Understanding the options available to civil servants entering retirement under FERS.

If you’re one of the 2 million people in the federal workforce, this post is designed to help you make the most of your retirement plan by understanding the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS). As we head toward the end of the fiscal year, it's a great time to revisit how FERS works and how you can maximize your benefits.

Breaking Down FERS: The Three Key Components

Before we dive into the details, let’s recap the basic structure of FERS. There are three main components that federal employees need to pay attention to:

Pension: A defined benefit that provides income based on your years of service and salary.

Thrift Savings Plan (TSP): A defined contribution plan, similar to a 401(k), where you can contribute pre-tax or post-tax (Roth) dollars.

Social Security: Just like most employees, you’ll also receive Social Security benefits, so don’t forget to factor this into your retirement planning.

When thinking about retirement, it’s essential to plan not only for when to start your FERS pension but also when to tap into your TSP and file for Social Security. The coordination of these three components can make a big difference in your retirement income.

Maximizing Your FERS Benefits

Recently, I was asked by Money Geek how federal employees can maximize their retirement benefits. Two key strategies stand out:

Maximize Your TSP Contributions: For 2024, you can contribute up to $23,000 to your TSP, with an additional $7,500 if you’re over 50 (catch-up contribution). The TSP is one of the most cost-effective retirement savings plans out there due to its low fees, so take full advantage of it!

Know Your Full Retirement Age: Surprisingly, many people I talk to aren’t sure of their full retirement age (FRA) under FERS. Knowing this is crucial because it affects when you can receive your maximum pension benefit. For instance, retiring before age 62 or with fewer than 20 years of service could significantly reduce your pension payout.

There are some important distinctions to be aware of, particularly if you retire before age 62 or with fewer than 20 years of service. For example, retiring at 61 with 19 years of service gives you only 19% of your high-3 salary as a pension. However, waiting one more year to reach age 62 and 20 years of service increases that to 22%—a 15% boost in your pension for life! That extra year could be well worth it.

Understanding Your High-3 Average Salary

Your pension is based on your high-3 average salary, which is the average of your three highest consecutive years of earnings. While this is often your final three years, it’s not always the case. It’s important to accurately estimate your high-3 salary when planning your retirement.

Additionally, if you’ve had military service, you can potentially add military service credits to your federal service time. This could increase your pension benefit, so be sure to check your service record to ensure all your years are accounted for.

Special Considerations for Specific Roles

Certain federal roles, such as law enforcement officers, firefighters, and nuclear materials couriers, are eligible for enhanced pension benefits. For example, they receive 1.7% of their high-3 salary for the first 20 years of service, compared to 1% for most employees. Members of Congress are also eligible for the 1.7% rate, making it important to know which category you fall into.

Steps to Take in the Years Leading Up to Retirement

As you approach retirement, there are four steps you should focus on to ensure you’re on track:

Maximize Your TSP Contributions: The more you contribute, the more you’ll have for retirement. For those over 50, make sure you’re taking advantage of the catch-up contribution.

Confirm Your Full Retirement Age: Double-check your FERS records to know exactly when you’re eligible for full retirement.