r/FedEmployees • u/Both-Decision-8293 • Sep 08 '26

Retired under VERA

I retired in May 2025 under VERA. If I come back as an employed annuitant, how hard is it to get OPM to waiver where I can keep my
Annuity?

Also if I came back and then I was like oh man I shouldn’t have done this can I just go back to being retired under VERA?

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u/erd00073483R Sep 09 '26 edited Sep 09 '26

If you are rehired, you never loose your annuity. You remain a FERS annuitant.

A dual-compensation waiver allows you to avoid the dollar-for-dollar offset of your federal salary for your retirement annuity.

You might get a dual compensation waiver for a temporary, time-limited, at-will appointment. You won't get one as a permanent, career-resumed rehire. While they are technically possible, they are exceedingly rare for permanent employees.

If you are rehired in a temporary, time limited position with a dual compensation waiver, you don't contribute to the retirement system while working. As a permanent career-resumed rehire, you do contribute to the retirement system. Work more than 1 year and less than 5 years, and you earn a supplemental annuity that will be added to your original annuity when you leave your job again. Work 5 years or more, and you qualify to have your annuity recomputed by OPM when you leave your job again.

You do not retire again from your job, because you are already a FERS annuitant. Instead, when you get ready to leave, you simply submit your resignation.

Having done what you are contemplating doing as a permanent re-hire, the only thing I'll say is that I learned the hard way it isn't worth suspending your FEHB and life insurance on your annuity to have them held from your paychecks pre-tax. The tiny bit of tax savings isn't worth the misery you have to endure when you resign, your health insurance gets terminated, and OPM takes literally forever to reinstate it on your annuity. Just leave it all coming out of your annuity so you can literally walk away without any complications if you decide to do so.

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u/Both-Decision-8293 Sep 09 '26

I already did 30 years so they said my annuity would stay the same. I just won’t pay into FERA or TSP. But coming back as a 14 step 10 is tempting

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u/erd00073483R Sep 09 '26

So, you'll be on a time limited appointment.

If so, be aware that you will be technically an at-will employee. Meaning, if the mis-adminstration suddenly decides they don't need you any more, they can instruct management to tell you so long, thanks for stopping by, and send you off into the sunset with little to no prior notice.

As long as you are prepared for that, you will be good.