brucec

Brucec, boy, I hear ya!!! Oh, I was also in the 2210 series about 6 years before I retired; went from GS-3 (whatever the series was back in the day lol), to 334, then 501 and then, finally 2210. Hang in there though...you can do it! Look at it this way...how fast did the first 10 years fly by? I mean, that's how I looked at. The only thing is or was, is that the spinal crud hit in 2000. I am telling ya, if it weren't for my co-workers and my bosses, I never would have made it the additional years I needed to reach the 25 year mark. Oh, I wanted to mention something too. Make sure OPM has all of your SF 50's when you retire. Long story...but they were missing about 4 of mine which constituted a promotion each time...eek! I think that occurred when the change was made from USAFAC to DFAS. Anyway, getting back to you, I did the same thing. I let upper management know that I had to head out and head out soon. They were very accomodating though and understood completely.

What Agency do you work for and what is your series/title. I do know that some weren't offered the buyout because their position was mission essential/critical. That happened to a friend of mine; my husband was her boss and told her that if she moved over to a supervisory slot, then she might lose out on the Buyout and that's precisely what happened. Anyway, are they simply not offering them much anymore? I know for awhile there in DOD and especially IT, there were coming once and sometimes twice a year. But that was before 2005. I really wish they would offer my husband one; I think he MIGHT take but then again I don't really know. I think he LOVES his job LOL! Just teasing but I know he likes what he does. And, hey, if you were referring to SS or Medicare, don't listen to what all the naysayers have to say. But, if they are right, then I guess we will all be put out to pasture but I don't think that will happen for years and years.

brucec,
I retired from that Special Pay WITH an "Early Out". Did that change? Anyway, for clarification purposes...

It just so happens that my second surgery was right around the corner when the "Early Out" was offered. Trust me, I really agonized over this. Because, well, I was only 48 at the time, knew I would take a hit, was CSRS-Offset, etc. But, husband said...take the money and run. I was just in severe pain a lot of the time and could hardly even hold my head up. Anyway, I hope an Early Out is offered to you. I can say for a fact, I don't regret it. Yep, my pension is small but with SSDI which I finally received this year. It is not too bad. The only thing is...OPM is still taking their sweet time do the recalcuations or rather the offset part. Isn't it funny how the Libs think we have it so great? LOL! Man, if they only knew the whole convoluted mess!

Oh, and did you read about the 40% hike in premiums some time down the road? Geesh!!!! I hope it is not as bad as they say. Some attorney from the IRS was talking about it and he said he didn't think it would happen. Let's hope so!

I agree with you! I was thinking that there might be some pay raises happening. I don't see how it could go the other way at all! Okay, well my husband is at the top of the GS-13 pay scale. Or was, I should say. So, I would assume going back to GS would place him at 14 step something or other. As for myself, I was really a GS-11, BUT when the special IT pay came into play, I was really a GS-12 step 2 or something like that LOL! Hey, it has been since 2005 so I am really out of the loop on this. NSPS was coming into play right about the time I retired. In any case, hang in there. I can really see the pros and cons to both. Fedsmith folks have different opinions too. My thing is...I just can't wait for my husband to retire. He says the day Obama goes out is the day he does too LOL! It IS funny because it would be the very same day LOL!

I saw that brucec!!! I mean about NSPS. My husband is under NSPS and was concerned. How do you think they will handle this? I tend to think, and so does he, that they will just put him back in the GS. The thing is...he is at the very top step!! Eeek! LOL!

very welcomed

Thanks bruuuuuce!

Cool ride! That's a definite custom jub there, looks like fun

Thank you bruce i never noticed it but i have to leave it because 1 of my best friends on here that passed away her name was QUEEN on here wrote that for me. By the way nice ride. Thank you Antoinette