My retirement story

[Zebra]

Luv the house too.........plus no grass to cut eh??

Well the Zebra's retirement (Dec 31) is fast approaching. Already submitted my retirment paperwork with NSSC and they have sent me my estimates. Trying to use up as much of my sick leave without hurting the branch. I will let them use 1200 hours towards my service time, knowing I will only get half of it. I currently have 1400 hours.

House will put on the Market soon. Figured my actual take home pay will be about the same with TSP, Social Security, Fed annuity and miltary retirement all kicking in. I plan leaving all my TSP (over 400K) and just taking monthly payments, adjusting each year as needed.

Hoping to move from the Houston area to North Ala (Decatur) after the first of the year. BTW, Ala does not tax military, social secuirty or Fed retirement pay. Cost of living will be half compared to Houston. Also the Tenn river is right there, so guess where I will be? Muhahahaha!

I will keep all advise how it goes with my process.

 

[nnuut]

Everyone knows that I retired Jan 2nd 2010, as of the 1st of May I still haven't got my whole final check from OPM! That's 4 months and still getting the 80% check!! Man those people are slow, my application didn't have anything complicated like breaks in service etc. but still no go I hope it comes the first of next month that will be 5 MONTHS!!!
NOT HAPPY!!

 

[Buster]

Luv the house too.........plus no grass to cut eh??

Well the Zebra's retirement (Dec 31) is fast approaching. Already submitted my retirment paperwork with NSSC and they have sent me my estimates. Trying to use up as much of my sick leave without hurting the branch. I will let them use 1200 hours towards my service time, knowing I will only get half of it. I currently have 1400 hours.

House will put on the Market soon. Figured my actual take home pay will be about the same with TSP, Social Security, Fed annuity and miltary retirement all kicking in. I plan leaving all my TSP (over 400K) and just taking monthly payments, adjusting each year as needed.

Hoping to move from the Houston area to North Ala (Decatur) after the first of the year. BTW, Ala does not tax military, social secuirty or Fed retirement pay. Cost of living will be half compared to Houston. Also the Tenn river is right there, so guess where I will be? Muhahahaha!

I will keep all advise how it goes with my process.

Good luck Zebra in your new life..I'm actually starting to look forward to it now..

 

[Buster]

Everyone knows that I retired Jan 2nd 2010, as of the 1st of May I still haven't got my whole final check from OPM! That's 4 months and still getting the 80% check!! Man those people are slow, my application didn't have anything complicated like breaks in service etc. but still no go I hope it comes the first of next month that will be 5 MONTHS!!!
NOT HAPPY!! View attachment 9261

I heard from my HR people that OPM got overrun with a ton of USPS employee's retirement applications this spring and are swamped and behind...I'm guessing that's what is holding your's up

 

[nnuut]

I heard from my HR people that OPM got overrun with a ton of USPS employee's retirement applications this spring and are swamped and behind...I'm guessing that's what is holding your's up

SO that's what it may be, those ROTTEN USPS Folks jumping in line in front of me!!:laugh:

 

[Steadygain]

Everyone knows that I retired Jan 2nd 2010, as of the 1st of May I still haven't got my whole final check from OPM! That's 4 months and still getting the 80% check!! Man those people are slow, my application didn't have anything complicated like breaks in service etc. but still no go I hope it comes the first of next month that will be 5 MONTHS!!!
NOT HAPPY!! View attachment 9261

I don't know what 'the whole final check from OPM' means.

Nor what you mean with 4 months of getting 80% -- as if they gave you 80% once -- then there is only 20% left to go.

But since you're getting screwed - (that much is apparent) - I would go to HR in person. Go in professionally - and genuinely 'confused' and 'concerned' about wanting to know WHAT YOU CAN DO to get things RIGHT.

They will be way more inclined to bend over backwards for you - with that kind of attitude and 'Want to get it done for you'.

