Order Code RL30631
Retirement Benefits for Members of Congress
Updated February 9, 2007
Patrick J. Purcell
Specialist in Social Legislation
Domestic Social Policy Division

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Retirement Benefits for Members of Congress
Summary
Prior to 1984, neither federal civil service workers nor Members of Congress
paid taxes to Social Security, nor were they eligible for Social Security benefits.
Members of Congress and other federal employees were instead covered by a
separate pension plan called the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). The 1983
amendments to the Social Security Act (P.L. 98-21) required federal employees first
hired after 1983 to participate in Social Security. These amendments also required
all Members of Congress to participate in Social Security as of January 1, 1984,
regardless of when they first entered Congress. Because the CSRS was not designed
to coordinate with Social Security, Congress directed the development of a new
retirement plan for federal workers. The result was the Federal Employees’
Retirement System Act of 1986 (P.L. 99-335).
Members of Congress first elected in 1984 or later are covered automatically
under the Federal Employees’ Retirement System (FERS), unless they decline this
coverage. Those who already were in Congress when Social Security coverage went
into effect could either remain in CSRS or change their coverage to FERS. Members
are now covered under one of four different retirement arrangements:
! Full coverage under both CSRS and Social Security;
! The “CSRS Offset” plan, which includes both CSRS and Social
Security, but with CSRS contributions and benefits reduced by
Social Security contributions and benefits;
! FERS plus Social Security; or
! Social Security alone.
Congressional pensions, like those of other federal employees, are financed
through a combination of employee and employer contributions. All Members pay
Social Security payroll taxes equal to 6.2% of the Social Security taxable wage base
($97,500 in 2007). Members covered by FERS also pay 1.3% of full salary to the
Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund. Members covered by CSRS Offset
pay 1.8% of the first $97,500 of salary, and 8.0% of salary above this amount, into
the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund.
Under both CSRS and FERS, Members of Congress are eligible for a pension
at age 62 if they have completed at least five years of service. Members are eligible
for a pension at age 50 if they have completed 20 years of service, or at any age after
completing 25 years of service. The amount of the pension depends on years of
service and the average of the highest three years of salary. By law, the starting
amount of a Member’s retirement annuity may not exceed 80% of his or her final
salary.
As of October 1, 2006, 413 retired Members of Congress were receiving federal
pensions based fully or in part on their congressional service. Of this number, 290
had retired under CSRS and were receiving an average annual pension of $60,972.
A total of 123 Members had retired with service under both CSRS and FERS or with
service under FERS only. Their average annual pension was $35,952 in 2006.

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Contents
Background on Congressional Pensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Retirement Plans Available to Members of Congress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Members First Elected Before 1984 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Members First Elected Since 1984 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Age and Length-of-Service Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Retirement Under CSRS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Retirement Under FERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Coordination of FERS Benefits with Social Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Social Security Retirement Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Social Security Earnings Limit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
The Thrift Savings Plan: An Integral Component of FERS . . . . . . . . . 5
Required Contributions To Retirement Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Total Payroll Deductions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Pension Plan Benefit Formulas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Pension Benefits Under CSRS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Pension Benefits Under FERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Social Security Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Pensions for Members with Service Under Both CSRS and FERS . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Retirement Benefits under the CSRS Offset Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Replacement Rates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Cost-of-Living Adjustments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
The Thrift Savings Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Forfeiture of Annuity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
List of Tables
Table 1. Replacement Rates for Members Retiring with an Immediate
Annuity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

