VERA Retirement
Lots of questions about VERA for Firefighters. If you take a VERA retirement without first meeting special category requirements, YOU WILL ONLY RECEIVE REGULAR RETIREMENT. And you will NOT receive the supplement until AGE 57.
VERA eligibility:
20 years of service, including military time, at age 50, or
25 years, including military, regardless of age
Note: Assuming you paid the deposit and have at least 5 years civilian
That is not the same as special category retirement.
Special Category eligibility:
20 years as a Federal Civilian Firefighter at age 50, or
25 years regardless of age as Civilian Firefighter
Military time only adds to your annuity once eligible for special category. I do not know of any changes in the rules that allow Firefighters to receive special category retirement with less than 20 years as a civilian firefighter.