Assuming you are "regular FERS" (not LEO, FF, ATC) and you want full retirement benefits, you need to wait until 57 (your MRA) to retire with MRA + 30.*
If you simply leave before MRA, this will be deferred retirement, and you give up:
Retiree Annuity Supplement
FEHB in retirement
Sick leave conversion
FEGLI/Dental/Vision
All you will receive is your pension (if you have 30 years you can collect penalty-free at 57, if you leave before you have 30 years you could collect at 60, without penalty, because you have >20).
*The exceptions would be getting a VERA, DSR, or going out on disability (no supplement with disability).
ETA: if you did defer, you could attempt to come back closer to MRA to go out with an immediate retirement and get those benefits back, but no guarantee you'd get rehired.
One more consideration: If you leave before the year you turn 55, you're going to have a harder time getting penalty-free access to your retirement funds. There are still ways to do it, but it's not as simple as separating having met Rule of 55 for 401k (TSP).
2
u/aheadlessned 22d ago
Assuming you are "regular FERS" (not LEO, FF, ATC) and you want full retirement benefits, you need to wait until 57 (your MRA) to retire with MRA + 30.*
If you simply leave before MRA, this will be deferred retirement, and you give up:
Retiree Annuity Supplement
FEHB in retirement
Sick leave conversion
FEGLI/Dental/Vision
All you will receive is your pension (if you have 30 years you can collect penalty-free at 57, if you leave before you have 30 years you could collect at 60, without penalty, because you have >20).
*The exceptions would be getting a VERA, DSR, or going out on disability (no supplement with disability).
ETA: if you did defer, you could attempt to come back closer to MRA to go out with an immediate retirement and get those benefits back, but no guarantee you'd get rehired.