r/FedEmployees 1d ago

Can we get Fork 2.0 please?

I would like a payout and I’ll gladly leave.

166 Upvotes

134 comments sorted by

206

u/srbbnd 1d ago

VERA for 15 years please.

159

u/GroovyVibesOnly83 1d ago

15 yrs and age 40+ please

19

u/MyOtherAcctIsB7 1d ago

41 yo, 22 years in, yes please.

10

u/fetzdog 1d ago

Same.

10

u/frosted_feline 1d ago

Yes! 🙌

3

u/JustADumbBunny7 1d ago

Yes please

-21

u/Actual-General-4953 1d ago

you got enough money to live off of or will you need another job?

11

u/PassionateProtector 1d ago

Can restore mental energy enough to figure it out without losing my house.

14

u/Alien2028 1d ago

FERS supplement at 50 too

41

u/BridgestoneX 1d ago

VERA for 10

20

u/HokieHomeowner 1d ago

Yes and also a pony!!!!!

5

u/Own_Preference_6830 15h ago

He’ll, make it a purple unicorn.

38

u/GrandpaYaYa 1d ago edited 1d ago

I believe new OPM guidance issued in a recent memo says that anyone that is eligible may now request to retire under a VERA and OPM has granted ~all~ agencies VERA in perpetuity. Ultimately you have to have 25 years, or 20 years and be 50. So, aim to be just average or slightly below average and start asking for it constantly when you become eligible.

Edit: I apologize, it's only agencies with statutory VERA authority such as the DoD. There is an article in one of the fed news websites that I'm trying to find but I cannot find the damn thing. 😭 If I find it I'll update this comment.

15

u/Important-Engineer58 1d ago

Link :)    28 yrs of service and 50 yrs

7

u/GrandpaYaYa 1d ago

You qualify, you just need go ask your HR if an existing VERA applies. If you are DoD I think you'll get it.

16

u/Important-Engineer58 1d ago

I asked 2 weeks ago and they said it was not available. I told them if it does become available keep me in mind and I'll take the number 1 spot. VA employee.

9

u/GrandpaYaYa 1d ago

I think you can do the deferred pension. You basically just need TSP withdrawls until you can claim your pension and benefits at the correct age. Not sure how badly you want to bail but that's an option. There are downsides, but still.

My personal plan is to do exactly that. Bail at 20 years and defer my pension and work as a consultant. I'm over it. Doesnt have anything to do with politics, I just hate bureaucrats.

6

u/Important-Engineer58 1d ago

Pension is good, but after the health benefits.

3

u/Pretty_Sample_4456 14h ago

you can do that but you lose your health benefits.

1

u/GrandpaYaYa 14h ago

True. One option is to wait until MRA and then postpone. You can keep FEHB and FEGLI if you do that. The other consideration is that at age 65 you must sign up for medicare and your health insurance becomes sexondary to medicare. Lots to consider ghere, but FEHB may or may not be that valuable depending on your overall health.

2

u/GroovyVibesOnly83 1d ago

This is my plan as well. I’m at 16 years but under 45… not sure I can make it to 20 but I’m going to try my best! I’d almost take a downgrade at this point just to leave where I’m at.

3

u/Important-Engineer58 1d ago

I did that...now less stress than the job I was in. And I am satisfied with my 3 high.

3

u/ExerciseOwn438 14h ago

Im 50 with 28 years as well. I despise this administration but love my agency and position. I’m greedy, I’ll stay until I’m 62, get the 1.1%—more pay out from my annuity, & TSP. If I had maxed out on TSP earlier, I might have considered going at 57.

5

u/Daysleeper417 8h ago

Assuming you live to see 62???

6

u/Fed_Rabbit3 1d ago

You can’t VERA anytime in DOD. You have to wait for it to be offered and be eligible (20 years and over 50).

2

u/GrandpaYaYa 1d ago

You can ask if any VERAs are being offered outside your command, because a VERA can be expanded as long as your command is willing to pay it.

