*The earliest a FERS employee may retire with "immediate" optional retirement benefits is when they reach the Minimum Retirement Age (MRA). Use the chart below to figure your MRA.

Candidates must also meet minimum age of retirement, or MRA. Under FERS, Utt said the MRA is based upon the year in which the employee was born — a chart is available on the ABC-C website.

MRA or Minimum Retirement Age is an age between 55 and 57 when many federal employees become eligible for a FERS basic retirement benefit if they have 10 or more years of service.