Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS)

All federal employees are automatically enrolled in one of the best retirement systems in the world.  

If you were first hired after December 31, 1983, on an appointment with retirement coverage, you are covered by FERS. You are also covered if you transferred to FERS during a FERS open season.

The FERS is a three-tiered plan made up of:

• a basic annuity,
• Social Security, and
• a tax-deferred retirement savings and investment plan called the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP).

This three-tiered plan provides benefits for:

• Retirement
• Disability
• Survivors

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) administers the basic benefits portion of FERS. The Social Security Administration has responsibility for administering the Social Security benefits. And the Federal Thrift Investment Board administers the TSP. When you retire, you will receive benefits from all three of these agencies.

You can get all the latest information at the OPM web site, just go to http://www.opm.gov/retire/retire_jobseekers.asp