The Federal Employees Retirement System covers most civilian federal employees hired after 1983. Understanding how your pension is calculated, when you become eligible, and what the FERS supplement means for your retirement income is the difference between a smooth transition and a costly surprise.
What you'll find here
FERS is a three-part system: your basic annuity (the pension), Social Security, and the Thrift Savings Plan. The pension itself has several moving parts worth understanding before you set a retirement date.
Your Minimum Retirement Age depends on your date of birth, and the eligibility rules for a full pension vary based on your years of service.
Your pension is calculated on the highest average pay over any three consecutive years. Timing your last day matters.
A monthly payment that bridges the gap between retirement and Social Security eligibility at 62, for those who qualify.
Standard vs. enhanced multipliers, and how years of service factor into your monthly payment.
What happens to your FERS benefit if you separate from federal service before you're eligible to retire.
The option to delay your annuity to avoid the age reduction penalty, and when it makes financial sense.
A plain-English walkthrough of the FERS pension: eligibility, the annuity formula, MRA by birth year, the FERS supplement, and how to project your retirement income before you commit to a date.
Read the full guide →Book a free 30-minute benefits review with a licensed consultant. FERS, TSP, PSHB or FEHB, FEGLI — reviewed together, no cost, no obligation.
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