Is there a post-retirement benefit to accepting Federal employment (specifically the US Postal Service)?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 14 May 2018 17:18:35 -0400

Asking because I don't think you can retire from the USPS after you retire from the military. I have heard the most ideal situation is to land a state, County, or in some cases city job which can offer the opportunity of a second retirement.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made May 14 at 2018 5:36 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Mon, 14 May 2018 17:36:38 -0400

I actually purchased 10 years of CS retirement credit for $10K and it now pays me $13K a year more in my CS retirement. There's no connection to my Reserve retirement as it's under a different statue vs. AD retirement. So any Fed career is open. You just have to make sure under the current rules you aren't working against yourself which I believe you won't be.

Response by SFC Greg Bruorton made May 14 at 2018 10:07 PM

SFC Greg Bruorton — Mon, 14 May 2018 22:07:26 -0400

You can retire from the Armed Forces, go to work for the USPS and gain sufficient time in service with the postal service for a second retirement. But you would have to buy back your Army time to have it combined as a Civil Service retirement--as I had done--20 years Army, 14 years in USPS for Civil Service retirement totaling 34 years.
But the "buy back" will be expensive. Mine was $10,000 in 1995. Your best choice is to see your personnel representative in the USPS for up-to-date answers.

Bear in mind you could retire from the USPS in normal circumstances, but I chose Civil Service because if I died before my wife, she could get part of my Civil Service annuity. Drawing from Army retirement for the widow might be minimal in amount.

Good luck in resolving your issue.

Response by SP5 Peter Keane made May 15 at 2018 11:59 AM

SP5 Peter Keane — Tue, 15 May 2018 11:59:43 -0400

The USPS has gone to FERS, no longer CSRS. You would not have to buy back any time as long as you don't use it to calculate your PS retirement. FERS is a SSA based retirement with a Thrift Savings plan add-on. Under FERS, an employee who meets one of the following age and service requirements is entitled to an immediate retirement benefit: age 62 with five years of service, 60 with 20, minimum retirement age (MRA) with 30 or MRA with 10 (but with reduced benefits).

Response by MSgt Jim Harner made May 16 at 2018 11:01 AM

MSgt Jim Harner — Wed, 16 May 2018 11:01:11 -0400

I did just that. The USPS gives veterans "a foot up" when it comes to hiring. I know many veterans that have retired from both. USAF Ret MSGT 71-91 ret from USPS 2013. Living the good life.

Response by MSG Carolyn Hunter-Drake made Nov 4 at 2018 8:18 PM

MSG Carolyn Hunter-Drake — Sun, 04 Nov 2018 20:18:52 -0500

Yes you can retire from the US Postal Service after you retire from the military. You may want to go back and fact check. You may have to check on how the "monies" will be received once you are finished with both, but yes you can retire from them both.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 3 at 2019 2:15 AM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 02:15:36 -0500

There are attractive benifits for retiring officers from postal services. These is a liteblue portal to take care of all those services. Now You can login to Liteblue from https://liteblueloginpage.com/ and know all the benifits.

LiteBlue Login | WWW.LITEBLUE.USPS.GOV Online Portal For USPS

LiteBlue Login page is the self-service portal designed for the USPS employees. It gives them access to various services including benefits, payroll and