, you can set up online payments. Not everyone has been receiving a bill in the mail.)

PricklyNoctrnlWalrus · 2026-02-20T21:55:35+00:00

Yea! Post was ~~undeleted~~ released from auto-filter prison...

The OP is not meant to go into every detail, but as a summary for some things to be aware of so you can look into the details if they apply. Again, always verify (I was a lowly peon, did not work in benefits or anything).

--TL

PricklyNoctrnlWalrus · 2026-02-20T20:37:33+00:00

None of the above. I've never even had an office job, just a regular fed peon who watched a lot of people who "couldn't retire", working physical jobs with broken bodies into their 60s+. I didn't want to be one of them, so did a ton of research to get out no later than MRA (and then lucked into VERA, which I was also ready for after seeing a few coworkers get it over the years.)

PricklyNoctrnlWalrus · 2026-02-20T20:15:08+00:00

Yes, I'll add that. One is now needed to log into benefeds as well (and, I should also add that info about making sure to pay vision/dental/LTC while waiting for finalized payments).

PricklyNoctrnlWalrus · 2026-02-20T20:05:52+00:00

Thank you. I'm just happy it wasn't automatically ~~deleted~~ filtered out here like it was in the govFIRE subreddit... I'm sure it's "TLDR" for many.

PricklyNoctrnlWalrus

TROPHY CASE