Complete Guide
FERS Retirement Planning
Everything you need to understand your Federal Employees Retirement System benefits — eligibility, pension calculation, RAS supplement, survivor benefits, and more.
1%
per year of service
62
min age (5 yrs svc)
5%
TSP match (max)
72%
FEHB govt share
Calculators & Tools
FERS Retirement Calculator
Primary ToolCalculate your pension value, compare job offers, and see what you'd leave behind.
Ready to Retire Dashboard
PremiumFull retirement analysis with take-home pay, budget planning, and PDF export.
Military Buyback Calculator
Calculate the cost and ROI of buying back military time for FERS credit.
Leave Payout Calculator
Calculate your annual leave lump sum when separating from federal service.
Federal Tax Calculator
Estimate federal income tax on your pension and retirement income.
Retirement Tax by State
See which states tax federal pensions and find tax-friendly retirement destinations.
2026 GS Pay Tables
Look up GS salaries by grade, step, and locality area.
Key Topics
FERS Eligibility
When can you retire? Requirements for immediate, early, and deferred retirement.
- Standard FERS: Age 62 with 5 years, or 60 with 20, or MRA with 30
- MRA+10: Retire at MRA with 10+ years (5% penalty per year under 62)
- Deferred: Leave with 5+ years, collect at 62
- SCE/Law Enforcement: Age 50 with 20 years, or any age with 25
Pension Calculation
How your FERS annuity is calculated from service years and high-3 salary.
- Standard: 1% × years of service × high-3 salary
- Age 62+ with 20+ years: 1.1% × years × high-3
- SCE/LEO: 1.7% for first 20 years, 1% thereafter
- Sick leave adds to service time (not eligibility)
RAS Supplement
The bridge payment between retirement and Social Security eligibility.
- Paid from retirement until age 62 (57 for SCE)
- Based on Social Security benefit × (FERS years / 40)
- Subject to earnings test: reduced if you earn >$24,480/yr
- Not available for deferred or MRA+10 retirements
Survivor Benefits
Protecting your spouse with continued pension payments after your death.
- 50% survivor: costs 10% of your annuity
- 25% survivor: costs 5% of your annuity
- Spouse must consent to waive survivor benefits
- Can also elect for former spouse or insurable interest
In-Depth Guides
Related Topics
Key Terms
Have questions?
Browse 40+ answered questions about FERS retirement, eligibility, calculations, and more.
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