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Retirement Benefits for
Members of Congress
Background on Congressional Pensions
The Civil Service Retirement Act of 1920 (P.L. 66-215) established a pension
system for federal employees in the executive branch of government. Coverage
under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) was extended to Congress in
January 1942 by P.L. 77-411. That law was repealed just two months later in
response to adverse public opinion. In 1946, P.L. 79-601 again extended CSRS
coverage to Congress, at the option of Members, with higher contributions and
greater benefits than those applicable to regular federal employees. In reference to
that legislation, S.Rept. 79-1400 (May 31, 1946) stated that a retirement plan for
Congress:
would contribute to independence of thought and action, [be] an
inducement for retirement for those of retiring age or with other
infirmities, [and] bring into the legislative service a larger number of
younger Members with fresh energy and new viewpoints concerning the
economic, social, and political problems of the Nation.
The Social Security Amendments of 1983 (P.L. 98-21) required all federal
employees hired in 1984 or later to participate in Social Security. These amendments
also required all Members of Congress to participate in Social Security as of January
1, 1984, regardless of when they first entered Congress. The Civil Service Retirement
System, having been established in 1920, predated passage of the Social Security Act
by 15 years. Requiring federal workers to participate in both CSRS and Social
Security would have duplicated some benefits and would have resulted in employee
payroll deductions for the two programs that in 2007 would exceed 13% of pay.
After mandating Social Security coverage of new federal employees beginning in
1984, Congress directed the development of a new retirement plan for federal
workers with Social Security coverage as its foundation. The result of this effort was
the Federal Employees’ Retirement System Act of 1986 (P.L. 99-335).
The Federal Employees’ Retirement System (FERS) went into effect in 1987,
and employees first hired in 1984 or later were automatically enrolled in this plan.
Employees who had been in the federal government before 1984 were given the
option to remain in CSRS — without Social Security coverage — or to switch to
FERS. The options for Members of Congress differed from those available to other
federal employees because the 1983 amendments required all Members of Congress
to participate in Social Security. Members first elected in 1984 or later were given
the option to enroll in FERS as well as being covered by Social Security, or to be
covered only by Social Security. Members who had been in Congress before 1984

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could elect to stay in CSRS in addition to being covered by Social Security; to elect
coverage under an “offset plan” that integrates CSRS and Social Security; to elect
coverage under FERS in addition to being covered by Social Security; or to be
covered only by Social Security.1
Because of the uncertain tenure of congressional service, FERS was designed,
as CSRS had been, to provide a larger benefit for each year of service to Members
of Congress and congressional staff than to most other federal employees. Members
of Congress also become eligible for retirement annuities under CSRS and FERS at
an earlier age and with fewer years of service than most other federal employees.
However, Members of Congress and congressional staff pay a higher percentage of
salary for their retirement benefits than do most other federal employees.
As of October 1, 2006, 413 retired Members of Congress were receiving federal
pensions based fully or in part on their congressional service. Of this number, 290
had retired under CSRS and 123 had retired either with service under both CSRS and
FERS or with service under FERS only. Members who had retired under CSRS had
completed, on average, 20 years of federal service. Their average annual CSRS
annuity in 2006 was $60,972. Those who had retired under FERS had completed,
on average, 16.3 years of federal service. Their average retirement annuity in 2006
(not including Social Security) was $35,952. The average age of retired Members
of Congress receiving retirement annuities in 2006 was 79 for those who had retired
under CSRS and 69 for those who had retired under FERS.
Retirement Plans Available to Members of Congress
Members First Elected Before 1984. Members of Congress who were first
elected before 1984 may be covered under one of four retirement plans:
! Dual Coverage. This is full coverage by both CSRS and Social
Security.
! CSRS Offset. This is coverage by CSRS and Social Security, but
with CSRS contributions and benefits reduced (“offset”) by the
amount of Social Security contributions and benefits.
! FERS. This is composed of the FERS basic annuity, Social Security,
and the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP).
! Social Security only. This occurs if the Member declines other
coverage.
1 Under the “Offset Plan,” payroll deductions go partly to Social Security and partly to the
Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund. In retirement, the individual’s CSRS pension
is reduced (“offset”) by the amount of his or her Social Security benefit.

