vvEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
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Administration And j
Resources "Manageme
(3622)
it
EPA210-K-94-001
February 1994
Countdown To Retirement
• ' ' ...'- .- .. - !' •. • - .'••
A Guide "To Effective Participation
In The Retirement Process
Prepared by the EPA
i
Headquarters Human Resources Division
Human Resources Management
Recycled/Recyclable
Printed with Soy/Canola Ink on paperthat
contains at least 50% recycled fiber
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IN
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Countdown to Retirement
A Guide to Effective Participation
In the Retirement Process
The EPA
Headquarters Human Resources Division
wishes to acknowledge with appreciation
the
Human Resources Management Division,
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, and
the Office of Personnel Management
for their assistance in the preparation of this
booklet and other retirement materials.
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Table of Contents
Introduction 1
Abbreviations 2
Useful Telephone Numbers 2
Retirement Eligibility.... 3
FERS Minimum Retirement Ages (MRAs) 4
Chapter I: Preparing to Retire 5
Chapter II: How HHRD and the Headquarters
Payroll Office Process Your
Retirement Application „...„ 9
Chapter III: How OPM Processes Your
Retirement Application „ 12
Retirement Computation Information ,...„ 15
Thank You and Farewell „ .16
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Introduction
Your retirement is one of the most important events in your life, and a successful
retirement takes careful planning. We in the EPA Headquarters Human
Resources Division (HHRD) want to assist you in making the process smooth
and worry free.
COUNTDOWN TO RETIREMENT provides information and guidance which
will be helpful to you during the critical year before and for several months after
your retirement. It discusses how your application for retirement is processed at
EPA and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). It is designed as a
general guide. More specific and detailed information is available through your
retirement counselor.
Understanding your role and the roles played by EPA and OPM is an essential
part of good retirement planning. A careful study of COUNTDOWN TO
RETIREMENT will be time well spent.
By working closely with HHRD, you can help ensure that your retirement will be
a satisfying finale to your long and faithful Federal service. We look forward to
serving you and encourage you to get in touch with us at any time if you have
questions or need assistance with your retirement plans.
LINDA J. WALLACE, Acting Director
Headquarters Human Resources Division
February 1994
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Abbreviations
CSA Civil Service Annuity
CSRS Civil Service Retirement System
FEGLI Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance
FEHB Federal Employees' Health Benefits
FERS Federal Employees' Retirement System
HHRD Headquarters Human Resources Division
IRR Individual Retirement Record
OFF Official Personnel Folder
OPM Office of Personnel Management
TSP .....Thrift Savings Plan
Useful Telephone Numbers
EPA Headquarters
Human Resources Division 202-260-9686
EPA Payroll Office - Employee Assistance 202-260-5116
EPA Benefits Hotline 202-260-3273
OPM Retirement Information Office 202-606-0400
Social Security Administration 1-800-772-1213
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Retirement Eligibility
You may retire under CSRS or FERS (as indicated) and receive an
immediate annuity (except for deferred retirement), if you meet the
minimum age and Federal service requirements as shown in this chart.
Type of
Retirement
Optional
(Voluntary)
Early Out J
Discontinued
Service
Disability
Deferred
Retirement
System
CSRS/ FERS
FERS
CSRS/ FERS
CSRS
FERS
CSRS/ FERS
Minimum
Age
55
60
62
MRA1 >
504
Any4
Any
62
Minimum
Service (Yrs)
30
20
5
10 L
20
25
5
18 Mos.
5
1. Minimum Retirement Age (See next page for FERS MRAs).
2. FERS reduced annuity. If you retire at the MRA with at least 10 but less than 30
' years of service, your FERS annuity will be reduced at the rate of 5% a year for
each year you are under age 62, unless you have 20 years of service and your
annuity begins at age 60 or later.
3. Only available if EPA is undergoing a major reorganization, reduction-in-force
(RIF), or transfer of Junction, as determined by OPM.
4. CSRS reduced annuity. In cases of early out retirement and discontinued service
retirement, your CSRS annuity will be reduced by 2% for each year you are under
age 55.
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FERS Minimum Retirement Ages (MRAs)
Use this chart to determine your minimum retirement age,
if you are covered by FERS.
If You Were Born..,
Before 1948
In 1948
In 1949
In 1950
In 1951
In 1952
In 1953 through 1964
In 1965
In 1966
In 1967
In 1968
In 1969
In 1970 and after
Your MRA Is..,
55 Years
55 and 2 Months
55 and 4 Months
55 and 6 Months
55 and 8 Months
55 and 10 Months
56 Years
56 and 2 Months
56 and 4 Months
56 and 6 Months
56 and 8 Months
56 and 10 Months
57 Years
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CHAPTER I
Preparing to Retire
The first important step in planning for your retirement is to contact the Headquarters
Human Resources Division (HHRD) for pre-retirement counseling at least a year before
your planned retirement, or as soon as possible after you decide to retire.
i
This early contact will allow HHRD sufficient time to verify your service history before
you separate from the Federal service. This is especially important if you have service
that was performed at other agencies or service that was not properly documented at the
time it was performed. If all service is not verified before HHRD sends your retirement
package to OPM, the final processing of your application for retirement may be delayed.
