Many government retirees also get public paychecks - Yahoo! Finance : I can exactly put my finger on it but something feels wrong about this. Maybe wrong is not the right word. It is more like working the system. I have known about the practice for years. I know many who do it. MIlitary, air traffic controllers, police, and etc and in my opinion many of them do it only to get a pay raise. It has less to do with other reasons but because I can and I deserve. I am hard pressed to think of any career where working 20% of the average life expectancy entitles you a paycheck for the rest of your life.