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Members and other federal employees who were covered under CSRS had the
opportunity to switch to FERS during two six-month “open seasons” in 1987 and
1998.
Members First Elected Since 1984. Members of Congress who were first
elected in 1984 or later are covered by the Federal Employees’ Retirement System
unless they decline this coverage, in which case they are covered only by Social
Security. FERS is composed of three elements:
! Social Security,
! the FERS basic annuity, a monthly pension based on years of service
and the average of the three highest consecutive years of basic pay,
! the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), into which participants can deposit up
to a maximum of $15,500 in 2007. Their employing agency matches
employee contributions up to 5% of pay.
Members who enter Congress with at least five years of previous federal
employment covered by CSRS can choose to participate in the CSRS Offset plan
rather than FERS.
Age and Length-of-Service Requirements
Members become vested in (legally entitled to) a pension benefit under CSRS
or FERS after five years of service. The age and service requirements for retirement
eligibility are determined by the plan under which a Member is covered at the time
of retirement, regardless of whether he or she has previous service covered under a
different plan.2 Depending on a Member’s age and years of service, a pension can
be taken immediately upon retirement or only on a deferred basis. Likewise, the
Member’s age and years of service, as well as the starting date of the annuity, will
determine whether he or she is eligible for a full pension or a reduced pension.
Retirement Under CSRS. Four retirement scenarios are possible for
Members covered by CSRS or the CSRS Offset Plan:
Retirement with an immediate, full pension is available to Members age 60 or
older with 10 years of service in Congress, or age 62 with five years of civilian
federal service, including service in Congress.
2 Active-duty military service can be counted toward retirement eligibility, but not toward
five-year vesting. In order for military service to count toward the amount of one’s
retirement annuity, the individual must make a deposit to the Civil Service Retirement and
Disability Fund in the amount that would have been withheld if retirement deductions had
been made during the person’s years of military service, plus accrued interest on this
amount.

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Retirement with an immediate, reduced pension is available to Members aged
55 to 59 with at least 30 years of service. It is also allowed if the Member
separates for a reason other than resignation or expulsion after having
completed 25 years of service, or after reaching age 50 and with 20 years of
service, or after having served in nine Congresses.3
Retirement with a deferred, full pension is available if the Member leaves
Congress before reaching the minimum age required to receive an immediate,
unreduced pension and delays receipt until reaching the age at which full
benefits are paid. A full pension can be taken at age 62 if the Member had five
through nine years of federal service, or at age 60 if the Member had at least 10
years of service in Congress. At the time of separation, the Member must leave
all contributions in the plan in order to be eligible for the deferred pension.
Retirement with a deferred, reduced pension is available to a Member at age
50 if he or she retired before that age and had at least 20 years of federal service,
including at least 10 years as a Member of Congress.
Retirement Under FERS. There are four possible retirement scenarios for
Members who are covered by FERS:
Retirement with an immediate, full pension is available to Members at age 62
or older with at least five years of federal service; at age 50 or older with at least
20 years of service; and at any age to Members with at least 25 years of service.
Retirement with an immediate, reduced pension is available at age 55 to
Members born before 1948 with at least 10 years of service. The minimum age
will increase to 56 for Members born from 1953 through 1964 and to 57 for
those born in 1970 or later.
Retirement with a deferred, full pension is available at age 62 to former
Members of Congress with at least five years of federal service.
Retirement with a deferred, reduced pension is available at the minimum
retirement age of 55 to 57 (depending on year of birth) to a former Member who
has completed at least 10 years of federal service. The pension annuity will be
permanently reduced if it begins before age 62.4
Coordination of FERS Benefits with Social Security. The FERS basic
annuity was designed to supplement Social Security retirement benefits. FERS
retirees under age 62 who retire with an unreduced pension are eligible for a
temporary supplement to their FERS pension to fill in until Social Security eligibility
3 The pension is reduced by 1/12 of 1% for each month not in excess of 60 months, and 1/6
of 1% for each month in excess of 60 months that the Member is under age 60 at the date
of separation. Reasons for separation “other than resignation or expulsion” include both
choosing not to seek re-election and not winning re-election.
4 The pension is reduced by 5% for each year the Member is under age 62 when the pension
begins (unless he or she has completed 20 or more years of service).

