FERS Pension Calculator
Estimate your Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) annuity using the official high-3 average salary formula. Check MRA eligibility, 1.1% multiplier qualification, and survivor benefit reduction — free, private, and instant.
How the FERS Pension Formula Works
The Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) annuity is one of three retirement income streams for federal workers, alongside Social Security and the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). The basic FERS annuity formula is: High-3 average salary × years of creditable service × 1.0% multiplier. The "high-3" is the highest consecutive 36 months of base pay — typically your final three years before retirement. If you retire at age 62 or later with at least 20 years of service, the multiplier increases to 1.1%, a 10% boost worth tens of thousands over retirement. Per OPM's FERS computation guidance, special category employees (law enforcement, firefighters, air traffic controllers) use enhanced formulas with 1.7% for the first 20 years.
FERS Eligibility — MRA, Age 60, and Age 62 Rules
FERS retirement eligibility has three immediate-annuity paths: MRA + 30 (your minimum retirement age plus 30 years of service), Age 60 + 20, or Age 62 + 5. The MRA depends on your birth year — for federal workers born in 1970 or later, MRA is 57. Retiring at MRA with only 10-29 years of service triggers a reduction of 5% per year under age 62 (the "MRA+10" provision). Postponing the annuity until age 60 or 62 eliminates the reduction, making postponement attractive for many feds. The official OPM eligibility chart shows all combinations including disability and discontinued service retirement.
FERS Special Retirement Supplement and Social Security
Federal workers who retire before age 62 with an immediate annuity may receive the FERS Special Retirement Supplement (SRS) — an estimated payment that approximates the Social Security benefit earned during federal service. The SRS bridges the gap from retirement to age 62, when actual Social Security can begin. SRS is subject to the same earnings test as Social Security: in 2026, earnings above approximately $23,400 reduce SRS by $1 for every $2 earned. The supplement ends at age 62 regardless of whether you claim Social Security. Postponed annuitants (MRA+10 with deferred start) do not receive SRS. Combined with TSP withdrawals, FERS retirees typically replace 60-80% of pre-retirement income — significantly less than the old CSRS system, which is why TSP contributions matter so much. Source: OPM SRS guidance.
COLA, Survivor Benefit, and FEHB in Retirement
FERS retirees under age 62 receive no cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) on the basic annuity until they reach 62 — a major difference from CSRS. Once 62, COLA equals CPI-W when CPI is under 2%, CPI minus 1% when CPI is 2-3%, and 2% when CPI is above 3% (the "FERS diet COLA"). For 2026, the FERS COLA is 2.5% based on the 2025 CPI-W calculation. Survivor benefit elections reduce your annuity: 50% survivor coverage costs 10% of your gross annuity but provides 50% to your spouse upon your death; 25% survivor coverage costs 5%. To keep Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) in retirement, you must have been enrolled for the 5 years immediately before retirement — a hard rule with no waiver. Last updated May 2026. Source: OPM COLA history.