U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) - Federal Retirees



	Retirement Eligibility Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) Eligibility for CSRS Retirement

Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS)

There are three categories of benefits in the FERS Basic Benefit Plan:

Immediate
Early
Deferred
Eligibility is determined by your age and number of years of creditable service.
In some cases, you must have reached the Minimum Retirement Age (MRA) to receive retirement benefits. Use the following chart to figure your minimum retirement age.

Minimum Retirement Age

If you were born Your MRA is

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 through 1964 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

Immediate-- An immediate retirement benefit is one that starts within 30 days from the date you stop working.
If you meet one of the following sets of age and service requirements, you are entitled to an immediate retirement benefit:

AGE YEARS OF SERVICE

62 5

60 20

MRA 30

MRA 10

If you retire at the MRA with at least 10, but less than 30 years of service, your benefit will be reduced by 5 percent a year for each year you are under 62, unless you have 20 years of service and your benefit starts when you reach age 60 or later.

Early-- Refers to special eligibility rules as follows:
The early retirement benefit is available in certain involuntary separation cases and in cases of voluntary separations during a major reorganization or reduction in force. To be eligible, you must meet the following requirements:

AGE YEARS OF SERVICE

50 20

Any Age 25

Deferred-- Refers to delayed payment of benefit until criteria are met, as follows:
If you leave Federal service before you meet the age and service requirements for an immediate retirement benefit, you may be eligible for deferred retirement benefits. To be eligible, you must have completed at least 5 years of creditable civilian service. You may receive benefits when you reach one of the following ages:

AGE YEARS OF SERVICE

62 5

60 20

MRA 30

MRA 10

If you retire at the MRA with at least 10, but less than 30 years of service, your benefit will be reduced by 5 percent a year for each year you are under 62, unless you have 20 years of service and your benefit starts when you reach age 60 or later.

Eligibility for CSRS Retirement
You may retire under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) at the following ages, and receive an immediate annuity, if you have at least the amount of Federal Service shown in the table below:

Type of retirement Minimum Age Minimum Service(Years) Special Requirements

Optional 62 5 None

60 20 None

55 30 None

Special Optional 50 20 You must retire under special provisions for air traffic controllers or law enforcement and firefighter personnel. Air traffic controllers can also retire at any age with 25 years of service as an air traffic controller.

Early Optional Any Age
50
25
20
Your agency must be undergoing a major reorganization, reduction-in-force, or transfer of function determined by the Office of Personnel Management.
Annuity is reduced if under 55.

Discontinued Service Any Age
50
25
20
Your separation is involuntary and not a removal for misconduct deliquency.

Disability Any Age 5 You must be disabled for useful and efficient service in your current position and any other vacant position at the same grade or pay level within your commuting area and current agency for which you are qualified.
Must be prior to retirement, or within one year of separation, except in cases of mental incompetence.

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Created 28 March 1999