About Author

Reg Jones was head of retirement and insurance policy at the Office of Personnel Management. Email your retirement-related questions to fedexperts@federaltimes.com.

4 Comments

  1. I become a Federal employee in September 2016 under FERS-FRAE, code KF. I transferred to another agency in May 2019 under FERS code K and just realized the error. Will I have to pay the difference of 4.4% vs 0.8% from May 2019 – November 2019? Also is FERS and FERS-FRAE annuity calculated the same for a deferred annuity (5 years of Federal service?

    • Yes, you’ll need to have the error corrected and pay the difference. FERS and FERS-FRAE annuities are calculated inexactly the same way.

  2. I become a Federal employee in May 2001 under FERS, code K. should I be under FERS code K or KF as my code
    and what is the difference in end benefit

    • Because you were first hired before December 31, 2013, you were properly placed in FERS code K. As such, you only contribute 0.08 percent to the retirement system. If you had been hired between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2013, you’d be in category KR and contribute 3.1 percent. Category KF only applies to those first hired on or after January 1, 2014. If you were one of those, you’d be required to contribute 4.4 percent. Note: Regardless of the category a FERS employee is placed in, there isn’t any difference in the retirement benefit they’d receive, only the amount they’d have to contribute.

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