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is reached at age 62. The supplement is an amount estimated to equal the Social
Security benefits accrued from federal service, and is paid from the time of retirement
until age 62. The FERS supplement ends at age 62 regardless of whether the
individual applies for Social Security at that time. Like Social Security benefits paid
before the full retirement age (65 years and 8 months in 2007), the supplement
reduced if the retiree has earnings above a specified annual limit. This “FERS
supplement” is payable to Members who retire at ages 55 to 57 (depending on year
of birth) or older with at least 20 years of service. A former Member with at least 20
years of service also may begin to draw the supplement upon reaching age 55 to 57.5
Social Security Retirement Benefits. Since January 1, 1984, all Members
of Congress have been required to pay Social Security taxes. The laws governing
payment of Social Security taxes and eligibility for Social Security benefits apply to
Members of Congress in the same way they apply to any other covered worker.
Retirement with full benefits. The “full retirement age” under Social Security
is 65 years and 8 months in 2007. Forty quarters of covered employment are
required to be eligible for retired worker benefits.6 Under current law, the age
for full benefits is gradually increasing, beginning with people born in 1937,
until it reaches age 67 for those born in 1960 or later.
Retirement with reduced benefits. The earliest that retired worker benefits can
be taken under Social Security is age 62. Benefits taken at 62 are permanently
reduced, based on the number of months between the person’s age at retirement
and the full retirement age. A worker retiring at age 62 in 2007 would receive
a benefit equal to 75% of the benefit that would be payable if the beneficiary
had reach the full retirement age of 65 years and 8 months. When the full
retirement age reaches age 67, the monthly benefit paid at 62 will be 70% of the
amount that would be paid if the beneficiary were age 67.
Social Security Earnings Limit. Social Security benefits are reduced for
beneficiaries under age 65 who have earnings from paid employment that exceed
thresholds that are defined in statute. In 2007, Social Security beneficiaries under
age 65 are subject to a reduction in benefits if their annual earnings exceed $12,960
($1,080 per month). The earnings threshold is adjusted annually for average wage
growth in the U.S. economy. Beneficiaries under age 65 lose $1 in benefits for every
$2 in earnings above the threshold. Retirees aged 65 or older receive full benefits
regardless of earnings.
The Thrift Savings Plan: An Integral Component of FERS. The TSP
is a defined contribution retirement plan similar to those authorized under Section
401(k) of the tax code for employers in the private sector. For all federal employees
5 Members, former Members, and Congressional staff can receive an unreduced annuity (and
the FERS supplement) with at least 20 years of service, provided they have reached the
minimum retirement age of 55-57. Regular federal employees must complete at least 30
years of service and reach the minimum retirement age of 55-57 before they are eligible to
receive an unreduced retirement annuity and the FERS supplement.
6 Fewer quarters of covered employment are required for individuals born before 1929.

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covered by FERS, their employing agency contributes an amount equal to 1% of base
pay to the TSP, whether or not the employee chooses to contribute anything to the
plan. In 2007, employees covered by FERS can make voluntary contributions of up
$15,500. Employee contributions of up to 5% of pay are matched by the employing
agency. Contributions are made on a pre-tax basis, and neither the contributions nor
investment earnings that accrue to the plan are taxed until the money is withdrawn.
Employees covered by CSRS can participate in the TSP, but they receive no
employer matching contributions. (See "The Thrift Savings Plan" section for more
information.)
Required Contributions To Retirement Programs
CSRS. Regular federal employees covered by CSRS contribute 7.0% of pay
to the Civil Service Retirement System. Their employing agencies contribute a
further 7.0% of payroll to the CSRS on behalf of these workers. Members of
Congress who are covered by CSRS are required to contribute 8.0% of salary to the
plan, and the Congress of the United States makes an employer contribution of 8.0%
of payroll on their behalf.
CSRS Offset. A Member of Congress who is covered by the CSRS Offset
plan contributes 1.8% of pay up to the Social Security taxable wage base ($97,500
in 2007), and 8.0% of pay above this amount, to the CSRS.
FERS. Regular federal employees contribute 0.8% of pay to the Federal
Employees’ Retirement System and their employing agencies contribute an amount
equal to 11% of pay.7 Members of Congress and congressional staff pay 1.3% of
salary for FERS coverage, and the Congress pays approximately 16% of payroll as
the employer contribution for Members and congressional staff covered by FERS.
Temporary Increase in Employee Contributions to CSRS and FERS.
Under the terms of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (P.L. 105-33), employee
contributions under CSRS and FERS rose by 0.25% in January 1999 and by a further
0.15% on January 1, 2000. Employee contribution rates were scheduled to increase
by another 0.10% on January 1, 2001. Employee contributions were then revert to
the 1998 levels after December 31, 2002. Pension benefits accrued by federal
workers would not have increased as a result of the temporarily higher employee
contributions to CSRS and FERS mandated by the Balanced Budget Act. The higher
contribution rates mandated by the Balanced Budget Act were repealed for all federal
employees except Members of Congress by P.L. 106-346, the FY2001 Department
of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. Contribution rates for
Members reverted to 8.0% under CSRS and 1.3% under FERS on January 1, 2003.
Social Security Payroll Taxes. All Members of Congress pay Social
Security payroll taxes, regardless of their other retirement plan coverage. In 2007,
the Social Security tax rate of 6.2% applies to gross wages up to $97,500. The Social
7 The employer contribution to FERS varies slightly from year to year based on estimates
of the actuarial cost of the program made by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

