Applying for Retirement with Pay

1. Notification is forwarded in advance to advise you how to submit an application for retired pay at age 60. If you have not received notification 4 months prior to your 60th birthday, please contact PERS-912 by calling 1-866-827-5672. The earliest date retired pay may commence is your 60th birthday or the day after completion of 20 years of qualifying service, whichever is later.

2. Submission of the following is not required, but may expedite the processing of your application.

a. A statement of service indicating the number of
retirement points you have earned and/or a copy of
your Notice of Eligibility for Retired Pay at age
60; both, if in your possession.

b. A telephone number where you may be reached during
the day.

3. Complete processing of an application normally takes several months. Please include your social security number on all correspondence. If you have a change of any information, before your 60th birthday, please report the update to Pers-912 by calling 1-866-827-5672 immediately.

Applying for Retirement without Pay

Applications for retirement without pay should be submitted in accordance with the format and timeframes listed on the form titled "Request to transfer to the Retired Reserve without pay" on the Forms for Download page.

Benefits for Gray Area Retirees and Recipients of Retired Pay

As an active RC, IRR, or Retired Reserve service member who has received a 20-year letter but has not received retirement pay, you may be eligible to receive gray area benefits. The following table shows these benefits compared to the full retiree's:  Benefits for Retired Reserve Members.

10 USC 12731 has been changed to allow qualified Reservists to start receiving retired pay earlier than age 60.  (See NDAA 2008).