Questions & Answers

QI spent four years at one of the U.S. military academies before spending an additional 22 years on active duty. I retired from active duty and intended to keep my military retirement separate from my future federal civilian retirement. Can I make a deposit into the Federal Employees Retirement System for my four years at the academy without impacting my active-duty military retirement?

AYes, since your service at a U.S. military academy isn’t included in your military retirement, you can coordinate to make the necessary deposit for those four years with your agency retirement and payroll offices without impacting your military retirement. If you pay the deposit before you separate from federal service, it will add an additional four years of service credit under FERS for retirement eligibility and computation purposes.

If you haven’t received one already, you should first request a transcript of your four years from the appropriate academy. Talk with your agency retirement office for assistance with computing the deposit amount due (including any applicable interest), and the effect that paying such a deposit will have on your federal civilian retirement. Your agency retirement office can walk you through the necessary steps and paperwork involved. If you intend to make this deposit, you must do so before you separate from federal service.

QI am a special agent with Homeland Security Investigations. I am facing mandatory retirement at age 57 in November 2023. I would like to remain with my agency and not retire if possible. I know that I can request an extension up until age 60 but this is discretionary on the part of the agency. I have heard that if I do not wish to retire my agency is required to provide me with a non-covered position. I have asked my personnel department about this, but they have not yet responded.

& ANSWERS were compiled by NARFE’s Federal Benefits Institute experts. NARFE does not provide legal, financial planning or tax advice or assistance.

AYour agency is not required to find a position that allows you to continue federal service beyond your mandatory retirement age. You can attempt to find a position that is not covered by the special retirement provisions for law enforcement officers and transfer to the regular retirement provisions of FERS, which would allow you to continue federal employment until you are ready to retire.

The head of your agency is authorized to exempt special category employees (such as law enforcement officers and firefighters) from mandatory separation until age 60 if it is in the public interest. Without