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Security taxable wage base is adjusted each year for wage growth in the economy.8
Members of Congress, like all other workers covered by Social Security, pay
Medicare Hospital Insurance taxes on all earnings at a rate of 1.45% of pay in 2007.
Total Payroll Deductions
Total payroll deductions for federal retirement programs depend on the
combination of programs by which a Member is covered. The required payments are
exclusive of any voluntary investments in the TSP. These are the required
contributions in 2007:
Dual Coverage. Members with full CSRS coverage plus Social Security
contribute 14.2% of the first $97,500 of salary (8.0% to CSRS plus 6.2% to Social
Security). They pay 8.0% to CSRS on salary above $97,500.
CSRS Offset. Members in the CSRS Offset Plan pay 6.2% to Social Security
and 1.8% to CSRS on the first $97,500 of salary. They pay 8.0% to CSRS on salary
above $97,500.
FERS. Members covered by FERS pay 6.2% to Social Security and 1.3% to
FERS on the first $97,500 of salary. They pay 1.3% to FERS on salary above
$97,500.
Social Security. All Members pay 6.2% of their first $97,500 in gross wages
to Social Security. The taxable wage base of $97,500 is indexed to national average
wage growth and is adjusted annually.
Pension Plan Benefit Formulas
Pension benefits under both CSRS and FERS are computed according to (1) the
retiree’s average annual salary for the three consecutive years of highest pay (known
as “high-3” salary); (2) the number of years of service covered by the pension plan;
and, (3) the “accrual rate” at which benefits accumulate for each year of service. The
pension is the product of these factors, expressed as:
High-3
Years of
Accrual
Annual
Salary X
Service X Rate =
Pension
Pension Benefits Under CSRS. The accrual rate for each year of
congressional service covered by CSRS is 2.5%. Therefore, the CSRS pension
equals:
High-3
Years of
CSRS

Salary
X
Service
X
.025 =
Pension
8 Social Security taxes are levied on gross wages. They are not deducted for purposes of
determining adjusted gross income. TSP contributions are deducted in determining AGI.

