Q. I am under CSRS with almost 37 years service. What is the significance of the figure on my leave and earnings statement that shows my total CSRS contributions to date. Are there any provisions to borrow out of this fund or is this locked up until retirement?
A. Yes, it’s locked up. While you can’t borrow money from your retirement contributions account, that information is useful in two situations. First, if you leave government before being eligible for an annuity, you could ask for a refund of those contributions. Second. when you retire, that figure will be used to determine how much of your annuity will be tax-free
