1. What is the Civil Service Retirement System?

The Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) are retirement plans for U.S. federal employees. CSRS is for employees hired before 1984, while FERS covers those hired after.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the standard pension formula:

Where:

• \( High\text{-}3\ Average \) — Average of highest 3 consecutive years of salary
• \( Years\ of\ Service \) — Total creditable federal service
• \( Multiplier \) — 1.5% for CSRS, 1.1% for FERS

Explanation: The formula calculates your basic annuity which forms the foundation of your federal retirement benefits.

3. Importance of Pension Calculation

Details: Accurate pension estimation helps federal employees plan for retirement, understand their benefits, and make informed decisions about retirement timing.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter your High-3 average salary in dollars, years of service (including partial years as decimals), and select your retirement system. All values must be valid (salary > 0, service years between 0-60).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's included in High-3 average salary?
A: It includes basic pay plus locality pay, but excludes bonuses, overtime, and allowances.

Q2: Can I combine CSRS and FERS service?
A: Yes, but the calculation becomes more complex with different multipliers for different periods.

Q3: Are there maximum pension limits?
A: CSRS has an 80% maximum (without credit for unused sick leave). FERS has no statutory maximum.

Q4: What about FERS Special Category employees?
A: Law enforcement, firefighters, and air traffic controllers have different multipliers (1.7%).

Q5: Does this include Social Security or TSP?
A: No, this calculates only the defined benefit portion. FERS employees also receive Social Security and TSP benefits.