{"id":27544,"date":"2023-10-05T20:01:23","date_gmt":"2023-10-05T20:01:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/federaltimes\/uncategorized\/2023\/10\/05\/have-i-served-long-enough-to-qualify-for-a-federal-retirement\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T05:13:28","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T05:13:28","slug":"have-i-served-long-enough-to-qualify-for-a-federal-retirement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/federaltimes\/your-career\/2023\/10\/05\/have-i-served-long-enough-to-qualify-for-a-federal-retirement\/","title":{"rendered":"Have I worked long enough to qualify for a federal retirement?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u201cI served about 4 yrs. as a FERS employee from 1994 to 1998. I bought back 9 yrs. and 3 months of military time in 1998 for $7,300.00 which gives me approximately 13.5 years of Federal Service. I am over 62. Can I receive federal retirement even though I was a FERS employee for only 4 years? If not, can I get a refund for what I paid in?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Reg\u2019s Response<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

No, you can\u2019t. You would need to have 5 years of actual FERS service. Military service for which you made a deposit would only count after you were vested in the system. If you aren\u2019t planning to return to government service, you should ask for a refund of your both retirement contributions and deposit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To do that, write to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

U.S. OPMRetirement Operations CenterBoyers, PA 16017-0045On the envelope write: Attention: Military Deposit Refund<\/p>\n\n\n\t