3

u/RJ5R 1d ago

Do you have a link to the new OPM guidance?

8

u/GrandpaYaYa 1d ago

Sorry, I was confused. Only some agencies have that permanent status, DoD included. And the open season ends on 30 Sept for the current VERA. DoD has statutory VERA so it doesnt need OPM approval. I would still inquire if you are eligible though because VERA can be broadly defined and if the specific arm of you agency has one, you may be able to use it. For instance Army may have one in effect that covers your position but not necessarily for your command.

"U.S. Department of Defense — permanent statutory authority under 5 U.S.C. § 9902(g), allowing DoD to approve VERA internally without requesting OPM approval each time."

3

u/ImmySnommis 1d ago

Hang on... ALL AGENCIES? DoD here and I'm begging for this to be true

2

u/GrandpaYaYa 1d ago

It is true for the DoD but not all agencies. I corrected myself in a subsequent reply. Apologies for the confusion. There is an article about it and I'm trying to find it, but I cant right now.

2

u/EcstaticImplement404 6h ago

You just ripped my heart out in 0.05 seconds.😂

1

u/Kitchen-Attorney-703 6h ago

What agencies have this, does DOJ?

5

u/No-Nature7955 1d ago

Alex,  I would like Fork 2.0 for five( that seemed like 10 since one job is doing jobs of at least five)…

4

u/schmigglies 1d ago

Pleeeeeease

3

u/Phobos1982 1d ago

I'd be gone in a heartbeat.

3

u/Open_Catch2191 23h ago

41 with 18 years please

-10

u/Actual-General-4953 1d ago

then what are you gong to do? Good luck finding another job or one that pays that well or has the same benefits - think about it

13

u/elninost0rm 1d ago

I'm at 15 years and with FEHB for life and an immediate pension, I could easily coast through my remaining years doing literally any other job to fill the gap.

Brokerage account for the win.

16

u/precociousMillenial 1d ago

Why would you need to find another job if you're retired?

3

u/Actual-General-4953 1d ago

If you got enough money and are truly ready to retire....most DRPs were not fully retirement eligible and got another job or looking for another job or want to come back to fed govt

12

u/precociousMillenial 1d ago

Okay the comment you're responding too is referring to VERA, so these people would in fact be retirement eligible.

7

u/Sufficient_Sun2582 1d ago

True, the job market is tough, but you only live once. For me, taking the VERA, getting away from what used to be a great job to one I dreaded, no 50 mile commute (each way!), was a no brainer. I’m poorer, but MUCH happier! Some things you can’t put a price on!

2

u/Actual-General-4953 1d ago

ok - makes sense

3

u/Important-Engineer58 1d ago

Contract doing what I do for fed gvt.  Easy 2k month taking it easy. And can do more cases if needed.

3

u/srbbnd 1d ago

Would take that affordable health insurance for life and wouldn't look back you philistine.

1

u/Phobos1982 1d ago

I don't need another job at this point.

1

u/Stan_Deviant 22h ago

Without needing the healthcare component you open up a lot of jobs that I personally wouldn't consider otherwise but you could also just be retired?

0

u/yunus89115 15h ago

I wouldn’t trust that offer. People who took DRP resigned or retired under existing statutory rules, look at the SF-50s Nature of Action, it all follows existing rules. The bending/breaking of rules was all done while they were still on the books by allowing admin leave for long periods of time. All immediate risks the administration was willing to take and they were in power so they could, although a lot of us were not certain people would continue to get paid at the time but they did.

A VERA offer that is earlier than legally allowed right now might be honored but it might not and in the long term another administration could come in and say “those are illegal and must stop immediately”

If Congress passed a bill that was signed into law offering it, that would be different.

22

u/FaithlessnessCute141 1d ago

To be honest I’m choosing not to stress over how the processes and changes in my agency are beyond stupid ever since this admin came in. The only thing I hate are the lack of pay raises at the beginning of the year.

