Your MRA, or Minimum Retirement Age, is based on the year in which you were born. A FERS retiree who was born before 1948 would have a MRA of 55. However, if born in 1970 or later, the MRA would be 57.
Here is a chart that demonstrates how this works:
Minimum Retirement Age + 10
| Year of Birth | MRA |
| Before 1948 | 55 |
| 1948 | 55 and 2 months |
| 1949 | 55 and 4 months |
| 1950 | 55 and 6 months |
| 1951 | 55 and 8 months |
| 1952 | 55 and 10 months |
| 1953-1964 | 56 |
| 1965 | 56 and 2 months |
| 1966 | 56 and 4 months |
| 1967 | 56 and 6 months |
| 1968 | 56 and 8 months |
| 1969 | 56 and 10 months |
| 1970 and later | 57 |
The 5% penalty applies to FERS retirees who leave under the MRA + 10 provision. FERS employees who are under age 62 and retire under other provisions face no reduction at all.
© 2013 John Grobe. All rights reserved. This article may not be reproduced without express written consent from John Grobe.
