| 1.Regular Annuity |
Guaranteed annuity based on service under a single plan. |
Guaranteed annuity based on service under the Basic Benefit Plan. |
Guaranteed annuity based on years of service under both plans for those who transfer with at least 5 years of creditable civilian service under CSRS (excluding CSRS Offset service). |
2.When benefits can be received.
a. Voluntary retirement benefits (unreduced) |
Available at the following age and service combinations:
- Age 55 with at least 30 years of service.
- Age 60 with at least 20 years of service.
- Age 62 with at least 5 years of service.
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Available at the following age/service combinations:
- At least the Minimum Retirement Age (MRA)* with 30 years of service or more.
- At least age 60 with 20 years of service or more.
- At least age 62 with 5 years of service or more.
*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 1953-2964 |
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 |
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Follow FERS rules. |
| b. Immediate reduced |
None Available. |
Available at the MRA with at least 10 years of service. (Benefit is reduced 5% a year for each year payment begins before age 62. Receipt of benefits can be postponed until as late as age 62 to lessen or avoid the reduction.) |
Follow FERS rules. |
| c.Immediate involuntary early retirement |
Available at the following age and service combinations provided separation is not for cause or misconduct:
- Age 50 with at least 20 years of service.
- Any age with at least 25 years of service.
(Benefit reduced 2% a year for each year payment begins before age 55.)
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Unreduced benefits available at the following age/service combinations:
- At age 50 with 20 years of service or more.
- At any age with 25 years of service or more.
(Special Retirement Supplement begins at MRA and continues until age 62.) |
Follow FERS rules for benefits earned under FERS, and CSRS rules for benefit earned under CSRS. |
| d. Deferred retirement |
Available at age 62 to former employees with at least 5 years of civilian service who did not withdraw their retirement contributions after separation from service. If your death occurs after separation but prior to age 62, only a refund of deductions is paid. |
Unreduced benefit available at the following age/service combinations:
- At age 62 to those who had at least 5 years of civilian service and did not take a refund.
- At age 60 with 20 years of service or more.
- At MRA with 30 years of service or more.
Reduced benefit (at 5% per year under age 62) available at MRA with 10 years of service or more. Receipt of benefits can be postponed until as late as age 62 to lessen or avoid the reduction in annuity. |
Follow FERS rules. |
3.Basic annuity formula
a. Salary base |
Average of highest 3 consecutive years of salary. |
Average of highest 3 consecutive years of salary. |
Average of highest 3 consecutive years of salary. |
| b.Benefit calculation formula (For CSRS Offset employees, the benefit is reduced at age 62 by the amount of their Social Security entitlement attributable to CSRS Offset service.) |
General formula equal to:
[1](1%) X (high-3) X (first 5 years service) +
[2](1%) X (high-3) X (second 5 years service) +
[3](2%) X (high-3) X (all service over 10 years).
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1.00% X (high-3) X all years of service if retiring before age 62 with less than 20 years of service.
1.10% X (high-3) X all years of service if retiring at age 62 or older with at least 20 years of service. |
Benefit is computed based on both formulas:
- The CSRS formula applies to years worked under CSRS for employees who transfer with 5 years or more of creditable CSRS civilian service (excluding CSRS Offset service).
- The FERS formula applies to years worked under FERS and CSRS Offset.
NOTE: Those who transfer with less than 5 years of non-Offset service have all benefits computed according to the FERS formula. |
| 4.Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLA's) |
Paid annually to all annuitants beginning the year after retirement. CSRS cost-of-living adjustments equal the rate of inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI). |
Paid annually to retirees over 62 years of age, to those who have received disability payments for more than 1 year, and to those receiving survivor benefits.
The following chart describes FERS cost-of-living adjustments:
| Up to 2% | Same as CPI |
| 2% to 3% | 2% |
| 3% or more | CPI increase minus 1% |
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The portion of the benefit computed under CSRS rules receives CSRS cost-of-living adjustments.