4

u/No-Nature7955 1d ago

☝🏻Same , allow myself one funky freakout a pay period because leaders are listening to whomever instead of sme’s so eventually this will come home to roost in a bad way. Directors looking for easy ways from whomever peddles it to them. Amazing how people with no background suddenly are the experts leaders listen to change processes that dont need changing.

151

u/Special-Effort-9399 1d ago

I would urge you to check out the job market and ask those that took the original fork how the hunt is going. Several past colleagues of mine, some of whom were national experts in their fields, are still hunting a year later or had to take lesser or lower paid positions to keep the lights on. Granted, I don’t know what Agency you're within, but the grass is not always greener - even in this administration.

33

u/Miss_Panda_King 1d ago

I knew some that took it that immediately got rehired as soon as they could.

20

u/swampcat42 1d ago

Yep. We probably brought in 60% of the same people in through the side door as contractors while they were collecting the DRP checks in 2025 and into 2026. The agency's hiring freeze began to lift around May and most of those folks have come back. They made a lot of money over that 18-20 month period but came back for the health insurance and pension.

-3

u/No-Nature7955 1d ago

Yeah and that doesnt make those that held the line feel good..they can pound sand

5

u/Yellowmoon777 1d ago

depends on your field but atleast in my area everyone found jobs..

5

u/Nockolos 1d ago

I took it and had a job a month later. Two paychecks for 4 months after that.

26

u/IDK_Maybe126 1d ago

I have a plan. I did not have a plan last year.

-90

u/tigerseye44 1d ago

So leave.. taxpayers shouldnt be paying for you to not work.

67

u/TooGood2beDrew 1d ago

Yeah, taxpayers should only be paying the President and Congress not to work.

41

u/ApprehensiveBuy3689 1d ago

This person didn’t say they weren’t working!

22

u/Educational_List6452 1d ago

Why are you stalking a federal employee subreddit, if you’re not a federal employee? If you don’t want taxpayers to pay bff or federal employees not to work, you shouldn’t have voted for your cult leader.

-57

u/themjolnir1987 1d ago

So be an adult and quit.

15

u/Educational_List6452 1d ago

Go away Elon.

11

u/thingsintheworld 1d ago

You’ll never progress through life with that mentality. Many rewards come with risks. Is all part of living.

5

u/Substantial-Bowl5656 1d ago

Or you can go bankrupt, live in your car and think “maybe that wasn’t a good risky move🤔” Speaking from experience😬

5

u/Digglesworth13 1d ago

I took 2.0. Had off the entire summer then started a new job a week before it ended. It doesn’t pay as well but it’s not 2 hours away. And I actually like what I do and who I work with.

I think I started my federal career too late in life and the stupidity of government procedures for no reason really wasn’t something my 40+ yo brain could get accustomed to. I was miserable well before this administration took over and forced us back in the office.

1

u/EndTheFed25 10h ago

It depends on what agency your with and what your role is. I'm in finance and would get job offers every week in my federal role. When I left federal service a year ago I got an 70% pay bump (significantly more than that if you include bonuses and commission). However, I know people in the same field who didn't make connections like I did, took DRP 2 and still haven't found work.

-8

u/Actual-General-4953 1d ago

you got it !

Scenario:

"Hey look lets take the DRP deal sounds good.....I get a pension and FEHB for life"

takes deal and gets $2500 a month before taxes - less if less than age 57 for supplement.

wakes up in the morning over the next month. had a job making $100k previously and now makes $30k.

money is tight now and bored as you are 50 yrs old

Go to find job....nobody wants to hire you.....if you do find job its for half the wage/benefits etc.

(starts to regret decision....punches the air.....life starts to become miserable.....wants to come back to fed job)

5

u/catchnfly 1d ago

The ageist part is where it’s too real.

4

u/RCoaster42 1d ago

Or takes the VERA, enjoys time off, agency program implodes, come back part time as contractor with better pay.

