If you are eligible for MRA+10 retirement, the biggest question is:
Should you retire now, or wait?
This decision can have a permanent impact on your pension.
If you want to compare your exact scenarios:
https://fersfree.com
What Is MRA+10?
MRA+10 allows you to retire at:
- Minimum Retirement Age (usually 56–57)
- With at least 10 years of service
But there’s a catch…
The Reduction
Your pension is reduced:
5% per year under age 62
Examples:
- Age 57 → ~25% reduction
- Age 60 → ~10% reduction
- Age 62 → no reduction
Example
- High-3: $100,000
- Service: 15 years
Full pension = $15,000/year
At age 57 (25% reduction):
= $11,250/year
Waiting Until 62
Same scenario:
= $15,000/year (no reduction)
That difference lasts for life.
When Retiring Early Might Make Sense
- Health reasons
- Strong TSP savings
- VA disability income
- Spouse income support
- Lifestyle preference
When Waiting Is Better
- Avoid reduction
- Stronger guaranteed income
- Better FEHB timing
- Less pressure on TSP
TSP Bridge Strategy
You can:
- Retire early
- Delay pension
- Use TSP as income
This avoids permanent reduction.
FEHB Considerations
Before retiring, confirm:
- 5-year rule eligibility
- Coverage continuation
- Premium impact
5 Common Mistakes
- Ignoring reduction size
- Not using TSP bridge
- Forgetting FEHB
- Not modeling Social Security
- Making emotional decisions
What to Do Next
Compare:
- Retire now vs wait
- TSP bridge scenarios
- Pension differences
Disclaimer
Educational only. Confirm with HR/OPM.