Take Lady with you -- and have her quietly 'appear troubled'

GL Norm

 

[nnuut]

Steady this is not really unusual, they are notorious for being slow in OPM. When you first retire they haven't really finalized your retirement application, and in the time it takes them to finish they give you approximately 80% of your estimated retirement check, the only deductions they take out is Federal Taxes, your FEHB, life insurance and other things are paid on finalization.
It would do NO GOOD for me to go out to the base and complain they know this happens and is crummy, they would tell me to contact OPM, good luck with that!!
OPM is working on a digitized retirement system (5 years now) and should be finished in 2011! Sure OK I believe that!!:laugh: Thanks

 

[Buster]

Steady this is not really unusual, they are notorious for being slow in OPM. When you first retire they haven't really finalized your retirement application, and in the time it takes them to finish they give you approximately 80% of your estimated retirement check, the only deductions they take out is Federal Taxes, your FEHB, life insurance and other things are paid on finalization.
It would do NO GOOD for me to go out to the base and complain they know this happens and is crummy, they would tell me to contact OPM, good luck with that!!
OPM is working on a digitized retirement system (5 years now) and should be finished in 2011! Sure OK I believe that!!:laugh: Thanks

But when they do catch up..WOW!..all these months of you being hacked 20% will come on that check....PARTY TIME!!!!:nuts:

 

[Steadygain]

Steady this is not really unusual, they are notorious for being slow in OPM. When you first retire they haven't really finalized your retirement application, and in the time it takes them to finish they give you approximately 80% of your estimated retirement check, the only deductions they take out is Federal Taxes, your FEHB, life insurance and other things are paid on finalization.
It would do NO GOOD for me to go out to the base and complain they know this happens and is crummy, they would tell me to contact OPM, good luck with that!!
OPM is working on a digitized retirement system (5 years now) and should be finished in 2011! Sure OK I believe that!!:laugh: Thanks

I'm FERS --

So I thought after 20 years -- all I would get is one little pension check a year. But I never thought I got a monthly check.

Man if that's the case -- I can feed my coondog and maybe even get a few treats on top of that.

WOW -- That would be great. Or do they chop that Pension check up into 12 tiny pieces.???

Anyway -- I'm glad is at least 4/5ths what you're entittled too.

 

[nnuut]

It was 36 Years 8 Months!

 

[Buster]

37 years 3 months here (almost a year of sick leave figured in)

 

[Frixxxx]

My MRA is 56years/8months

At that time, I will have 31 years 2 months.......

I want to be done and on a sailboat into the Carribean!

 

[nnuut]

My MRA is 56years/8months

At that time, I will have 31 years 2 months.......

I want to be done and on a sailboat into the Carribean!

Heck my backyard has been fine for 4 Months!

 

[Buster]

Oh what to do, what to do...
My management today has offered me an award bonus of $7,000.00 to stay on for another year...I told them, Thanks, but no thanks...I will be making that every month after I retire as a contractor..

 

[burrocrat]

Oh what to do, what to do...
My management today has offered me an award bonus of $7,000.00 to stay on for another year...I told them, Thanks, but no thanks...I will be making that every month after I retire as a contractor..

7G? if you're healthy or don't have pressing matters, then i say hell yeah, that'll put a lot of gas in the hummer, with some left over for hot chocolate and brownies for the folks you pull out of the ditch.

are you at the top of your grade and step? maybe it would help with the high three too?

 

[James48843]

Oh what to do, what to do...
My management today has offered me an award bonus of $7,000.00 to stay on for another year...I told them, Thanks, but no thanks...I will be making that every month after I retire as a contractor..

In the meantime, we learn once again what an entry level AF technician makes- Payband "F".

Qualification Requirements: FV-F: Undergraduate and Graduate Education: Major study or at least 24 semester hours in any combination of the following: computer science, mathematics, electronics, physical sciences, information management, engineering, telecommunications, or other fields related to the position. OR 3 years of work experience, 1 year which was equivalent to at least FV-E, that provided a basic knowledge of the principles of electronics, mathematics, computers, aeronautics, or related areas, or an understanding, both theoretical and practical, of automated systems operation, integration, management, and maintenance. Experience may have been gained in occupations such as computer specialist, electronics technician, telecommunications specialist, engineer, or other work related to the position to be filled.

Which translates to $35,000 per year.

The next generation of "Busters" will never come near the money you make today, which now MGT dangles an extra $7K in front of you trying to keep you.

A journeyman 'H' band, upon promotion, will earn at the FAA- $ 50,000. and then will only earn, even if they are the best person, no more than 3 1/2 percent raises per year or so. No step increases at all.