The portion of the benefit computed under FERS rules receives FERS cost-of-living adjustments if payable. |
| 5. Special Retirement Supplement |
Not paid under CSRS. |
An approximation of the portion of a full-career Social Security benefit earned while under FERS.
Paid to retirees receiving unreduced retirement benefits from Minimum Retirement Age until age 62. (Subject to Social Security Earnings Test.) |
Applies to retirees who completed 1 or more calendar years of service covered by FERS (January 1 - December 31). Paid according to FERS rules. |
| 6.Cost to participate |
In 1998, 7.0% of basic pay. CSRS Offset employers also pay 7%, divided between 6.2% to Social Security Administration and .80% to CSRS up to the Social Security Administration maximum taxable wage base. Above tax base, entire 7% goes to CSRS. |
In 1998, .80% of basic pay. (The cost of the FERS Basic Benefit plus Social Security taxes generally equals 7.0%.) |
After transferring, employees contribute at FERS rate. Those who transfer with less than 5 years of non-Offset service may request a refund of the difference between the FERS contribution rate and the CSRS rate. |
| 7.Refund options |
May choose to withdraw contributions in lump sum when you leave. Will receive no annuity credit unless contribution redeposited after reemployment. Exception: full credit for refunded service will be given without redeposit, subject to an actuarial reduction in annuity, if refunded service ended before October 1, 1990. Contributions refunded without interest if you have 5 years or more of service. |
May choose to withdraw contributions in lump sum when you leave. Will receive no annuity. Refunded contributions may not be redeposited. Refunds receive market rate interest. |
May withdraw contribution paid under CSRS according to CSRS rules. (CSRS Offset service cannot be redeposited if refunded after employee transfers to FERS.) |
8.Disability benefits
a.Definition of disability |
An employee must be unable to perform his/her duties and there must be no suitable vacancy in his/her own agency within the same commuting area and at the same grade or pay level as the current position. |
Same as for CSRS. |
Follow FERS rules. |
| b.Eligibility requirements |
An employee must have 5 or more years of civilian service.
CSRS Offset employee who applies for CSRS disability benefits must also apply for Social Security disability benefits or show that they are not eligible for them. |
An employee must have 18 months or more of civilian service.
Those who apply for FERS disability benefits must also apply for Social Security disability benefits or show that they are not eligible for them.
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Follow FERS rules. |
| c.Disability benefit formula |
Disability benefits are the higher of two computations:
[1]the annuity computed using the employee's years of service and high-3 under the general formula; or
[2]the lesser of the following:
- a)40% of the high-3; or
- b)annuity computed according to the general formula after increasing the length of service as if the employee had worked to age 60.
If the employee has at least 21 years and 11 months of service, or is age 60 or older, the annuity is computed under [1].
For CSRS Offset employees, the benefit is reduced by the amount of Social Security disability entitlement attributable to CSRS Offset service. |
The formula used to determine FERS disability benefits differs depending on how many years an employee is disabled. During the first year of disability, FERS pays 60% of an employee's high-3 (average pay if less than 3 years service) minus 100% of any Social Security benefits received. No cost-of-living adjustments are paid during this year.
During the second and any additional years of disability until an employee reaches age 62, the employee will receive 40% of his/her high-3 average pay minus 60% of any Social Security benefits received. cost-of-living adjustments are paid for these years, at the same rate as noted under FERS in Item 4 above.
FERS disability benefits are recomputed at age 62. The employee then receives a non-disability FERS retirement benefit that includes credit for years in receipt of disability annuity. |
Follow FERS rules.
Note: FERS disability benefits are never less than an employee's earned benefit, including the benefit earned under CSRS that was transferred to FERS.
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9.Survivor benefits
a. Eligibility requirements |
Survivor benefits are payable to eligible survivors of an employee who was contributing to the CSRS on the date of death with at least 18 months of civilian service. |
Same as CSRS. |
Follow FERS rules. |
| b.Who may receive survivor benefits. |
Under CSRS, survivor benefits can be paid under various conditions to current and former spouses and to children. Survivors must meet certain age and length of marriage requirements in order to qualify for benefits. |
Same as CSRS. In addition, under FERS, a survivor's age can affect the amount of benefits he/she may receive. |
Follows FERS rules. |
c.Survivor benefit payments
1.) Spouses of deceased employees |
An eligible spouse of an employee who dies while a Federal employee will receive 55% of the disability annuity that would have been payable if the employee had retired on the date of death.