The steps outlined below will assist you in preparing for retirement.
ONE YEAR OR MOKE before your planned retirement date?
1. Plan to attend an HHRD pre-retirement counseling seminair. C^all 260-9686 for a
schedule of seminars, or to schedule one for your office. You may also call the
EPA Institute (202-260-6678) for a schedule of pre-retirement seminars offered
by OPM or private sector contractors.
j
2. Make an appointment with the Processing and Records Group (202-260-3285) to
review your Official Personnel Folder (OPF).
3. Make a list of all periods of your Federal service. Include the service beginning
and ending dates and the name and location of each agency.
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4. List the contributions to retirement you made at each Agency where you were
employed. This is necessary if you are eligible to elect the alternative form of
annuity and choose to do so.
NOTE: The alternative form of annuity is a reduced annuity with a
lump-sum payment of your retirement contributions. It is available
until October 1,1994, for discontinued service retirements. It is not
available for voluntary, early out, or disability retirements.
If you do not have this information, and you are more than six months from
retirement, you may request it from: Office of Personnel Management; Retirement
Operations Center; Boyers, PA 16017; Attn: Retirement Section (CSRS or FERS
- identify the retirement system under which you are covered) . If you are within
six months of retirement, talk to your counselor instead of writing to OPM.
5. Provide to your retirement counselor a record of your account statement
(RI36-23) for deposit and redeposit payments made to OPM, if applicable.
6. With your retirement counselor, make sure your OFF includes official
documentation of the following:
• Service dates for all your Federal employment.
• Effective dates for each adjustment to your pay or tour of duty.
• A record of time worked under part-time or intermittent appointments.
• Documentation (for example, form DD-214) of any military service.
• Current designation of beneficiaries for life insurance (SF-2823), Thrift
Savings Plan (TSP-3), and FERS (SF-3102).
• Thrift Savings Plan election forms (TSP-1).
• Health benefits (SF-2809) and life insurance election (SF-176 and
SF-2817) forms.
NOTE: If you were not continuously enrolled for the 5 years of service
immediately preceding the date your annuity commences (or from your
first opportunity to enroll), you CANNOT continue your health benefits
or life insurance coverage into retirement. (Federal health benefits
coverage as a family member counts toward the 5-year continuous
enrollment requirement,)
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• Verification that you meet the age and service requirements (and any
other applicable requirements) for retirement on your proposed
effective date. i
i
7. Bring to the attention of your retirement counselor any documentation missing
from your OFF and ask if HHRD can obtain it. If you need to request other
documentation, your counselor will advise you of the procedure. All service
periods and insurance coverage(s) should be verified and documented before
HHRD submits your retirement package to OPM. Otherwise, the final processing
of your retirement application may be delayed until the missing documentation is
obtained. |
"
8. Request estimated annuity computations. These estimates are especially important
if you need to make a decision about paying a civilian or military deposit or
redeposit, or waiving military retirement pay. |
9. If applicable, request advice from your retirement counselor on making deposits/
redeposits for:
• Post-1956 military service. I
• Civilian service for which no retirement contributions were withheld
from salary (nondeduction service). }
• Civilian service under CSRS for which you have received a refund of
retirement contributions. Civilian service under CSRS for which a
redeposit is made is creditable toward retirement. (Civilian service
under FERS for which you have received a refund of retirement
; contributions is not creditable toward retirement, and no redeposit may
be made.) j
NOTE: Military service deposits must be made to EPA before your
retirement is finalized. Civilian service deposits for nondeduction
service and redeposits for refunded service must be made to OPM for
those services to receive full retirement credit. Yc>ur retirement
counselor will explain the service credit rules and the effect of the
alternative annuity option on the payment of civilian service deposits/
redeposits. i
SIX MONTHS before your planned retirement date:
10. If you are receiving military retirement pay, ask your retirement counselor for
information on the effect this benefit will have on your annuity. Generally, if you
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are receiving military retirement pay, your military service is not creditable under
CSRS or FERS.
If you wish to waive your military retirement pay to receive credit for military
service, write to your Military Finance Center at least 90 days before your planned
retirement date. Ask your retirement counselor for assistance in selecting the
correct effective date for the waiver.
Attach a copy of your waiver request and any response from the Military Finance
Center to your application for retirement.
11. Clear up any financial indebtedness to EPA.
FOUR MONTHS before your planned retirement date: \
12. Contact your HHRD retirement counselor and obtain all necessary retirement
forms.
13. Complete the retirement application and related forms. Failure to complete any
form that may be required in your case may cause HHRD or OPM to delay the
final processing of your application. Your retirement counselor will assist you
and answer any questions you may have.
14. Submit all forms to HHRD four weeks before your retirement date, and advise
your supervisor of the date.
Note: Keep copies of all forms for your reference.