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For example, after 30 years of congressional service and a high-3 average salary
of $161,800, the initial annual CSRS pension for a Member who retired in December
2006 at the end of the 109th Congress would be:9
$161,800 x 30 x .025 = $121,350
Federal law limits the maximum CSRS pension that may be paid at the start of
retirement to 80% of the Member’s final annual salary (see 5 U.S.C. § 8339(f)). To
receive an initial pension equal to 80% of final salary, a Member must complete 32
years of congressional service covered by CSRS (32 x .025 = .80). The smallest
starting pension under CSRS is 12.5% of high-3 salary for a Member with five years
service. (Pensions based on less than 10 years of service cannot begin before age 62.)
Most Members who entered Congress before 1984 and who chose to stay in the
CSRS elected the “CSRS offset” plan. When a Member who has retired under the
offset plan is age 62 or older, the CSRS pension is reduced by the amount of Social
Security benefits that he or she earned during congressional service. In the example
above, the offset would be approximately $12,500 in 2007.
Pension Benefits Under FERS. The accrual rate for congressional service
covered by FERS is 1.7% for the first 20 years and 1.0% for each year beyond the
20th. The basic retirement annuity under FERS is equal to:
Years of
[
Years of
High-3
Service
Annual
x .017 x
]+[High-3 x .01 x Service over]=
Salary
through
Salary
Pension
20
20
Members who began congressional service before 1984 and who elected to join
FERS will receive credit under FERS from January 1, 1984, forward. Thus, at the
close of the 109th Congress in December 2006, participants had a maximum of 23
years of service under FERS. Assuming that a Member retired at the end of 2006
with 20 years of congressional service under FERS, and a high-3 average salary of
$161,800, the initial annual FERS pension in 2007 would be:
[$161,800 x .017 x 20] = $55,012
There is no maximum pension under FERS. (It would take 66 years of service
under FERS to reach the 80% maximum permissible under CSRS.) The smallest
unreduced FERS pension is 8.5% of high-3 salary with five years of service (.017
x 5 years), which is payable no earlier than age 62. A Member with 10 years of
service who takes a FERS pension at the earliest allowable age of 55 would receive
a reduced pension equal to 11% of high-3 salary (.017 x 10 years, reduced by .05
times the seven-year difference between the individual’s age at retirement and age
62).
9 Base pay for Representatives and Senators was $158,100 in 2004, $162,100 in 2005, and
$165,200 in 2006. Pay for House and Senate leadership positions is higher.

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Social Security Benefits. Social Security benefits are determined by a
formula based on earnings in all Social Security-covered employment. The benefit
structure of Social Security was designed to replace a higher proportion of earnings
for lower-paid workers than for the higher-paid. For example, the initial benefit
payable to a low-wage worker retiring at the full retirement age in 2007 is $841 per
month, or $10,092 per year.10 This is equivalent to about 94% of the annual earnings
of a worker employed year-round, full-time at the minimum wage in 2007.11 For a
worker whose earnings each year were equal to or greater than the Social Security
maximum taxable wage base, the initial benefit paid to a new retiree the full
retirement age in 2007 is $2,120 per month, or $25,440 per year. This is equal to
about 26% of the maximum taxable wage base of $97,500 in 2005. It would
represent a still smaller percentage of the annual wages of workers whose earnings
exceeded the taxable wage base.
Pensions for Members with Service
Under Both CSRS and FERS
Members who were participating in CSRS when the FERS plan went into effect
in 1987 could elect to leave CSRS and join FERS during a six-month “open season”
in 1987.12 Members who switched to FERS are entitled to a CSRS pension for the
years before 1984, provided that they had completed at least five years of service
under CSRS by December 31, 1983. Their service from January 1, 1984, onward is
covered under FERS. When these Members retire, their pension is computed using
the CSRS formula for the CSRS-covered years and the FERS formula for the years
covered by FERS. The same high-3 salary is used in both formulas, which is
generally the salary earned in the three years immediately preceding retirement. The
two pension amounts (CSRS and FERS) are then added together. For Members who
switched from CSRS to FERS, FERS rules govern the age and years of service for
retirement eligibility.
For example, the pension for a Representative or Senator who retired in
December 2006 at the end of the 109th Congress with a total of 30 years of service (7
years covered under CSRS and 23 years covered under FERS) and a high-3 salary of
$161,800 would be:
$161,800 x .025 x 7 = $28,315 (CSRS)
+
$161,800 x .017 x 20 = $55,012 (FERS)
+ $161,800 x .01 x 3 = $ 4,854 (FERS)
Total pension = $88,181
10 The Social Security Administration defines a “low-wage” worker as one who earns 45%
of the national average wage or less.
11 $5.15 per hour X 40 hours per week X 52 weeks = $10,712. $10,092/$10,712 = .942. In
the 110th Congress, both the House and Senate have voted to raise the minimum wage over
several years to $7.25 per hour. The increase had not become law as of Feb. 9, 2007.
12 P.L. 105-61, enacted on Oct. 10, 1997, authorized a second open season from July through
Dec. 1998 during which employees covered by CSRS could switch to FERS.