For CSRS Offset employees, the benefit is reduced by the amount of Social Security survivor benefit entitlement attributable to CSRS Offset service when the SSA benefit becomes payable.
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FERS pays the eligible spouse of an employee who dies while a Federal employee a lump sum payment of $15,000, adjusted for inflation, plus 50% of the employee's final basic pay (or average pay, if higher). The $15,000 portion has increased to $21,783.34 with the 1998 cost-of-living adjustments. In addition to the above lump sum, FERS pays the eligible spouse of an employee who has 10 years of service or more an annuity equal to 50% of the employee's accrued Basic Benefit. |
Follow FERS rules. |
| 2.) Spouses of deceased annuitants |
An eligible spouse of a retiree will receive 55% of the retiree's unreduced annuity amount (or a lesser amount if jointly elected by the retiree and spouse).
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FERS will pay the eligible spouse of a FERS retiree 50% of the retiree's annuity amount (or 25% if that lesser amount was jointly elected by the retiree and spouse), plus a Special Retirement Supplement if the spouse is younger than age 60 and not yet eligible for Social Security benefits. |
Follow FERS rules. |
| 3.) Spouses of employees who die after leaving Federal service, but before deferred annuity payments begin |
A lump-sum death benefit consisting of the deceased's unrefunded retirement contributions is payable unless the deceased designated another person as beneficiary. |
FERS will pay a benefit to the spouse of an employee who has 10 or more years of Federal service, leaves the Federal workforce, and dies before his/her annuity payments begins. The benefit is payable if the employee did not take a refund of his/her contributions.
If the employee had not reached the MRA when separated, the survivor annuity will begin when the employee would have reached age 62 (age 60 if employee had 20-29 years of service; or employee's MRA if he/she had 30 or more years of service). The annuity can begin sooner if the spouse elects a reduced benefit.
If the employee had attained the MRA when separated (and had at least 10 years of service), the spouse receives of employee's accrued annuity beginning the day after death. |
Follow FERS rules. |
| 4.) Death benefits paid to children. |
CSRS pays an annuity to the eligible children of employees or retirees who die. The annuity varies depending on the number of children and whether or not there is a surviving spouse or former spouse who is a parent of the children. The benefits of children of CSRS Offset employees are offset for Social Security benefit in the same way that spousal benefits are offset. |
FERS pays the eligible children of employees or retirees who die an annuity that varies depending on the number of children and whether or not there is a surviving spouse or former spouse who is a parent of the children. The annuity is reduced by any Social Security benefits the children may be receiving. |
Follow FERS rules. |
| c.Cost of survivor benefits for retired employees |
Unless waived by the retiree and the spouse, the annuity is reduced in order to provide a survivor benefit. The first $3,600 of the retiree's annual benefit will be reduced by 2.5%. The remaining annuity benefit is reduced by 10%. For most career retirees, this amounts to a 7-8% reduction. Note: the 55% spouse's benefit is based on the amount of the annuity before this reduction is made. |
Unless waived by the retiree and the spouse, the annuity is reduced to provide a survivor benefit. This reduction amounts to 10% (or 5%, if elected) of the annual benefit. Note: The 50% (or 25%) spouse's benefit is based on the amount of the annuity before this reduction is made. |
Follow FERS rules for all of benefit, including the benefit earned for the years covered by CSRS. |
| d.Survivor benefits Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLA's) |
CSRS survivor benefits receive full CSRS cost-of-living adjustments equal to the rate of inflation. |
FERS survivor benefits receive FERS cost-of-living adjustments at any age. |
Follow FERS rules. |
2.When benefits can be received
- a.Eligibility
- b.Unreduced Social Security retirement benefits.
