can disabled people get an early retirement pension - voluntary early retirement and federal employees

The 15 year early retirement for Navy was a scheme that was introduced a few years ago. It is officially known as the Voluntary Separation Incentive program but was discontinued on December 31, 2001 after the Congress refused to extend the authority for it.

For a very long time, early military retirement and active duty time has been an issue of debate. It is believed that deal offered is too good wherein a person can retire by the time he or she turns forty, get another job as a civilian and still continue to get military retirement benefits.

The Pension Protection Act of 2006, eliminates the 10 percent early distribution tax which was normally levied on military retirement distributions if a military personnel withdrew the money before reaching the age of 59 1/2.

Federal agencies that are undergoing significant restructuring, reshaping, downsizing, transfer of function or reorganization to temporarily lower the age and service requirements to increase the number of employees who are eligible for retirement can now do so under Voluntary Early Retirement Authority, also known as VERA.