Ask the Lawyer received the following question (paraphrased for easier reading and clarity) from a reader on a legal matter that might be of interest to the entire audience.
Q:
I am 55 years old and have worked in the government under FERS for 25 years. I would like to end my government service. My security clearance is due and if I don’t submit it, would I be fired voluntarily or involuntarily. How would this affect my retirement?
A:
No. You would most likely be fired for failing to meet an expectation of your job, i.e., filing the update forms for your clearance. That is a very different posture than being fired for loss of a clearance, which could, in the absence of accompanying misconduct, justify an early retirement under discontinued service retirement rules.
Bill Bransford is managing partner of Shaw, Bransford & Roth, PC.
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