Mail Carrier · Retire in 365 days
The Mail Carrier Who Retires at 57 — With a Paycheck Nobody Told Him About
Federal retirement pays a bridge paycheck from 57 to 62 that most carriers have never heard of — and it stops the moment you earn your way out of it.
Gus, 57 — married to Bev, a part-time vet tech
Episode in production — the written drill below is the full story.
The income
$65k carrying a city route, 31 years in
The savings
A federal pension + a $410k TSP + the supplement
The outcome
In the episode: money lasts to 94
The countdown
12 months out
Confirm the magic combination: minimum retirement age plus 30 years of service = an immediate, unreduced pension. Audit the service record now, not at the party.
9 months out
Map the three income phases: 57–62 pension plus the supplement · 62–67 the claiming decision · 67+ pension plus Social Security. Retirement income arrives in windows — plan each window.
6 months out
The TSP decision: it can stay put as the safe sleeve while taxable savings go first in the withdrawal order.
3 months out
The quiet crown jewel: federal retiree health coverage continues for life at employee rates. The insurance bridge that wrecks every civilian plan basically doesn't exist here.
Rules that only apply to this career
The FERS Annuity Supplement
Federal employees retiring at their minimum retirement age with 30 years get a bridge payment approximating their earned Social Security — from retirement until 62, when it stops. It's also earnings-tested if you keep working.
FEHB for life
Meet the five-year rule and federal retiree health coverage continues into retirement at employee rates — before AND after 65.
The twist
A delivery contractor offers $28k a year part-time. The supplement has an earnings test — most of that gig would be clawed back before 62. The chart prices the job at its real value: about $9k. He passes.
The verdict
Out two months after the 30-year mark, supplement to 62, Social Security at 67, TSP untouched until 65. Knowing the supplement exists — and that it stops — did the most work.
Now run it with YOUR numbers.
The same tool from the episode — drag the levers, watch the money-runs-out age move, make the plan yours.
Drive Gus’s plan — no signup →Ready for your own numbers? Create a free account
Educational estimates only — not financial, tax, or investment advice.