Deferred retirement is typically for FERS employees who leave federal service before they reach the minimum retirement age (MRA). You can apply for deferred retirement if you have at least five years of creditable civilian service. However, bear in mind that you can't withdraw your contributions to the retirement fund.
Houston Municipal Employees Pension System. HMEPS was created in 1943 by an act of the 48th Legislature, and codified under Article 6243g, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes. The System was recodified by the 77th Texas Legislature in 2001 under Article 6243h, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes.
Under this program, you stop earning service credit toward a future benefit and your retirement benefit is calculated at the time your DROP participation begins. While you are in the DROP, your monthly retirement benefits accumulate in the FRS Trust Fund earning interest while you continue to work for an FRS employer.
The DROP allows you to effectively retire while delaying your termination. As a participant of the DROP, you begin accumulating your retirement benefits while delaying your employment termination for up to 96 calendar months from the date your DROP participation begins.
The Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP) is an optional retirement method for HMEPS members who have reached their normal retirement eligibility (age and years of credited service) but do not want to retire. It is an alternative method of accumulating and receiving a pension benefit from HMEPS.
The two plans are also different in that 401(k) plans do not offer a three-year Pre-Retirement Catch-Up; and 457(b) plans do. Another difference is that a 401(k) distribution prior to age 59½ may be subject to a 10% early withdrawal penalty and 457(b) plans generally do not have the same early withdrawal penalty.
Elective deferral limit The amount you can defer (including pre-tax and Roth contributions) to all your plans (not including 457(b) plans) is $23,000 in 2024 ($22,500 in 2023; $20,500 in 2022; $19,500 in 2020 and 2021; $19,000 in 2021).
You are eligible for a retirement benefit when you meet one of the following requirements: You are age 60 or over and have accrued 8 years of service time. You have accrued 30 years of service time (regardless of age) Your age plus your years of service total 75 (also called the Rule of 75)