Basic retirement advice.

[Sunofa]

Don’t want to dissuade your decision if you’re set on taking the supplement. The extra 10% gained by staying to 62 is not the figure to compare to how many yrs it would take to “break even” to equal the supplement you could be receiving. By working 2 more years you would make a full salary for those 2 years and have 2 more years that you could contribute to tsp and also up your SS benefit. As an example consider if someone can get the supplement for 2 yrs at $15000/yr=$30K. Say they currently make $80K/yr. Next yr the 1.5% raise would bring it to $81.2K. So amount made in 2 yrs = 161.2K, which is $131.2K more than they’d get from the supplement. Sock $70K more in tsp with growth in those 2 yrs and it’d potentially make a big difference also. Now consider if their high 3 was about $78K. Their pension would be 20x.01x$78K=$15.6K/yr but in 2 yrs their high 3 might increase to say $80K which would then make their pension worth 22x.011x $80K= $19,360 or $3,760 more per year for the rest of their life. Last but not least 2 yrs can feel like forever or nothing at all depending on how you look at it.

You nailed it! A financial services agent would charge a fee for info like that. Seeking professional advice wouldn't be a bad idea for a big decision as this.

 

[Haygrrl]

Same. It was more than time. Everyday I say a brief thank you for working when I did. I left because I couldn't tolerate either side anymore - they were both incompetent.

Same

 

[DB.Cooper]

Same. It was more than time. Everyday I say a brief thank you for working when I did. I left because I couldn't tolerate either side anymore - they were both incompetent.

And yet, there are still some that seem satisfied with it... Altho, I think that number has dwindled WAY down in the past years and decades... sad that it used to be a pretty good job for most rurals...

 

[RammerJammer]

They made me into the beast that I am. I can tolerate any they dole out and give it back to them twofold! My favorite coworker had a saying that alleviated to the mail flow but I always apply it to other things. On a heavy day he’d exclaim “ they got me today but I’ll get em back tomorrow.”

 

[Sunofa]

And yet, there are still some that seem satisfied with it... Altho, I think that number has dwindled WAY down in the past years and decades... sad that it used to be a pretty good job for most rurals...

I have been a rural carrier less than 8 years so I don't know what it used to be like prior to that.
But, $65,000. a year with no college degree, a pension and a decent benefits package, throw In the fact that I work just 30 hours a week, I'll take it for now.
I hated being an rca and wanted to quit every week but as a regular, it's not terrible.
Our office is finally well staffed and we have better management at the moment but, in the past it was .

 

[DB.Cooper]

I have been a rural carrier less than 8 years so I don't know what it used to be like prior to that.
But, $65,000. a year with no college degree, a pension and a decent benefits package, throw In the fact that I work just 30 hours a week, I'll take it for now.
I hated being an rca and wanted to quit every week but as a regular, it's not terrible.
Our office is finally well staffed and we have better management at the moment but, in the past it was .

It can vary a lot... There were times I found it okay, but later, even tho I was making over $100k with EMA, I found it not worth it... Also, at some point in life, enuf is enuf... now I really have no interest in pursuing any sort of outside employment, as I'm busy enuf that I don't think I'd have time for it...

The other thing I'd say about $65k tho, is... Without working, my household income is well over double that amount... Js... $65K ain't what it once was with the AVERAGE household income in the US being almost $88k..

In 2026, the average household income in the U.S. is estimated at $87,730, reflecting a notable increase from $79,500 in 2022, which represents a growth of about 10.35% over four years (Demand Sage). This figure accounts for all types of households, including single- and dual-income families, and includes earnings before taxes and deductions.

 

[lovethemail]

I was one of those that got away with it. I used a 2 or 3 a week during the last 10 months in my last year before retirement. I had none remaining on my last day! I basically worked part-time during my last 10 months for full-time pay.

I was one of those too. It was great! I was the last one to retire from our office two years ago, Now a co-workere contacted me about how to go about it. So I don't steer him wrong I googled how to access the application. It talked about contacting HSRR and the blue book. So I was going to see if I could remember the pages he would need, but from what I am reading it is all done online? I don't want to mess him up, but a lot can change in two years.