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Retirement Benefits under the CSRS Offset Plan
Members who were participating in CSRS before January 1, 1984, and who
chose not to switch to FERS could elect either to have full coverage under both
CSRS and Social Security or to stay in CSRS and have their CSRS contributions and
benefits reduced (“offset”) by the amount of Social Security taxes paid and Social
Security benefits received. New Members who enter Congress with at least five
years of previous civilian federal employment that was covered under CSRS also
may join the CSRS Offset plan. Under this plan, a Members pays 6.2% of salary up
to the Social Security taxable maximum ($97,500 in 2007) to Social Security and
1.8% of salary up to this earnings level to CSRS. When annual earnings reach the
maximum amount taxable under Social Security, the Member pays 8.0% of salary for
the rest of the year to CSRS. During retirement, the individual’s CSRS pension is
reduced by the amount of the Social Security benefit that is attributable to their
federal service. The reduction in the CSRS annuity begins at age 62 whether or not
the retiree actually begins to draw Social Security at that time.
As an example of the CSRS offset plan, assume that a Representative or Senator
retired at the end of the 109th Congress with 30 years of congressional service.
According to the CSRS benefit formula, this Member’s initial retirement annuity
would be $121,350. However, if he or she were age 62 or older, this amount would
be reduced by an amount equal to the Social Security benefits earned from
congressional service from January 1, 1984, through December 31, 2006. For an
individual retiring in December 2006 at age 62 with 23 years of congressional service
covered by Social Security, the reduction would be approximately $12,500.
Replacement Rates
The adequacy of pension plans is often evaluated by comparing the benefits paid
at the time of retirement with pre-retirement earnings. The initial annual pension is
computed as a percentage of final annual pay to derive the “earnings replacement
rate.” This is the proportion of pre-retirement earnings replaced by the pension. In
both CSRS and FERS, pensions are based on the average of the highest three
consecutive years of earnings, which are usually the final three years before
retirement.
Table 1 shows the percentage of high-3 average pay replaced by a congressional
pension for a Member retiring with an immediate pension under CSRS or FERS at
specified ages and years of service. (Note that because FERS is still a relatively new
system, no one will have completed 30 years under FERS until 2014.)

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Table 1. Replacement Rates for Members Retiring
with an Immediate Annuity
CSRS
FERS
Age 50, 20 years in Congress
42.5%
34.0%
Age 55, 30 years in Congress
71.3%
44.0%
Age 60, 10 years in Congress
25.0%
15.3%
Age 62, 5 years in Congress
12.5%
8.5%
Cost-of-Living Adjustments. CSRS annuities are adjusted for inflation
once each year on the same schedule and by the same percentage as Social Security
benefits. These “cost-of-living adjustments,” or COLAs, are based on the rate of
increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners (CPI-W). CSRS
annuities and Social Security benefits are increased each January by the percentage
change in the CPI-W over the 12-month period ending on the preceding September
30. FERS annuities also are adjusted for inflation, but as a cost-control measure,
Congress has mandated that FERS annuities will increase by less than the percentage
change in the CPI-W whenever the annual rate of increase in that index exceeds
2.0%. If the CPI-W rises by 2% or less, FERS annuities are increased by the same
percentage as the increase in the CPI. If the CPI rises by 2.1% to 3%, FERS
annuities are increased by 2%. If the CPI rises by more than 3%, FERS annuities are
increased by one percentage point less than the rate of increase in the CPI.
Initial CSRS annuities may not exceed 80% of a Member’s final pay. Over
time, however, if Congressional pay were to remain unchanged, a retired Member’s
CSRS pension could exceed the nominal amount of his or her final pay.
Nevertheless, because COLAs merely prevent the purchasing power of an annuity
from being eroded by inflation, the real value of a CSRS pension does not increase
or decrease during retirement, provided that the price index on which the COLA is
based is an accurate measure of the rate of inflation.
The Thrift Savings Plan
The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) is a tax-deferred investment program through
which federal employees can save money to supplement their pension income.13 The
TSP is open to participants in both CSRS and FERS, but in consideration of the
smaller pensions paid by FERS, Congress has authorized more generous incentives
for workers covered by FERS to save for retirement through the TSP. In 2007, FERS
participants may invest up to $15,500 in the TSP. The maximum annual contribution
is indexed to inflation.14 Individuals covered by FERS who invest in the TSP also
receive a matching contribution from their employing agency on the first 5% of pay
13 For a more thorough description of the Thrift Savings Plan, See CRS Report RL30387,
Federal Employees’ Retirement System: Role of the Thrift Savings Plan, by Patrick Purcell.
14 The annual contribution limits are established in law at I.R.C. §402(g).

