Retirement Eligibility
Here are the criteria for retirement eligibility under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS).
Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS)
There are five categories of benefits under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). Eligibility is based on your age and the number of years of creditable service and any other special requirements. In addition, you must have served in a position subject to CSRS coverage for one of the last two years before your retirement. If you meet one of the following sets of requirements, you may be eligible for an immediate retirement benefit. An immediate annuity is one that begins within 30 days after your separation.
If you leave Federal service before you meet the age and service requirements for an immediate retirement benefit, you may be eligible for deferred retirement benefits. To be eligible, you must have at least 5 years of creditable civilian service and be age 62.
Optional
Special Optional
Special Requirements: You must retire under special provisions for air traffic controllers or law enforcement and firefighter personnel. Air traffic controllers can also retire at any age with 25 years of service as an air traffic controller.
Early Optional
Special Requirements: Your agency must be undergoing a major reorganization, reduction-in-force, or transfer of function determined by the Office of Personnel Management. Your annuity is reduced if you are under age 55.
Discontinued Service
Special Requirements: Your separation is involuntary and not a removal for misconduct or delinquency.
Disability
Special Requirements: You must be disabled for useful and efficient service in your current position and any other vacant position at the same grade or pay level within your commuting area and current agency for which you are qualified. The disability must have onset prior to retirement and should be expected to last for at least one year.
Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS)
There are four categories of benefits in the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) Basic Benefit Plan:
Immediate | Early | Deferred | Disability
Eligibility is determined by your age and number of years of creditable service.
In some cases, you must have reached the Minimum Retirement Age (MRA) to receive retirement benefits. Use the following chart to figure your Minimum Retirement Age.
Before 1948 |
55 |
In 1948 |
55 and 2 months |
In 1949 |
55 and 4 months |
In 1950 |
55 and 6 months |
In 1951 |
55 and 8 months |
In 1952 |
55 and 10 months |
In 1953 through 1964 |
56 |
In 1965 |
56 and 2 months |
In 1966 |
56 and 4 months |
In 1967 |
56 and 6 months |
In 1968 |
56 and 8 months |
In 1969 |
56 and 10 months |
In 1970 and after |
57 |
Immediate Retirement
An immediate retirement benefit is one that starts within 30 days from the date you stop working.
If you meet one of the following sets of age and service requirements, you are entitled to an immediate retirement benefit:
If you retire at the MRA with at least 10, but less than 30 years of service, your benefit will be reduced by 5 percent a year for each year you are under 62, unless you have 20 years of service and your benefit starts when you reach age 60 or later.
Early Retirement
Refers to special eligibility rules as follows:
The early retirement benefit is available in certain involuntary separation cases and in cases of voluntary separations during a major reorganization or reduction in force. To be eligible, you must meet the following requirements:
Deferred Retirement
Refers to delayed payment of benefit until criteria are met, as follows:
If you leave Federal service before you meet the age and service requirements for an immediate retirement benefit, you may be eligible for deferred retirement benefits. To be eligible, you must have completed at least 5 years of creditable civilian service. You may receive benefits when you reach one of the following ages:
If you retire at the MRA with at least 10, but less than 30 years of service, your benefit will be reduced by 5 percent a year for each year you are under 62, unless you have 20 years of service and your benefit starts when you reach age 60 or later.
Disability Retirement
Disability Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) Annuity Requirements
Special Requirements: You must have become disabled, while employed in a position subject to FERS, because of a disease or injury, for useful and efficient service in your current position. The disability must be expected to last at least one year. Your agency must certify that it is unable to accommodate your disabling medical condition in your present position and that it has considered you for any vacant position in the same agency at the same grade/pay level, within the same commuting area, for which you are qualified for reassignment.