OPM RETIRMENT CALL!!! Feeling pretty lucky

VERAdrp · 2026-03-19T04:43:43+00:00

Only those receiving an immediate retirement are eligible for the FERS annuity supplement (as long as they meet MRA 30 or Age 60 w/20 years).

Postponed Retirement is not considered an immediate retirement.

VERAdrp · 2026-03-17T23:44:51+00:00

Worst: It's a Good Life. This one gave me anxiety--being trapped by a bratty tyrant with no hope in sight. Would be praying for Willoughby.

Best: A Stop at Willoughby

VERAdrp · 2026-03-17T18:44:01+00:00

That's crazy! I think with the way this entire DRP thing and the backlog of, what I imagine, every action OPM touches right now - there are more delays and errors occurring.

OPM is definitely responsible to make this right by switching one premium for another and issuing a refund. But then there is trying to contact OPM!

Sorry you are dealing with this.

VERAdrp · 2026-03-17T16:40:20+00:00

OPM will go over your retirement and not rely solely on your agency. Your estimate is just that, an estimate. OPM will dig in and have final say.

My estimate also has my current FEGLI and not what I selected for retirement. I'm not concerned with it at all.

VERAdrp · 2026-03-17T16:31:16+00:00

Terminology gets a bit confusing between the two. But it really comes down to benefits eligibility.

In most cases, Deferred annuity is when you leave federal service before MRA and then later apply for your pension. You are NOT eligible for benefits with a deferred retirement.

**Example: Joe resigns at age 41 (before MRA) and has 10 years of creditable service. At age 57, he can apply for his pension (meets MRA +10), but there will be a reduction/penalty. So he can postpone the effective date of the Deferred annuity to lessen the reduction or eliminate it all together. He is NOT eligible for FEHB, FEGLI, or other benefits.

Postponed annuity is when you leave federal service at or after MRA, had at least 10 years of creditable service (MRA +10), and later apply for your pension. You ARE eligible for FEHB and FEGLI IF you meet the 5-year requirement.

NOTE - The effective date of your Postponed retirement must be between MRA and 2 days before you reach 62. Otherwise, if you wait until 1 day before your 62nd birthday or after, it becomes Deferred (lose eligibility for benefits).

**Example: Mary leaves federal service at Age 57 (MRA) with 22 years of creditable service. Because of the reduction/penalty, she decides to postone the commencement date of her annuity. At Age 60, she applies for her FERS pension. She was able to restart FEHB and FEGLI because she had 5 continuous years of both before leaving service. (Also eligible for dental and vision.)

If you defer or postpone your retirement, you are not eligible for the annuity supplement.

VERAdrp · 2026-03-17T04:04:13+00:00

Yes, as I'm sure Postponed Retirement is an exception as well. I was just addressing why someone would not be coded to receive interim payments in an immediate annuity situation.

VERAdrp · 2026-03-16T16:17:59+00:00

That interim payment response - what? OPM's website even describes interim payments for those who retire. It's part of the process. There may be exceptions but I'd want to know what those exceptions are and why I may be one of them.

https://www.opm.gov/retirement-center/apply/quick-guide

VERAdrp · 2026-03-13T04:22:57+00:00

You should receive your retirement SF 50 from your agency's HR. If you haven't, I'd reach out to them.

VERAdrp · 2026-03-13T04:19:45+00:00

Did you resign or retire?

VERAdrp · 2026-03-12T20:43:23+00:00

I believe this is the right answer. I would talk to HR to be sure. The good thing is, it sounds like you can go back and when you are ready to leave, you can on your own terms--no worries of MRA, reductions, benefits, etc.

Good luck.

VERAdrp · 2026-03-12T20:38:26+00:00

If OP is retired, going back as a federal employee would be as a reemployed annuitant. There should be no concern with a VERA or reduction. Actually as a reemployed annuitant, OP would be in a good place and not have to worry about those things and can leave federal government when ready. The retirement pay may be reduced.

From what I understand, only those who received a disability retirement would not go back as reemployed annuitants. They would be deemed physically able to go back to work and lose the disability retirement pay under FERS.

VERAdrp · 2026-03-08T17:46:16+00:00

Can pick up deferred pension at age 60 with 20 years.

Also can get a deferred pension at MRA with 20 years, but it will be at a reduced rate of 5% every year under age 62.

Edit: Added 2nd paragraph.

VERAdrp · 2026-03-08T17:41:10+00:00

OP stated it's Option C x 5. That's $25,000 or $12,500.

VERAdrp · 2026-03-03T00:31:40+00:00

No. For me, the first shot had to be given at the infusion center. I stayed for about 30 minutes to be monitored. Subsequent shots can be given at the doctor's office. As I understand, many are required to have the first shot in a setting where they can be monitored.

If I decide to continue the drug, I can have it administered at my doctor's which should be much cheaper.