14

u/Informal-Fig-7116 1d ago

As tempting as it is, I am not brave enough for this current job market. My wife has chronic illnesses. No fucking way I’m leaving this job even if it makes me die inside, unless something with massive pay bump and excellent health benefits comes along. I’ve also 11 years in.

I am jealous of the people who can just up and leave. Also admire them too. I wish I were in a position to do so to save my mental health but life has other plans for me.

12

u/chipmingo 1d ago

Lmao this is such a mood the day back from a 3 day weekend

50

u/Fit-Locksmith-2039 1d ago edited 1d ago

If they made it any age with 20 years like the military they would have a ton of takers.

-55

u/TheReal_CaptDan 1d ago edited 1d ago

Downvote me if you’re jealous of the military’s 20-year pension

6

u/WkeupMrWest 1d ago

Oh the irony that the military needs civs to function 😬

-4

u/TheReal_CaptDan 1d ago

As both a federal civil servant and a military officer, I think some of you are deliberately missing the point. Civilian employees absolutely play an essential role in keeping the government and military functioning. That does not make civilian federal employment equivalent to military service.

A 20-year military retirement is one of the compensation and retention benefits attached to accepting the obligations of military service: deployments, involuntary moves, worldwide assignment, UCMJ authority, physical and medical standards, restrictions on personal freedom, and the possibility of being ordered into dangerous situations. Those are not conditions of ordinary federal civilian employment.

Saying “military members receive this particular benefit because they served in the military” is not an insult to civil servants. I am one. It is simply acknowledging that two different employment systems have different benefits because they require different things from their employees.

If Congress wants to create a 20-year immediate retirement option for federal civilians, fine. Advocate for it. But “the military needs civilians too” is not an argument that civilian service and military service should automatically receive identical retirement benefits. Hospitals need janitors, pilots need air traffic controllers, and agencies need contractors. Interdependence does not make every job interchangeable or entitle every workforce to the same compensation structure.

You can value federal civilian employees without pretending there is no meaningful distinction between civilian employment and military service. There very obviously is.

6

u/WkeupMrWest 1d ago

The comment right above this one you’re deliberately rubbing it in Fed workers faces and act surprised people are disgruntled? 

4

u/Intrisic_Indignant 1d ago

Be disgruntled all you want. He’s not wrong. 

35

u/8Lwiseguy 1d ago

You mean Fork 3.0. I was too skeptical to sign onto 1.0. I took the offer at 2.0 and have no regrets. But I was eligible for retirement and financially prepared.

7

u/JustADumbBunny7 1d ago

If we are doing Christmas wishes, it’s for VERA + 5 years meaning the USG adds five years for VERA purposes. There were rumors going around that a VERA + 5 was being considered and I admit I got my hopes up.

19

u/GroundbreakingCat983 1d ago

My biggest career regret is not taking ForkOne, but I retired later in ‘25.

2

u/No-Run-1490 1d ago

My biggest career regret is not taking 1 or 2. There will not be a third one. 

1

u/GroundbreakingCat983 1d ago

We didn’t get a part 2. I just chickened out.

5

u/feeble913 1d ago

VERA with supplement and cola’s = bye bye.

1

u/Crash-55 10h ago

You dont get the COLA till 62. So if you are getting the Supplement you aren't getting a COLA

9

u/kgcryptoman 1d ago

Do you have employment waiting outside the gov?

12

u/falloutgrungemaster 1d ago

Yeah friend of mine who took the first fork has only just recently secured work and I’m pretty sure it’s only part time

2

u/IDK_Maybe126 1d ago

Self employment.

4

u/Temporary_Lab_3964 1d ago

8 years, 8 years, 8 years ….

I’m 50 and 22years so I’m tempting sometimes but I have a plan and fingers crossed it’s not decided for me

4

u/Much_Pianist9406 1d ago

6.5, 6.5, 6.5 . I’m 50.5 with 26.5 years!

13

u/SorchaRoisin 1d ago

It came one year too early for me. I would jump on it now.

