Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS)
CSRS-Offset
Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS)
Understanding Your Federal Retirement Benefit Estimate
This calculator provides an estimated annual gross benefit for federal employees retiring under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) or the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). It's important to note that this is a simplified estimation tool and does not account for all complex factors that may affect your final benefit. For precise figures, consult official OPM resources or a benefits specialist.
How the Estimate Works:
The core of federal retirement calculations involves multiplying your years of service by a percentage based on your retirement system and your High-3 average salary.
1. High-3 Average Salary:
This is the average of your highest basic pay earnings over any 36 consecutive months of service. The calculator uses the value you input directly.
2. Years of Service:
This represents your creditable years of service for retirement purposes. The calculator uses the value you input.
3. Retirement System Multipliers:
Different systems have different multipliers that are applied to your High-3 salary based on your years of service.
CSRS:
For retirees with 10 or more years of service: 1.5% for the first 5 years, 1.75% for the next 5 years, and 2% for all years over 10.
For retirees with less than 5 years of service: 1.6% for each year.
For retirees with 5 to 10 years of service (but less than 5): 1.7% for each year.
CSRS-Offset: Calculated similarly to CSRS, but with a reduction for Social Security benefits. This calculator provides a CSRS-like gross estimate before the offset.
FERS:
1.1% for each year of service for most FERS employees.
1.3% for each year of service for FERS employees who were first hired before January 1, 2013, and are retiring under the special provisions for members of Congress or certain senior executives.
1.7% for each year of service for FERS employees with 20 or more years of service and who are retiring under the special provisions for public safety and certain other occupational groups (e.g., law enforcement officers, firefighters).
This calculator defaults to the most common 1.1% multiplier for FERS.
4. Basic Annual Benefit Calculation:
The fundamental formula is: (Years of Service) x (Applicable Multiplier %) x (High-3 Average Salary) = Annual Basic Benefit
5. Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA):
CSRS and FERS annuities are typically increased annually by a COLA to help maintain purchasing power. This calculator applies your assumed COLA percentage to the estimated annual benefit for illustrative purposes, compounding it from your retirement age until the current year or a hypothetical projection period. It's an approximation of future purchasing power.
Important Considerations:
Minimum Retirement Age (MRA): FERS retirees generally must reach their MRA (57 for those born 1970 or later) to receive their benefit without a reduction, unless they meet specific criteria for early retirement. CSRS retirees typically need 5 years of service and must be age 62, or 55 with 30 years of service, or 60 with 20 years of service.
Reductions: Retiring before meeting full retirement age criteria can result in a reduced annuity.
Survivor Benefits: Election of survivor benefits will reduce your annuity.
Taxes: Retirement benefits are subject to federal income tax, and in some cases, state income tax.
Social Security: FERS retirees may also be eligible for Social Security benefits, and the FERS annuity is reduced by the CSRS-Offset amount if applicable.
This is an Estimate: For definitive information, refer to your official annuity statement and consult with your agency's HR or benefits office, or visit OPM.gov.
function calculateRetirementBenefit() {
var currentAge = parseFloat(document.getElementById("currentAge").value);
var retirementAge = parseFloat(document.getElementById("retirementAge").value);
var yearsOfService = parseFloat(document.getElementById("yearsOfService").value);
var high3Salary = parseFloat(document.getElementById("high3Salary").value.replace(/,/g, ")); // Remove commas if entered
var retirementSystem = document.getElementById("retirementSystem").value;
var colaPercentage = parseFloat(document.getElementById("colaPercentage").value);
var resultDiv = document.getElementById("result");
resultDiv.innerHTML = "; // Clear previous results
// Input validation
if (isNaN(currentAge) || currentAge < 18 ||
isNaN(retirementAge) || retirementAge < 18 ||
isNaN(yearsOfService) || yearsOfService < 0 ||
isNaN(high3Salary) || high3Salary <= 0 ||
isNaN(colaPercentage) || colaPercentage < 0) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Please enter valid numbers for all fields.";
return;
}
if (retirementAge = 10) {
var first5 = Math.min(yearsOfService, 5) * 0.015;
var next5 = Math.min(Math.max(0, yearsOfService – 5), 5) * 0.0175;
var remaining = Math.max(0, yearsOfService – 10) * 0.02;
multiplier = first5 + next5 + remaining;
explanation = "CSRS (>= 10 years): 1.5% (first 5), 1.75% (next 5), 2% (over 10)";
} else if (yearsOfService >= 5) { // 5 to less than 10 years
multiplier = yearsOfService * 0.017;
explanation = "CSRS (5-9 years): 1.7% per year";
} else { // Less than 5 years
multiplier = yearsOfService * 0.016;
explanation = "CSRS (= 10) {
var first5 = Math.min(yearsOfService, 5) * 0.015;
var next5 = Math.min(Math.max(0, yearsOfService – 5), 5) * 0.0175;
var remaining = Math.max(0, yearsOfService – 10) * 0.02;
multiplier = first5 + next5 + remaining;
explanation = "CSRS-Offset (>= 10 years): 1.5% (first 5), 1.75% (next 5), 2% (over 10) – NOTE: Actual benefit reduced by Social Security offset.";
} else if (yearsOfService >= 5) { // 5 to less than 10 years
multiplier = yearsOfService * 0.017;
explanation = "CSRS-Offset (5-9 years): 1.7% per year – NOTE: Actual benefit reduced by Social Security offset.";
} else { // Less than 5 years
multiplier = yearsOfService * 0.016;
explanation = "CSRS-Offset (< 5 years): 1.6% per year – NOTE: Actual benefit reduced by Social Security offset.";
}
retirementBenefit = multiplier * high3Salary;
} else { // FERS (defaulting to 1.1%)
multiplier = yearsOfService * 0.011;
explanation = "FERS (standard): 1.1% per year";
// Note: Could add logic here for FERS 1.3% or 1.7% if specific inputs were added.
retirementBenefit = multiplier * high3Salary;
}
var estimatedAnnualBenefit = retirementBenefit;
// Simplified COLA projection – This is highly illustrative and NOT a precise forecast.
// A real projection would involve year-by-year compounding and more complex mortality assumptions.
var yearsUntilRetirement = retirementAge – currentAge;
var colaFactor = Math.pow(1 + (colaPercentage / 100), yearsUntilRetirement);
var projectedAnnualBenefitWithCOLA = estimatedAnnualBenefit * colaFactor;
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Estimated Annual Gross Benefit: $" + estimatedAnnualBenefit.toFixed(2) +
"(" + explanation + ")" +
"(Illustrative projection with " + colaPercentage + "% annual COLA compounded to retirement age: $" + projectedAnnualBenefitWithCOLA.toFixed(2) + ")";
}