Special Groups of Employees

Firefighters, Law Enforcement Officers, and Air Traffic Controllers
Military Reserve Technicians
Part-Time Employees
Members of Congress, and Congressional Employees

Firefighters, Law Enforcement Officers, and Air Traffic Controllers

These groups of employees receive an unreduced benefit at age 50 with 20 years of service, or at any age with 25 years of service. If you are in one of these employee groups, you contribute an additional .5% of pay to the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). Your annual annuity is:

1.7% of your high-3 average pay
times
years of service
plus
1.0% of your high-3 average pay
times
years of service exceeding 20.

You also receive a Special Retirement Supplement until age 62 that approximates the Social Security benefit earned in Federal service. After you reach the Minimum Retirement Age (MRA), if you have earnings from wages or self-employment that exceed the Social Security annual exempt amount, your supplement will be reduced or stopped. In addition, you are entitled to an annual Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA), regardless of your age.

Military Reserve Technicians

If you are a military reserve technician who loses the military status required to maintain your position, you may retire and receive an unreduced annuity if you are at least age 50 with 25 years of service.

In addition, a Special Retirement Supplement is payable until age 62. After you reach your Minimum Retirement Age (MRA), if you have earnings from wages or self-employment that exceed the Social Security annual exempt amount your supplement will be reduced or stopped.

Part-Time Employees

In calculating the annuity for employees with part-time service, the average high-3 consecutive years of pay will be based on the full-time pay rate. The benefit based on the full-time rate is reduced according to the part-time schedule.

Members of Congress and Congressional Employees

Members of Congress receive an unreduced annuity at age 50 with 20 years of service, or at any age with 25 years of service. Congressional employees must meet the age and service requirements explained in the Basic Benefit Plan section.

If you are a Member of Congress or a Congressional employee, with at least 5 years of Congressional service, your annuity will be:

1.7% of high-3 average pay
times
years of Congressional service up to 20
plus
1.0% of high-3 average pay
times
any other service.

A Special Retirement Supplement is payable from the Minimum Retirement Age to age 62. If you have earnings from wages or self-employment that exceed the Social Security annual exempt amount, your supplement will be reduced or stopped.

Cost-of-Living-Adjustment's (COLA's) are payable to Congressional retirees before age 62 only if they retire for disability.

Members of Congress and Congressional employees contribute an additional .5% of pay to the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS).

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Back to FERS: An Overview of Your Benefits Table of Contents

Updated 14 May 1998