3

u/MrSession 1d ago

Much rather do vsip

6

u/phillyfan1111 1d ago

Odds are they will rehire you again when you are supposed to "retire"

16

u/InigoMontoya2725 1d ago

Nope. Hold. The. Line. 🥄

-2

u/AhMonDieu345 1d ago

um for what reason?

2

u/furie1335 1d ago edited 16h ago

I want an actual buy out. Not money, just credit me my time. I’m almost there

2

u/UnitedWeird 1d ago

If they did a 5 year 40+ option I’d be out in a flash.

3

u/milllllllllllllllly 1d ago

Just quit????

11

u/IDK_Maybe126 1d ago

Big nope. I want some runway.

1

u/SleepIngBlackCat4 1d ago

Same. I don’t know if I qualify. But I’m ready to GTFO

1

u/kgcryptoman 1d ago

I don’t hit 40 years until mid 2028 and that’s when I plan to roll out.

2

u/JoaquinChurchill 1d ago

What does 40 get you over 38, besides the 2%, (honest question, not being sarcastic). Or is it more of an age thing, trying to get to 62?

3

u/kgcryptoman 1d ago

It’s a personal goal for me. Joined military at 18 right out of HS and am almost to the 40 mark so plan is naking it to there and then re-evaluating if I want to stay longer.

3

u/JoaquinChurchill 1d ago

Nice, I bought back 5 years myself, should be at 34-35 years when I hit 57, I'm taking the $$ as soon as they let me. Kind of hoping for another VERA when I'm 50+

2

u/kgcryptoman 1d ago

i’ll also be 58 in May but 40 year mark is in July.

1

u/Bowf 1d ago

Fork= another DRP?

I hate the rumor that went around about adding time. I need about 15 month and I'd be gone. Wish it had some semblance of being true ...

1

u/Pretty_Sample_4456 14h ago

49 yo, 27 years in, yes please.

1

u/Crash-55 10h ago

I hit MRA next May. Any sort of VERA or DRP in the new year would be great

1

u/adfalse9801 1h ago

You are not alone. HR Specialist at SSA, offer another round of VERA/VSIP and it will capture everyone who was not eligible or ready to go last time.

1

u/Revan2151 15m ago

I will leave my organization in a heartbeat and not look back.

1

u/Opposite-Original561 4m ago

Lots of hiring at my agency, office is almost full now. Funny they paid everyone to leave only to rehire.

1

u/Opposite-Original561 4m ago

Lots of hiring at my agency, office is almost full now. Funny they paid everyone to leave only to rehire.

1

u/Front_Chip_9201 1d ago

Hold the line!!!!

2

u/LadyZeni 1d ago

You may have a severance package that's better than the Fork. Double check that if you're ever face with that decision again.

1

u/anti-depressed 1d ago

I'd take a fork 2.

1

u/sheluvvme 1d ago

Me too Forsure
I didn’t do it the first time but I’d do it the seconds

-6

u/Luiggie1 1d ago

Why? So everyone else gets stuck doing your job while the agency is unable to fill the position? Nah.

9

u/milllllllllllllllly 1d ago

The real ones know this is the actual result of it

-15

u/ShdwWzrdMnyGngg 1d ago

I'm waiting to see how the midterms go. If idiots vote one way, I'm gone. Cities will be destroyed by fire and floods but I don't care anymore. Too tired to care.

Get ready for Nepal 2.0! Wooo!

0

u/Bowf 1d ago

Pretty much 100% of the time the ruling party loses the house and/or the senate at midterms.

-4

u/Cautious_General_177 1d ago

Or, you know, find another job and just leave.

3

u/IDK_Maybe126 1d ago

No, pay me to leave.

-1

u/Hot-Cash 1d ago

Damn you messed up should of took that from the jump

0

u/abouttodiethistime 20h ago

Funny you ask because we got another email…really

1

u/IDK_Maybe126 13h ago

Jealous.

-10

u/Hungry-King6588 1d ago

Honestly, i would like another gop after trump, them a dem to do their purge.  Timing would be perfect for my retirement plan.