A comparable GS-12, which is what the "H" band is supposed to be equivalent, is $10,274 higher, and also gets 3 1/2% step increases the first four years, in addition to the January pay raise of 2 to 3 percent each year.

No- those hired today will never, never, never get close to the earnings of a GS employee at the same skill level, even if they were the best darn employee in the country.

Tell FAA Management to please take that proposed $7K bonus they are offering to keep you with, and use it to pay those entry level and journeymen technicians out across America who are continuing to suffer as a result of the FAA's flawed anti-compensation system- Core Comp.

(Soapbox mode off.)

 

[Buster]

7G? if you're healthy or don't have pressing matters, then i say hell yeah, that'll put a lot of gas in the hummer, with some left over for hot chocolate and brownies for the folks you pull out of the ditch.

are you at the top of your grade and step? maybe it would help with the high three too?

Yeah..I'm health-wise pretty good..and I'm topped out GS-14, for the last 2 years..so my high three would not change much..so this way I get my retirement annuity along with the contractor pay..figuring that 6 months of contractor pay would be like 15 years at the extra 2% for the extra year...Besides I'm sick of the Configuration Management, Lean Sick Sigma..KSN, ISO..T&A..yaddy, yaddy..yearly ass-kissing for performance appraisals, etc..I know I'll be doing similar accounting as a contractor, but it won't tie my hands like the FAA does things...Also I want a new Mercedes E350 sport..Pay off the house and all bills, etc. and move in 3 years to Las Cruces, NM..and do some desert prospecting for meteorites

 

[Buster]

In the meantime, we learn once again what an entry level AF technician makes- Payband "F".


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Which translates to $35,000 per year.

The next generation of "Busters" will never come near the money you make today, which now MGT dangles an extra $7K in front of you trying to keep you.

A journeyman 'H' band, upon promotion, will earn at the FAA- $ 50,000. and then will only earn, even if they are the best person, no more than 3 1/2 percent raises per year or so. No step increases at all.

A comparable GS-12, which is what the "H" band is supposed to be equivalent, is $10,274 higher, and also gets 3 1/2% step increases the first four years, in addition to the January pay raise of 2 to 3 percent each year.

No- those hired today will never, never, never get close to the earnings of a GS employee at the same skill level, even if they were the best darn employee in the country.

Tell FAA Management to please take that proposed $7K bonus they are offering to keep you with, and use it to pay those entry level and journeymen technicians out across America who are continuing to suffer as a result of the FAA's flawed anti-compensation system- Core Comp.

(Soapbox mode off.)

I agree Jim..Core Comp SUCKS..and trouble with the lower pay, you get lower skilled techs too..not all, but not like we use to get in, back in the 70's and 80's....I will add..I started in the Agency back in 1975 as a WG-5 @ $5.54/hour, so it's not like I didn't work my ass off to get to this point in my career.

 

[James48843]

Take the retirement. CSRS will be very, very good to you.

Take the contractor pay for same work- plus 7K a month. Use that to buy the gas.

Enjoy- because whenever you want, you can tell them simply to take hike.

Tell them- well, you know what I would tell them in the same situation- *(which, because I am FERS, I am not at the same retirement paycheck as CSRS. But at least I'll have my TSP nest egg, IF we don't keep having these 2% down days. Thankfully I am out now. Looking to get back in lower from here. We'll see).

 

[Zebra]

6 months to go, but who is counting, eh!!!!!!!!!!

All my paperwork is turned in!

I had my annual performance apprasial today, what a joke it was! The first year I have not gone distinguished and ended up exceeding expectations.........well I guess they didn't want to waste a distinguish on a has been...........muhahahhahahahaha! LOL!

NSSC has been good keeping me abreast of things. Will apply for my social security in October, to have first payment in January.

I have enough in the bank to live off, plus E9 military retirement and social security.......until OPM starts paying me. I will be cocked to apply for my TSP monthly payments as soon as I allowed.

We have got our home all ready for sale, but the market will be hurting here in NASA Johnson Space Center area due to our mighty Potentate's decision to shut down NASA man space flight programs. When ever the good Lord sends someone to buy our home.......moving to Decatur Ala (low cost of living, plus family).