Novatwo - Yep, it applies...I was first hired under CSRS in October 1982...I have about 7.6 years under CSRS, then left the government for a couple years to work as a consultant, then came back in 1991. I had a choice of CSRS Offset, or FERS, and chose FERS since CSRS Offset also pays into SS but doesn't get the full TSP benefit. I currently have 27 years of "substantial earnings", so if I retired now the first $849 or whatever of my SS would be cut 15%...as would my wife's I believe since she'll end up getting half of my benefit. It' not a huge cut in our overall income stream, but just the idea of any cut really irks me so I might work as late as March 2019 to get that 30th year in...my financial goals should be met around mid-2017 though, so I might end up going sooner...heck, with today's jump in the I fund I just made about 20% of what I need to reach my TSP goal in one day if it holds...but I could lose that and a whole lot more tomorrow if "Brexit" wins LOL....fingers crossed.
By the way, following my tsp timing system precisely would have had me go 100% I fund yesterday. That would have worked well. I've now finished my huge spreadsheet for my system, and the manual that describes it...and am awaiting a business license from the county...next up is to actually start working on the websites (there will be two, one for the TSP and one for ETFs, which can also use the strategy with ETFs that mimic the TSP (SPY or VOO, VXF, EFA or IEFA, and AGG) and go live with it...my goal is by Labor day...that will be one of my retirement hobbies, and if it exceeds my expectations for income that would let me ignore the WEP thing and retire next year. The strategy has averaged about 22% over the last 12 years...is up 13% this year...has never had a negative year over those 12 years...and has beaten the C fund every year...I keep expecting it to fall on its face but it doesn't...my biggest challenge is just to start following it myself!