- c.Reduced Social Security retirement benefits.
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To qualify for Social Security benefits, an employee born after 1928 must have paid Social Security taxes for at least 10 years (or 40 "credits") of employment. Those born before 1929 need fewer years of coverage to qualify.
Available to eligible retirees at age 65. (Starting in the year 2000, this age will gradually increase to 67.)
Available to eligible retirees at age 62. (Benefit reduced 20% for those born before 1938. Reduction gradually increases to 30% for those born in 1970 or later.)
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Follow Social Security rules.
Follow Social Security rules.
Follow Social Security rules. |
| 3.Social Security benefit formula |
Social Security benefits are based on a three-part formula applied to career earnings. Other factors, such as whether or not an employee's spouse is covered by Social Security, age at retirement, and earnings after retirement, also affect benefit amount. Windfall Elimination Provision may apply. (See Social Security section.) |
Follow Social Security rules. |
| 4.Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLA's) |
Social Security cost-of-living adjustments equal the rate of inflation. |
Follow Social Security rules. |
| 5.Cost to participate |
Social Security taxes are a percentage of salary up to the maximum taxable wage base. In 1998 this is $68,400. Social Security taxes are paid on earnings up to and including this amount, but not on earnings above this level. Benefits are not paid on earnings above this amount. The rate currently is 6.20%. (The FERS Basic Benefit contribution decreases as the Social Security tax rate increases. In general, contributions to these items will total 7.0% of pay in 1998.) |
Follow Social Security rules. |
6.Disability benefits
- a. Eligibility requirements
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To qualify for Social Security disability payments, an employee must have earned enough Social Security credits (generally 40 "credits"), and have earned a specified number of quarters just before becoming disabled (generally 5 out of their last 10 working years). |
Follow Social Security rules. |
- b.Definition of disability
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To be eligible for Social Security disability benefits, an employee must be unable to perform any job. |
Follow Social Security rules. |
- c.Disability benefits calculation
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Social Security benefits are based on a three-part formula applied to earnings in the same way as the Social Security retirement formula. |
Follow Social Security rules. |
7.Survivor benefits
- a.Eligibility requirements
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Social Security provides survivor benefits to the eligible survivors of a worker who meets the minimum Social Security eligibility requirements. The number of Social Security credits required depends on the employee's year of birth and age at death. The minimum number of credits required is 18 months (or 6 "quarters").
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Follow Social Security rules. |
- b.Who may receive survivor benefits?
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Under Social Security, survivor benefits can be paid under various conditions to current and former spouses, children, and dependent elderly parents.
Survivors must meet certain age and length of marriage requirements in order to qualify for benefits.
Also under Social Security, a survivor's age can affect the amount of benefits he/she may receive. |
Follow Social Security rules. |
- c.Survivor benefit payments
i. Benefits paid to a spouse of an employee who dies |
Social Security benefits payable to a surviving spouse who was married to the employee at least 9 months (3 months if death was accidental), or is the parent of the employee's child, and meets one of the following age requirements:
- Any age with entitled child in care (75% of employee's full benefit),
- Age 65 (100% of employee's full benefit),
- Age 60-64 (permanently reduced benefits),
- Age 50-59 and disabled (permanently reduced benefits).
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Follow Social Security rules. |
| ii. Benefits paid to a former spouse of an employee who dies |
Social Security benefits are payable to the surviving former spouse (married to employee at least 10 years), as follows:
- Age 60 or over (reduced benefits if entitled prior to age 65),
- Age 50-59 and disabled (permanently reduced benefits).
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Follow Social Security rules. |
| iii. Benefits paid to children of an employee who dies |
Social Security pays survivor benefits to eligible children, as follows:
- Under age 18 and unmarried (50% of employee's full benefit),
- Attending school full-time at age 18 or over, who was disabled before age 22 (50% of employee's full benefit).
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Follow Social Security rules. |
U.S. Office of Personnel Management 1900 E Street NW, Washington, DC 20415 | (202) 606-1800 | TTY (202) 606-2532