Civil Service Retirement System

The Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS)deductions, it may also comprise service where
began in 1920 and has given disability, survivorthe pay of the employee is not subject to
and retirement benefits for the majority of civilianretirement deductions, such as under a temporary
employees in the Federal government until 1987appointment. Honorable active military service
when the new Federal Employees Retirementmay also be qualified, subject to conditions: it was
System (FERS) was created. Nevertheless, overexecuted before the separation date upon which
two million people carry on receiving Civil Serviceis the basis for entitlement to annuity; it is not
Retirement System retirement and survivorcomprised in computation of military retired pay
benefits every month.except for certain service-connected disability
Retirement benefits are presently financed byrequirements; if the military service was executed
both Government and employee contributions toafter December 31, 1956, some employees will
the retirement fund, and the benefits arehave to create a deposit for the service to
provided based on the duration of service and thereceive firstly or for other employees, to retain
average pay over the highest three years of pay.credit after the age of sixty-two.
What are the eligibility requirements for CivilAlthough the service used in determining an
Service Retirement System benefits? Anemployee's eligibility for retirement is typically the
employee is qualified to retire voluntarily if thesame as creditable service for computation
following provisions are met: at least five years ofpurposes, there are some exceptions: periods of
creditable civilian service; is separated from aCSRS service refunded, will not be creditable
position subject to Civil Service Retirementunless a redeposit is made; if the refunded
System coverage; is covered by Civil Serviceservice was executed before October 1, 1990, it
Retirement System for at least one year withinwill be qualified even if no redeposit is made but
the two-year period immediately preceding thethe annuity will be actuarially decreased;
separation; and meets age/service combinationsnon-education service is made on or October 1,
of age 55 with 30 years of service, or age 601982, is not qualified if a deposit has not been
with 20 years of service, or age 62 with fivemade. October 1, 1982 prior service is creditable
years of service.by the annuity will be decreased by ten percent
For employees who separate from service andof amount owed; active military service executed
have met the criteria except for the age/serviceafter December 31, 1956 is not creditable for
combination may be permitted to a deferredemployees first employed in a covered position
annuity at age sixty-two. To be qualified, theafter September 30, 1982 except if a military
employee must not take a refund of retirementdeposit for the service is made; and unused sick
deductions upon separation.leave is commendable in computing benefits. Sick
In determining the service which may be used forleave is changed into days or months of service
an employee's eligibility for retirement under theusing the Sick Leave Chart in the OPM operating
Civil Service Retirement System, is not restrictedmanual, but it can never be used for eligibility.
to service in positions subject to CSRS retirement