Zebra's Story

[Zebra]

Well Gang, finally got my internet up and running. Remember I retired on 31 Dec 10 and I said I would tell you my story from time to time; I know it has only been just over two weeks since I retired but here is what has happened thus far:

• Received final paycheck on 7 Jan. 2010
• Received close out paperwork from NASA's NSSC HR
• Was told my annual leave sell back check would be desposited on Feb. 4th.
• Was told my first annuity check (partial) approximately Feb. 11th
• First social security check to be deposited on 9 Feb
• I have not yet received or heard anything from OPM
• Will apply for TSP monthly Payments as soon as I can (expecting end of Jan)

But retirement is great, I feel like I am on vacation. Go to bed when I want and get up when I want!!! Yee Haw!

Moved to North Alabama and have been shoveling a lot of snow and boy has it been cold, down to 12 degrees a couple days ago, what a been change from Houston....I love it all.

 

[tsptalk]

Congratulations, Zebra! Thanks for sharing your experience, and enjoy yourself!

 

[brooksmd]

Hey Z, life is good, huh? USPS was a little more efficient. I got my annual buyback in my last check on Jan 7th. Got a card from OPM today with my case number on it and should get PIN in the mail in the next couple of days. So far so good. Oh and call TSP. I called them last week and they already had me in retired status.

Guess you had already pulled the plug in Houston and missed my offer to buy you a meal at IHOP if you traveled I-12 through south Louisiana on the way to Alabama.

Did you have to get your office to mail your last check? Or did they DD it? USPS sends your last check to the office even if you have DD.

One benefit to retirement is a tank of gas lasts longer now that I'm not driving 110 miles a day. Plus $40/mo for crossing Lake Ponchartrain. Need to talk to my ins co to lower my rate now.

Well don't hurt yourself tossing that worm in the lake.

 

[Zebra]

brooksmd, I left Houston on the 30th of Dec, drove to Jackson Ms and spent the night with one of my brothers; got up on New Years eve and drove to my new house and brought the new year in with a whole bunch of family members, it was a hoot. So you see I didn't have time for any pancakes, but I did appreciate your offer.

I have yet to hear from OPM, still waiting!

Roll Tide Roll

 

[Zebra]

• Retired on 31 Dec 10
• Received OPM notification of my retirement today 27 Jan 11
• Sent TPS form 70 on 24 Jan 11
• Received certified reply TSP received my request on 27 Jan 11

Things are moving to the right..............I hope!

More news to follow!

BTW, I still feel like I am on vacation, with a bunch of chores and honey dues!

I wake up when I want, go to bed when I want, don't do anything I don't want to do and like everything about not having to go to work.............Muhahahahahhahaa! Retirement is bliss!

 

[david.alan.williams]

Hey Z,

I still have a few years left but I spend as much time on Lake Guntersville as I can. How far do you live from there?

D

 

[Zebra]

I live in Decatur, 40 miles away I believe.

 

[Zebra]

WOW, TSP is fast, checked my online TSP account and noticed there had been a withdrawal which was confirmed by going and reading the correspondence, cash should be in my direct desposit account in a couple of days.

I did get notification from OPM but have yet to get my pin number. AF, Social security and TSP are now doing what I expected, ..but now I pay the waiting game for OPM.

Lastly I am suppose to get my annual leave payoff Friday the 4th, time will tell.

Had breakfast with a bunch of high school mates...........could not recognize not one of them! It was hoot!

• Retired on 31 Dec 10
• Received OPM notification of my retirement today 27 Jan 11
• Sent TPS form 70 on 24 Jan 11
• Received certified reply TSP received my request on 27 Jan 11

Things are moving to the right..............I hope!

More news to follow!

BTW, I still feel like I am on vacation, with a bunch of chores and honey dues!

I wake up when I want, go to bed when I want, don't do anything I don't want to do and like everything about not having to go to work.............Muhahahahahhahaa! Retirement is bliss!

 

[brooksmd]

Z
Checked this morning and my first partial retirement deposit from the USPS or OPM, whatever and who cares as long as it's there, was in there. Still waiting for PIN from OPM. Looks like first SS will be the last Wed or Thur of this month. Did you fax your paperwork to TSP? Just wondering since when I talked to them they said to expect 2-3 weeks after they get the paperwork. In your case it looks like they were pretty quick. And like you, "Ahhh, life is good."