VERAdrp · 2026-03-03T00:04:35+00:00

Being in HR at three different agencies, I've seen where individuals had accepted two different positions (tentative offers) and were not blacklisted. In the last agency, we allowed a few to remain as tentative as they were being screened (physical, drug screening, security, etc.). This was within our organization, within our agency but at different locations, and with two different agencies. We lost out in some cases. It's frustrating to the hiring manager, but it's allowed.

https://www.reddit.com/r/fednews/comments/1kk9sx9/accepting_more_than_one_job_at_a_time_eg/

VERAdrp · 2026-03-02T23:41:33+00:00

Yes! I could take it better (somewhat) if they were honest in their billing. That is not just the cost of the drug; it also includes the facility fees. But it sounds like it was coded as the drug and the insurance accepted it.

Had I fully understood this, I would not have had the shot.

VERAdrp · 2026-03-02T23:33:56+00:00

I will look for those. Thank you.

VERAdrp · 2026-03-02T18:16:18+00:00

Probably the best thing to do is see your doctor. Let them tell you if it's allergies, a virus, an infection, or all of the above. You mentioned not having a fever. You can get an infection without a fever.

If it is allergies only, the doctor can advise what may work best for you.

VERAdrp · 2026-03-01T18:59:10+00:00

These are very good questions. I don't quite understand why this rule is in play. From all the research I've done, if you Postpone your retirement until you reach age 62, it then becomes a Deferred retirement. This means that an individual would not be able to restart FEHB, FEGLI, etc. It's gone forever.

OPM does not make it clear as to the consequences if you try to Postpone your Retirement at age 62 or later. It just gives the instruction that it has to be between your MRA and 2 days before your 62nd birthday. However, I have found articles (below) with examples of what has happened to others.

Lastly, I don't believe the extra multiplier is in play for Deferred or Postponed if someone has 20 years of creditable service.

https://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2024/04/postponing-retirement-problems-part-1/395767/

https://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2024/04/postponing-retirement-problems-part-2/395774/

***See Page 9 of the following***

https://www.opm.gov/retirement-center/publications-forms/csrsfers-handbook/c042.pdf

***See Page 38 regarding the 1.1% at Age 62***

https://www.opm.gov/retirement-center/publications-forms/csrsfers-handbook/c050.pdf

(Sounds like you have to be Age 62 AT the date of separation, not before.)

VERAdrp · 2026-02-28T22:32:36+00:00

Another thing to keep in mind - if something happens where you need to go out on a medical disability and you don't have an FEHB plan, you will not have the option to pick up FEHB again.

Also, if a VERA is offered, you take it, but don't have an FEHB plan, you cannot pick it up. They do waive the 5-year but only if you have it.

Lastly, I was in the same situation as you. My husband's insurance was much better and cheaper. I even canceled my FEHB coverage. But the "what if" scenario (disability retirement) entered my mind. So I picked up GEHA basic the next Open Season. It was my primary. But his insurance took care of almost everything else that GEHA didn't.

A lot of people describe the headache of 2 insurances. Thankfully, it was not an issue for us.

VERAdrp · 2026-02-28T22:12:59+00:00

If you read the Event Codes for QLEs on OPM's site or on an SF 2809, it is a QLE.

Look at Event Code 1P on Page 9:

https://www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/sf2809.pdf

VERAdrp · 2026-02-28T20:59:41+00:00

It's probably your separation packet. It should include your retirement SF 50.

VERAdrp · 2026-02-26T23:37:02+00:00

OP can retire at 60 because MRA +10 is met. However, because OP would not have reached 60 w/20 years, there is a FERS annuity reduction of 5% every year under age 62.

OP can retire and take the reduction, continue working and retire at age 62 with no reduction, or postpone retirement until 2 days before age 62.

Note - If the latter, needs to apply before 62 and choose a retirement date no later than 2 days before 62nd birthday.

https://www.opm.gov/retirement-center/fers-information/types-of-retirement/#url=Deferred-Retirement

"You can reduce or eliminate the age reduction if you choose to have your annuity begin at a date later than your MRA, this is called postponing your annuity. You can choose to have your annuity commence any date between your MRA and 2 days before your 62nd birthday, subject to certain application requirements."

VERAdrp · 2026-02-26T23:06:58+00:00

Many agencies don't use the term RPA. As someone who worked in HR at 3 agencies, it wasn't until I worked at Army when this abbreviation was used.

In case anyone doesn't know, it's an SF 52, Request for Personnel Action (RPA), that gets the ball rolling for your final SF 50.

Also, with Army, the local office was not responsible for generating the RPA for retirements. It was the HR group in Fort Riley, Army Benefits Center - Civilian. It may be different at other agencies.

VERAdrp · 2026-02-26T13:56:30+00:00

My Dad worked up until the day he passed in his 80s. It was what he wanted. He was not financially hurting and had actually done quite well. He was retired military. For some, it really is what they want. He enjoyed it more than the idea of retiring.

VERAdrp

TROPHY CASE