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FERS Retirement Glossary
Your comprehensive guide to Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) terminology.
A
Annuity
Learn about FERS annuity - your federal retirement pension payment. Understand how it's calculated, what affects your payment, and eligibility requirements.
B
Basic Pay
Understanding Basic Pay in federal service - what counts as basic pay, how it affects your retirement, and its role in FERS calculations.
C
COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment)
Understanding FERS Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA). Learn how inflation adjustments work, when they apply, and how they affect your federal retirement benefits.
Creditable Service
Learn about creditable service under FERS - what counts, how to get credit, and impact on retirement.
D
Deferred Retirement
Learn about FERS deferred retirement - when you can take it, how benefits are calculated, and what you might lose compared to regular retirement.
Deposit (Service Credit Payment)
Understanding service credit deposits in FERS - when they're required and how to make them.
Disability Retirement
Learn about FERS disability retirement - eligibility requirements, application process, and benefit calculations.
Discontinued Service Retirement
Understanding Discontinued Service Retirement under FERS - when it applies and how benefits are calculated.
E
Early Retirement
Understanding early retirement options in FERS, including VERA and RIF retirements. Learn about eligibility and potential benefit reductions.
F
FEDVIP (Federal Dental and Vision Insurance)
Understanding Federal Employee Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) - coverage options and benefits.
FEGLI (Federal Employees Group Life Insurance)
Learn about Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) - coverage options, costs, and continuation into retirement.
FEHB (Federal Employees Health Benefits)
Learn about the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program - coverage options, costs, and requirements for continuing coverage in retirement.
FERS (Federal Employees Retirement System)
Comprehensive overview of the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). Learn about its three components and how they work together.
G
Government Pension Offset (GPO)
Understanding the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and how it affects Social Security benefits for federal retirees.
H
High-3 Average Salary
Understanding the High-3 average salary calculation in FERS. Learn what counts as basic pay and how it affects your retirement benefit.
I
Immediate Retirement
Learn about FERS immediate retirement eligibility, including age and service requirements, and how benefits are calculated.
Interim Annuity
Learn about FERS interim annuity payments - what to expect while your retirement is being processed.
J
Joint and Survivor Annuity
Learn about Joint and Survivor Annuity options in FERS, how they protect your spouse, and their impact on your retirement benefits.
K
Key Employees
Understanding Key Employee designations in federal service and how they affect retirement benefits and planning.
L
Law Enforcement Officer Retirement
Learn about special retirement provisions for Law Enforcement Officers under FERS, including early retirement options and enhanced benefits.
Leave Without Pay (LWOP)
Understanding how Leave Without Pay (LWOP) affects your federal retirement benefits, service computation, and High-3 average.
Locality Pay
Learn about Locality Pay in federal service, how it affects your High-3 salary, and its impact on retirement benefits.
M
MRA (Minimum Retirement Age)
Learn about the FERS Minimum Retirement Age (MRA) - how it's determined by birth year and its impact on retirement eligibility.
Military Buyback
Understanding military buyback in FERS - how to make deposits for military service, costs, and benefits to your retirement.
N
NAFI Service
Understanding how NAFI service affects your federal retirement, including creditability and service computation rules.
O
Optional Retirement
Learn about Optional Retirement under FERS, including eligibility requirements and benefit calculations.
P
Part-Time Service
Understanding how part-time service affects your FERS retirement benefits, including annuity calculations and eligibility.
Phased Retirement
Learn about FERS Phased Retirement - how it works, eligibility requirements, and impact on benefits.
Postponed Retirement
Understanding FERS Postponed Retirement - how it differs from deferred retirement, when to use it, and how it affects your benefits.
Q
Qualifying Life Event (QLE)
Learn about Qualifying Life Events (QLEs) and how they affect your federal benefits and retirement planning.
R
Redeposit
Learn about redeposit requirements in FERS - when they're needed and how they affect your retirement benefits.
Retirement Contributions
Understanding FERS retirement contributions, including rates, agency matching, and how they affect your take-home pay.
S
Service Computation Date (SCD)
Learn about Service Computation Date (SCD) in federal service - how it's calculated and its impact on your benefits.
Social Security
Understanding Social Security benefits under FERS - how they work with your federal pension and TSP.
Special Retirement Supplement (SRS)
Understanding the FERS Special Retirement Supplement - eligibility, calculation, and how working affects the benefit.
Substantial Earnings
Learn about Substantial Earnings requirements for Social Security benefits under FERS.
Survivor Annuity
Understanding FERS survivor annuity options - how they work, cost considerations, and importance for family security.
T
TSP (Thrift Savings Plan)
Learn about the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) - contribution types, investment options, and how it fits into your FERS retirement.
Temporary Service
Understanding how temporary federal service affects FERS retirement benefits and service credit.
U
Unused Sick Leave
Understanding how unused sick leave affects your FERS retirement benefit calculation.
V
Voluntary Contributions
Learn about the FERS Voluntary Contributions Program - how to contribute and increase your retirement benefits.
W
Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP)
Understanding the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and its impact on Social Security benefits for federal retirees.