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CHAPTER II
How HHRD and the Headquarters Payroll
Office Process Your Retirement Application
Headquarters Human Resources Division
The processing of your retirement application begins at the Headquarters Human
Resources Division. Your retirement counselor will check your G>PF or its equivalent to
ensure that you meet the age and service requirements for retirement and for
documentation of any insurance coverages you may be eligible to continue.
Your counselor will prepare a Certified Summary of Federal Service which lists your
verified Federal civilian and military service. You will then review the Certified
Summary for completeness and accuracy before signing it. HHRD will also take the
following actions, if applicable in your case:
1. Certify your Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance coverage to OPM, if you
are eligible to continue this coverage into retirement.
2. Transfer your Federal health benefits enrollment to OPM, if you are eligible to
continue this coverage into retirement.
3. Process the Personnel Action necessary to separate you from the Federal service.
4. Complete and certify the HHRD portion of your retirement application and the
Agency Checklist of Immediate Retirement Procedures.
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After HHRD completes its actions, your application and related records will be sent to
EPA's Headquarters Payroll Office.
Headquarters Payroll Office
When it receives your retirement package from HHRD, the Headquarters Payroll Office
will perform the following:
1. Authorize your final salary payment and a lump-sum payment for any unused
annual leave you may have after you separate for retirement.
2. Certify and close out your Individual Retirement Record (IRR), which is the
official record of your Federal service.
The IRR reflects your EPA retirement contributions for your current service, pay
rates, unused sick leave credit for civil service retirement purposes, last day of
pay, date and type of separation, and any other information necessary for OPM to
determine your retirement benefits. Because the IRR must include your total EPA
retirement contributions, it cannot be closed out until your final salary check has
been issued.
3. Complete its portion of the Agency Checklist of Immediate Retirement Procedures.
4. Certify your annual basic pay for life insurance purposes, if applicable.
Register of Separations and Transfers
After completing all the actions necessary in your case, the Payroll Office will forward
your retirement package on a Register of Separations and Transfers to:
OPM; Retirement Operations Center; Boyers, Pennsylvania 16017.
The Payroll Office will send you a notice which provides the following information
about the Register on which your retirement package was sent to OPM:
• The Register number.
• Transmittal and mailing dates.
• Your Payroll Office number.
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PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT OPM UNTIL YOUR RETIREMENT PACKAGE HAS
BEEN SENT TO THEM!
Under OPM's current standards, EPA is expected to complete all processing and forward
your retirement package to OPM within 30 days after you separate.
Disability Retirement
Applications for disability retirement are processed
differently from the retirements described above.
If you are retiring on disability,
see your retirement counselor for assistance.
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If your annuity begins on or after October 1, 1993, and before October 1, 1994, and you
elect the alternative annuity, you may choose to receive your lump-sum payment(s) of
retirement deductions in one of three ways:
1. You may receive it all in one lump sum.
2. You may receive it in two installments as follows: A first installment of 50% of
the lump sum soon after OPM receives your election, and a second installment of
50% of the lump sum, plus interest, on the first business day of the month that is
12 months after the month in which your annuity begins.
3. You may roll over the taxable portion of the lump sum to an IRA and continue to
defer taxes. The portion already taxed may be paid to you directly. OPM will
advise you of the taxable and already-taxed portions.
Timetable for Annuity Payments
OPM usually completes the final adjudication of fully documented claims within 55 days
from the date it first receives the retirement package from the Payroll Office. Of course,
the processing time for each case will vary with the time a retiree takes to make the
annuity election and the completeness and accuracy of the retirement package submitted
to OPM. Interim payments will continue until your claim is adjudicated.
After your claim is adjudicated, OPM will send you an Annuity Statement and other
informational material concerning your retirement benefits.
If you have questions concerning the status of your application for retirement, you may
call OPM's Retirement Information Office at (202) 606-0400. However, you should not
call them until EPA has sent your retirement package to OPM.
We in the EPA Headquarters Human Resources Management
Division hope this booklet has been helpful to you. We have
tried to make it comprehensive without overwhelming you with
too much detail. There is more to know and do, but don't be
concerned. Our retirement counselors are experienced and
knowledgeable, and they will expertly lead you through the
entire retirement process. We look forward to helping you.
Call us anytime (202) -260-9686.
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Retirement Computation Information
Please complete this chart before your appointment with your retirement
counselor. If you cannot find some of the information, your counselor will
tell you how to obtain it.
Name .
Telephone
Desired Date of Retirement
Type of Retirement (Circle)
Voluntary RIF MRA MRA+10
Current Sick Leave Balance
Date ._
Mail Code __
Alternate Date
Disability Discontinued Service
Hours
(Circle the Appropriate Response)
Retirement System
Post-1956 U,S, Military Service
CSRS
Yes
FERS
No
If yes, dates of service (if known) : to
Prior Federal Civflian Service
Yes
No
If yes, total contributions for that period (if known) : $
TSP Participant
FEGLI Coverage
FEHB Coverage
Part-time Service
Temporary Service
Refunded Service
If yes, redeposit made
Survivior Annuity Desired
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
L_ N°
No
No
No
No
No
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Thank you for your service to the
Environmental Protection Agency
and the
United States of America.
Farewell.
Our best wishes go with you.
16
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