I'll also add, we have very good insurance and you probably have a ton of banked sick leave. Use it to go to physical therapy and even to do your PT home exercise program. The sick leave is far more valuable when paid out to use as you need it than it is when added to your pension.

OP, you're a fed. If you're having increasing pain sitting a desk all day (as am I, even though I'm only 37), get up. Take a walk. Walk before, during (lunch break), and after work. Get up every hour and move around. You're not chained to your desk. No one is going to fire you for it. You can get a doctor's note if you need it, or if anyone gives you a hard time. Most won't, because they know the reasonable accommodation process exists and the outcome will be the same in the end, just with more paperwork.

Retired fed here. Why would you give up an opportunity to make more money than you have before working as a contractor.
Get up and move for another 7 years. Put the max into your IRA. That’s how it’s done.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why wouldn't you wait 2 more years and get an extra 10 percent of your pension at 62?

If OP has 22 years at age 60 - this wouldn't apply would it?

From OPM:

If you retire at the MRA with at least 10, but less than 30 years of service, your benefit will be reduced by 5 percent a year for each year you are under 62, unless you have 20 years of service and your benefit starts when you reach age 60 or later.


Let me know if I'm reading this wrong....

You’re reading it correctly. OP’s pension will not be reduced is s/he retires at age 60 with 20 years, but on top of that you get a bonus 10% for waiting until 62.

Anonymous wrote:Why wouldn't you wait 2 more years and get an extra 10 percent of your pension at 62?

If OP has 22 years at age 60 - this wouldn't apply would it?

From OPM:

If you retire at the MRA with at least 10, but less than 30 years of service, your benefit will be reduced by 5 percent a year for each year you are under 62, unless you have 20 years of service and your benefit starts when you reach age 60 or later.


Let me know if I'm reading this wrong....

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:. I plan more of a “downshift” to part time employment than true retirement, at least until SS kicks in.

I'm a fed, and working on the downshift until I collect SS right now. I'm 44 btw.

Can you imagine if OP had a demanding private sector job? 55 hours at her desk, threat of being laid off any minute for being too old?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why wouldn't you wait 2 more years and get an extra 10 percent of your pension at 62?

Didn’t know this was a thing. Maybe I can hold out until 62. But being at my desk is slowly killing me.

You may also need to work until 62 to get federal medical insurance in retirement. If not, you'll have to figure out medical care between 60 and 65 which tends to be expensive without a job.

Yeah, this is just flat out wrong. It always baffles me when people who clearly have no knowledge of a particular subject (in this case the federal retirement system) feel compelled to weigh in to try to provide guidance on it in anonymous forum.

So, what's the service requirement to get medical insurance in retirement?

google federal health benefits in retirement eligibility and check out OPM site

Very helpful!

Anonymous wrote:. I plan more of a “downshift” to part time employment than true retirement, at least until SS kicks in.

I'm a fed, and working on the downshift until I collect SS right now. I'm 44 btw.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why wouldn't you wait 2 more years and get an extra 10 percent of your pension at 62?

Didn’t know this was a thing. Maybe I can hold out until 62. But being at my desk is slowly killing me.

You’d have two additional years of service, too, so your bump for continuing to work from age 60 to 62 would actually be about 20%, not 10. Like you I’ll have 22 years at age 60, and the 20% bump is what motivates me to stay until 62.

Consider getting a Saatva mattress. I had the worst back pain after starting a 70 hour a week desk job. That mattress saved my back.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why wouldn't you wait 2 more years and get an extra 10 percent of your pension at 62?

Didn’t know this was a thing. Maybe I can hold out until 62. But being at my desk is slowly killing me.

You may also need to work until 62 to get federal medical insurance in retirement. If not, you'll have to figure out medical care between 60 and 65 which tends to be expensive without a job.

Yeah, this is just flat out wrong. It always baffles me when people who clearly have no knowledge of a particular subject (in this case the federal retirement system) feel compelled to weigh in to try to provide guidance on it in anonymous forum.

So, what's the service requirement to get medical insurance in retirement?

google federal health benefits in retirement eligibility and check out OPM site

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why wouldn't you wait 2 more years and get an extra 10 percent of your pension at 62?

Didn’t know this was a thing. Maybe I can hold out until 62. But being at my desk is slowly killing me.

You may also need to work until 62 to get federal medical insurance in retirement. If not, you'll have to figure out medical care between 60 and 65 which tends to be expensive without a job.

Yeah, this is just flat out wrong. It always baffles me when people who clearly have no knowledge of a particular subject (in this case the federal retirement system) feel compelled to weigh in to try to provide guidance on it in anonymous forum.

So, what's the service requirement to get medical insurance in retirement?

Anonymous wrote:My husband retired at 58 as a fed and has not worked a day for pay since then. If your TSP is well funded and you have a good handle on your budget, yes.

Presumably unlike op your husband started his fed career before the age of 38 and had more than 100k in his tsp at the age of 43 (or he had significant family assets/prior savings/a spouse contributing decent earnings)…so not really relevant to her situation.

I would create a budget for what spending currently looks like. I would also project and see what a budget looks like after you are done paying for college and if your partner moves in. It sounds like you need to know more about health care - what is covered and if there is any additional costs. See if your agency offers retirement workshops. I think you will need a bit more than what you have saved.

I would recommend an early or mid-career federal employee retirement class. Your agency should offer them a few times a year, they are really great and provide a wealth of information.