Q: I have heard that if you work for 10 years in the legislative branch, then all your time in the executive branch converts to legislative branch time, for the sake of the multipliers under the CSRS retirement. Is this true? I am a FERS employee in the legislative branch with 10+ years of executive branch service. If the above is true, is it also applicable to FERS employees?
A: CSRS legislative branch employees contribute an additional 1 percent to the retirement system. If they have five years of legislative branch service under their belts when they retire, their annuity is computed using this formula: 2.5 percent x their high-3 x total years of legislative branch service, plus any creditable years of military service. Their annuity cannot exceed 80 percent of their high-3, unless they get additional credit for unused sick leave.
FERS legislative branch employees contribute an additional 0.05 percent to the retirement system. If they have five years of legislative branch service when they retire, their annuity is computed using this formula: 1.7 percent x their high-3 x total years of legislative branch service, plus any creditable years of military service. Additional credit is given for unused sick leave.
If a legislative branch employee transfers to the administrative branch of government, the above formulas will be used to compute that portion of their annuity when they retire. The remainder will be computed using the formulas for the retirement system they are in.
2 Comments
I am a FERS employee with 2o years of federal service time. I am also retired from the Air Force with 15 years of service time. I previously bought that military service time into the federal retirement system and will forgo military retiree pay at the time I finally retire as a federal employee.
My 20 years of federal employee service time has been in the Executive Branch. Out of a personal interest to work in the Legislative Branch, I have begun applying for positions there. My plan being to work for about 10 more years, putting me at 67 years of age when I retire.
I have been doing research so I understand any differences in how military service time is calculated between the Executive or Legislative Branches. I know if I stay with the Executive Branch, when I retire my military service time should be calculated at 1.1% a year X high three. However, I have concluded that I do not understand how the Legislative Branch treats military service time in retirement calculations,. If you could explain what if any differences there are between the two branches that would be excellent?
Unfortunately, we are only able to answer questions about executive branch personnel matters. You’ll have to check with the legislative branch’s personnel office.