Phased retirement is a time-limited arrangement in which participants who are fully eligible to retire work part-time and engage in mentoring/knowledge transfer activities at least 20 percent of that time, while also receiving about half of their retirement annuity. This means a phased retiree will work 40 hours per pay period, performing mentoring for 8 of these hours. USPTO limits phased retirement to a period of 52 weeks (one year) with an extension of an additional 52 weeks or one additional year. The maximum time period that an employee can be in phased retirement is 104 weeks or two years.

Phased Retirement Policy

Phased Retirement Agreement

Information on Phased Retirement PowerPoint

USPTO Intranet site for more information including application