 

[Steadygain]

And like you, "Ahhh, life is good."

Life is beyond what any generation before us could ever have possibly imagined.

Minus the s*** Birch had to go through

WE could not have had a better 'moment' to have known and enjoyed the years we have known and enjoyed.

It's kind of weird -- cause I feel a little sorry for today's generation. I mean we had the very best ever !!

 

[Zebra]

brooksmd,

I mailed the TSP 70 on the 24th of Jan registered return receipt. Got the return receipt on the 27 and first withdrawal noticed today, 1 FEB. This was much faster than I expected.

My first SS payment is the second Wednesday Feb...........Yeehaw.

Looking forward to my annual leave payoff, suppose to be this Friday!

Z
Did you fax your paperwork to TSP? Just wondering since when I talked to them they said to expect 2-3 weeks after they get the paperwork. In your case it looks like they were pretty quick. And like you, "Ahhh, life is good."

 

[Zebra]

brooksmd,

Ok, I just checked this morning (retire people get up and go to sleep when they want) and sure enough my TSP deposit was in my bank account; now that was fast!!! TSP Rocks!

OPM on the other hand is another story. I have received the OPM welcome to the federal retirement systems ltr., and a cheap Retirment Services Reference Card, but no pin number yet. I am thinking around middle of the month.

Social Security is suppose to kick in next week (2nd Wednesday of each month).

Annual Leave payoff: Retired 31 Dec 10, but have not received my annual leave sell back deposit, but that suppose to happen on 4 Feb 11. Selling back 448 hours...........over 25K before taxes, chunk of bucks I can use now (bass fishing just around the corner)!

More news at 10

 

[Scout333]

New Bass Boat?

 

[Zebra]

Feb. 4, 2011 - As promised by my HR rep. annual leave sell back was deposited today

Still waiting on my first OPM check, I am thinking know it will be on the 17th of Feb.

My first social security check is scheduled for 11 Feb.

Annual Leave payoff: Retired 31 Dec 10, but have not received my annual leave sell back deposit, but that suppose to happen on 4 Feb 11. Selling back 448 hours...........over 25K before taxes, chunk of bucks I can use now (bass fishing just around the corner)!

More news at 10

 

[Zebra]

AS promised, first social security Deposit was in my account 9 Feb.

Still have not received the OPM Pin Number

Still have not receive any Pay days from OPM either.

 

[jpcavin]

Zebra

Current pay period is 30JAN to 12FEB which means payday is 18FEB.

If you just started working, your first payday is 3 weeks later.
Attached is a chart. Hope attachment works. I'm new at this.
View attachment 10603

 

[brooksmd]

jpcavin, Z is talking about his first retirement check. We both retired Dec 31, 2010. Whereas I got my first retirement deposit from OPM about the first of Feb, Z hasn't gotten his yet. But he already got his first SS check and I won't see mine til the last Thur of the month. So pay periods don't matter to us anymore.

 

[Zebra]

I don't know if any of you have every attempted to call (OPM) the number that is on the back of your CSA card. Well for days I have attempted, but only got a busy signal. Then BOOM.......I fianlly got in, but I was on hold for about 30 minutes before I got to talk to a live person. This person (Kelly) said it would be three to four weeks before I get my first paycheck, reason due to backlog. OBTW, I retired 31 DEC 10 and here it is the middle of Feb.

Disappointedly, I called my person at NSSC, human resources and told her my issue. She took my CSA number and my telephone number and promoised to call back. Well She did and it appears OPM got a ear full from this person, but good news she said my package got move to the top and maybe I will get paid next week; time will tell.

You would think in this high tech world, all it would take would be someone just clicking on your retired button and everything would just happen. Well it does with AF retirment pay, Social Security, TSP, but NOT with OPM!

 

[Buster]

Took me 6 months before my annuity checks got right..(CSRS)...and I went out the 1st of July 2010.

 

[brooksmd]

Good to hear Z. Hopefully NSSC got things moving for you. Is it NSSC or HRSSC? Was under the assumption that all agencies used HRSSC.