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that they invest in the plan. CSRS participants also may invest up to $15,500 in the
TSP, but they receive no employer matching contributions.
The government automatically deposits into the TSP an amount equal to 1.0%
of basic pay on behalf of all employees enrolled in FERS, regardless of whether the
individual voluntarily invests additional sums. Members of Congress and
congressional staff become vested in this 1.0% “agency automatic contribution,” plus
any investment earnings on it after completing two years of service. All participants
in FERS are immediately vested in their own contributions and in government
matching contributions to the TSP, as well as any investment earnings on these
contributions. Contributions to the TSP are made on a pre-tax basis, and neither the
contributions nor the investment earnings are taxable until money is withdrawn from
the plan.
Employees who leave federal service before age 55 can continue to defer taxes
on their accounts either by leaving the money in the TSP or by transferring all or part
of these funds to an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) or other eligible retirement
arrangement, such as a 401(k) plan. Withdrawals from the TSP before age 55 are
subject to a 10% tax penalty unless they are in the form of a life annuity or in a series
of payments based on the individual’s remaining life expectancy.15 At retirement,
participants may withdraw money from their TSP accounts in any of four ways:
! They can receive their account balance in a single payment.
! They can receive a series of monthly payments. (Payments may be
for a fixed number of months or a fixed dollar amount. Monthly
payments also can be based on an IRS life expectancy table.).
! They can purchase a life annuity.
! They can elect a partial distribution as a lump sum and take the
remainder as either a series of equal payments or as an annuity.
All withdrawals from the TSP are subject to the federal income tax, and
withdrawals before age 55 that are not made on a schedule based on remaining life
expectancy are subject to a 10% tax penalty. Participants who have separated from
federal service must make an election for withdrawing funds from the TSP no later
than February 1 of the year following the year in which the later of two events occurs:
(1) the individual turns 65, (2) the individual reaches the 10th anniversary of the first
contribution to his or her account. Separated employees must begin withdrawals no
later than age 70½, at which time the TSP will begin to distribute funds to the
participant automatically if he or she has not yet made a withdrawal election. Until
an employee separates from the federal government, he or she can continue to
contribute to the TSP, regardless of age.
15 Individuals who separate from federal service before age 55 can receive monthly
payments based on life expectancy without a tax penalty and withdraw the remaining
balance at age 59½ in a lump sum. If the individual elects a life annuity, remaining
undistributed amounts cannot later be withdrawn as a lump sum.

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Forfeiture of Annuity
Section 8312 of Title 5 provides that a federal employee, including a Member
of Congress, may not receive a retirement annuity for any period of federal service
if that individual is convicted of certain offenses that were committed during the
period of service when the annuity was earned. In general, the crimes that would lead
to forfeiture of a federal retirement annuity under this provision of law are limited to
acts of treason and/or espionage.
On January 12, 2007, the Senate approved an amendment to S. 1, the Legislative
Transparency and Accountability Act of 2007, by a vote of 87-0. The amendment
would expand the list of offenses under §8312 that would result in forfeiture of a
federal pension by a Member of Congress to include
! bribery of public officials and witnesses,
! conspiracy to commit an offense or to defraud United States, and
! perjury or subornation of perjury committed in relation to such acts.
On January 23, 2007, the House of Representatives passed by a vote of 431-0
H.R. 476, which would amend Title 5 of the U.S. Code to make Members of
Congress who are convicted of certain offenses committed during their period of
service ineligible for a federal retirement annuity based on that period of service.
The bill would exclude from federal service creditable toward a retirement annuity
under either CSRS or FERS any service as a Member of Congress of an individual
convicted of a felony involving (1) bribery of public officials and witnesses; (2)
acting as an agent of a foreign principal while a federal public official; (3) conspiracy
to commit an offense or to defraud the United States; (4) perjury; or (5) subornation
of perjury.

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