U.S. Government Information on Retirement Pay

Many people in D.C. work for the federal government.

The U.S. federal government pays non-military employees a retirement pension based on their years of service, position and age at retirement. The pension is not generous enough to replace other retirement plans, but it can supplement them.

High Three

All employees need to calculate the average of their three highest years' salary. This will usually be the salary from their last three years of federal employment.

Standard Employee--Full Benefits

Standard employees can receive full benefits if they are over the age of 62 and have worked in the federal government for at least 20 years.

Standard Employee--Partial Benefits

Standard employees earn partial benefits if they have worked less than 20 years and/or are under the age of 62.

Standard Employee--Full Benefit Calculation

To determine their annual pension, standard employees eligible for full benefits should multiply their high-three average by .011, then multiply the product by the number of their years of service.

Standard Employees--Partial Benefits

Standard employees with partial benefits should multiply their high-three average by 0.01, then multiply the product by the number of their years of service.

Special Employees

FBI officers, nuclear couriers, capital police, Supreme Court police, firefighters and air traffic controllers receive full benefits for 20 years of service, regardless of age. To calculate their benefits, multiply their high-three average by 0.017, then multiply the product by 20. Separately, multiply the high-three average by .01, and multiply the product by the number of their years of service past 20. Add the two products together to calculate the full pension.

References

• U.S. Office of Personnel Management: FERS Computation