Retiring under FERS,
without the jargon.
FERS covers every federal civilian hired since January 1, 1987 — combining a Basic Benefit annuity, Social Security, and the Thrift Savings Plan. This guide walks you through eligibility, what the rules actually say, and how to claim what you've earned.
What FERS actually is.
Congress created the Federal Employees Retirement System in 1986. Since January 1, 1987, every new federal civilian employee with retirement coverage has been a FERS participant — and the benefits are far more generous than what most private companies offer today.
FERS provides civil service retirement through a combination of the Basic Benefit Plan, Social Security, and the Thrift Savings Plan. Both the Basic Benefit and Social Security are funded by payroll deductions, with your agency contributing its share alongside yours.
After you retire, you receive a monthly annuity for life. If you leave federal service before reaching full retirement age and have at least five years of FERS service, you can elect a deferred retirement and collect later. Social Security and the TSP travel with you to your next job — they don't disappear when you leave.
FERS retirement benefits are very generous and far exceed what most private companies offer today.
The TSP is set up automatically when you're first hired. Your agency deposits 1% of your basic pay each payday, matches up to another 5% of your contributions, and all contributions are tax-deferred. Eligibility for an annuity, however, is determined by your age and your years of creditable service — which is where the next few sections come in.
The three pillars of a
FERS retirement.
Unlike older single-pension systems, FERS leans on three independent income streams. Each one has its own rules, contribution limits, and trade-offs — and a complete retirement plan accounts for all three.
Social Security
FERS-covered employees pay Social Security taxes on every paycheck and qualify for benefits the same way as private-sector workers.
Read the SSA primerBasic Benefit Plan
A defined-benefit annuity for life, calculated from your high-3 average salary, years of creditable service, and an annuity multiplier.
How the annuity is calculatedThrift Savings Plan
A 401(k)-style account with a 1% automatic agency contribution and matching up to 5%. The 2025 elective deferral limit is $23,500 ($7,500 catch-up over 50).
TSP allocation strategiesYour minimum retirement age, by birth year.
For employees born after 1948, the MRA shifts month-by-month until it settles at age 57 for everyone born in 1970 or later. Use the picker below — no math required.
Pick your birth year
We'll show your exact FERS Minimum Retirement Age — the earliest point you can begin an immediate or MRA+10 retirement.
MRA only sets the floor for when you can retire. To collect an immediate annuity at MRA you also need at least 10 years of creditable service.
Three tracks to a
FERS annuity.
Whether your annuity starts in 30 days or 30 years comes down to which of these three tracks you qualify for. Each requires a specific age and years-of-service combination — pick the row that fits your numbers.
Immediate Retirement
TRACK 01Benefits begin within 30 days of your last day of work. The fastest path — if you meet one of these age + service combinations.
Early Retirement
TRACK 02Available in certain involuntary separations and during major reorganizations or reductions in force (RIFs).
Deferred Retirement
TRACK 03Leave federal service with at least 5 years of creditable service, then collect later when you reach the age below.
Hit MRA but only have 10–29 years of service?
Your benefit is reduced 5% for each year you're under 62 — unless you have 20 years and your benefit starts at 60 or later.
How to start a deferred annuity after leaving federal service.
Many federal employees leave for the private sector and forget about their FERS contributions entirely. If you worked for civil service or the Postal Service for at least five years and didn't withdraw your funds, you're sitting on a benefit you can still claim.
You can collect a FERS annuity at the ages shown on the deferred track card above — as early as age 60 with 20 years of service, or age 62 with 5 years. Alternatively, you can take a lump-sum refund of your retirement contributions, but you'll forfeit the annuity entirely.
There is no reason to delay applying beyond your eligibility date — the annuity will not increase by waiting.
The form to file: OPM RI 92-19
To collect, complete OPM form RI 92-19 (revised May 2012) and mail it to the address listed on the form itself. The form runs nine pages of instructions and general eligibility information — print it for reference. OPM completes the first section, summarizing your federal service.
For the commencing date on your application, use the first business day of the month following your 62nd birthday. All benefits are retroactive to that date — if you forgot and apply at age 65, you'll receive a lump sum for the three intervening years.
OPM advises waiting until 60 days before your eligibility date, then contacting them for an "Application for Deferred Retirement":
- Toll-free: 1 (888) 767-6738
- Office of Personnel Management, PO Box 45, Boyers, PA 16017
If a former employee passes away first
If a former federal employee dies before claiming the deferred annuity, their surviving spouse is eligible to receive 50% of the annuity starting on the date the deceased would have met the age and service requirements. Lesser amounts are payable if the spouse needs to start collecting earlier.
What people actually ask.
Real questions OPM hears about deferred annuities and the 1.1% multiplier — answered without the bureaucratic hedging.
Forms, tools
and further reading.
The official forms you'll actually need, plus a couple of recommended reads on leaving federal service. Everything links back to OPM or another primary source.