VERA/VSIP Calculator
Check if you qualify for VERA early retirement and VSIP buyout. Enter your age and years of service to see eligibility, estimate pension impact, and explore your options.
VERA vs Regular FERS Retirement
VERA Advantages
- • Retire earlier than standard MRA requirements
- • Keep FEHB health insurance into retirement
- • Often paired with VSIP ($25,000 buyout)
- • May receive FERS Supplement until age 62
VERA Considerations
- • Lower pension (fewer years of service)
- • Must be offered by your agency
- • Limited acceptance window
- • No penalty, but smaller annuity base
What is VERA?
VERA (Voluntary Early Retirement Authority) is a special provision that allows federal agencies to offer early retirement to employees during workforce restructuring, downsizing, or reorganization. Unlike regular early retirement (MRA+10), VERA has no age penalty.
VERA Eligibility Requirements
50 + 20
Age 50 or older with at least 20 years of creditable federal service
OR
Any Age + 25
Any age with at least 25 years of creditable federal service
VERA vs VSIP: Understanding the Difference
VERA (Early Retirement)
- • Allows early retirement eligibility
- • No cash payment
- • Starts your pension immediately
- • Keep FEHB and life insurance
- • May receive FERS Supplement
VSIP (Cash Buyout)
- • Up to $25,000 lump sum payment
- • Must actually separate from service
- • Can combine with VERA if eligible
- • Taxed as regular income
- • 5-year federal reemployment restriction
Best scenario: If you're VERA-eligible and your agency offers both VERA and VSIP, you can retire early (VERA) AND receive the $25,000 buyout (VSIP). This is the maximum benefit.
2026 VERA/VSIP Outlook
With the RIF moratorium expired and federal workforce restructuring underway, many agencies are offering VERA and VSIP as alternatives to involuntary separations. If your agency announces these options, you typically have 30-90 days to decide.
Key dates: VERA authority expires when an agency's restructuring need ends. If you're considering early retirement, review offers carefully and consult the related guides below.
VERA 2026
VERA offerings have increased significantly in 2026 as agencies restructure their workforces. If your agency has announced VERA, review the eligibility requirements above and act within the window your agency provides. Most VERA offers in 2026 have a 30 to 60-day acceptance period. Once the window closes, the opportunity is gone.
Federal employees approaching the 50+20 or any-age+25 thresholds should monitor agency announcements closely. Even if your agency has not yet announced VERA, understanding your eligibility now gives you a head start on retirement planning.
VERA/VSIP 2026
Many agencies in 2026 are offering VERA and VSIP together as a package to reduce workforce size without resorting to RIFs. If your agency offers both, you may be able to retire early under VERA and receive up to $25,000 through VSIP. The two programs are separate authorities, but when combined they represent the best possible separation package.
Before accepting a VERA/VSIP offer, calculate your pension using our FERS Retirement Calculator to understand the financial impact of retiring early versus staying until your full eligibility date.
DoD VERA 2026
The Department of Defense is one of the largest users of VERA authority, given its civilian workforce of over 750,000 employees. DoD components including the Army, Navy, Air Force, and defense agencies have historically used VERA during force shaping and base realignment efforts.
DoD civilian employees should check with their servicing HR office for VERA announcements specific to their command or installation. Each DoD component may have different timelines and eligibility windows depending on their restructuring plans.
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