Leaving the fed--any advantage to completing ten years first?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe you can work a few months towards 10, and your boss would let you burn off the rest using annual leave and LWOP? Not everyone will let you do this though, and you'll probably have to go in for your last week or two.

Or you can quit, and when you're in your late 50s try to work a few months for the TSA

I was going to suggest something like this. I seen folks who had their time in, but weren't old enough to retire, who left federal service, only to return for a short period when they reached retirement age. There's no guarantee that you can get a new Fed job at that point, but it doesn't have to be at the level you're at now. Your pension would still be based on your high 3, even if you're making minimum wage when you retire.

Plus since it is immediate retirement you can keep your FEHB.

You have to be in FEHB for the 5 years prior to your retirement date. There are some limited exceptions to that, but basically you couldn't be a TSA screener for a couple of months and walk away with health benefits for life.

No, you have to be in FEHB for the "5 years of service" prior to your retirement date. OPM won't count breaks in service against you if you reenroll upon rehire.