Katelin P. Isaacs
Analyst in Income Security
Most civilian federal employees who were hired before 1984 are covered by the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). Federal employees hired in 1984 or later are covered by the Federal Employees’ Retirement System (FERS). Both CSRS and FERS require participants to contribute toward the cost of their pensions through a payroll tax. Employees who are covered by CSRS contribute 7.0% of pay to the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund (CSRDF). They do not pay Social Security taxes or earn Social Security benefits. Employees enrolled in FERS contribute 0.8% of their pay to the CSRDF. They pay 6.2% of wages up to the Social Security taxable wage base to the Social Security trust fund. The taxable wage base is $106,800 in 2011.
The minimum retirement age (MRA) under CSRS is 55 for workers who have at least 30 years of service. Under FERS, the MRA was 55 for employees born before 1948. The MRA for employees born between 1953 and 1964 is 56. It will increase to age 57 for those born in 1970 or later. Both FERS and CSRS allow retirement with an unreduced pension at the age of 60 for employees with 20 or more years of service and at the age of 62 for employees with at least 5 years of service.
The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) is a retirement savings plan similar to the 401(k) plans provided by many employers in the private sector. In 2011, employees covered under either CSRS or FERS can contribute up to $16,500 to the TSP. Employees aged 50 and older can contribute an additional $5,500 to the TSP. Employees under FERS receive employer matching contributions of up to 5% of pay from the federal agency by which they are employed. Federal workers covered by CSRS also can contribute to the TSP, but they receive no matching contributions from their employing agencies.
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) estimates the cost of CSRS to be an amount equal to 25.8% of employee pay. The federal government pays 18.8% of this amount and the other 7.0% is paid by employees. OPM estimates the cost of the FERS basic annuity at an amount equal to 12.5% of pay. The federal government contributes 11.7% of this amount and the other 0.8% is paid by employees. There are three other employer costs for employees under FERS. Both the employer and employee pay Social Security taxes equal to 6.2% of pay up to the maximum taxable amount; agencies automatically contribute an amount equal to 1% of employee pay to the TSP; and agencies make matching contributions to the TSP equal to up to 4% of pay.
At the start of FY2009, the CSRDF had an unfunded liability of $674.2 billion, consisting of a $673.3 billion deficit for CSRS and a $0.9 billion deficit for FERS. Although the civil service trust fund has an unfunded liability, it is not in danger of becoming insolvent. OPM projects that the balance of the CSRDF will continue to grow through at least 2080, which point it will hold assets equal to more than four times total payroll and about 19 times total annual benefit payments.
The CSRDF is invested in special-issue U.S. Treasury bonds. Congress could permit the trust fund to invest in other assets—such as corporate stocks and bonds—but the effects of such a change on the federal budget and on government ownership of private-sector assets would deserve careful consideration.
Date of Report: January 5, 2011
Number of Pages: 18
Order Number: 98-810
Price: $29.95
Follow us on TWITTER at http://www.twitter.com/alertsPHP or #CRSreports
Document available via e-mail as a pdf file or in paper form.
To order, e-mail Penny Hill Press or call us at 301-253-0881. Provide a Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover card number, expiration date, and name on the card. Indicate whether you want e-mail or postal delivery. Phone orders are preferred and receive priority processing.
Analyst in Income Security
Most civilian federal employees who were hired before 1984 are covered by the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). Federal employees hired in 1984 or later are covered by the Federal Employees’ Retirement System (FERS). Both CSRS and FERS require participants to contribute toward the cost of their pensions through a payroll tax. Employees who are covered by CSRS contribute 7.0% of pay to the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund (CSRDF). They do not pay Social Security taxes or earn Social Security benefits. Employees enrolled in FERS contribute 0.8% of their pay to the CSRDF. They pay 6.2% of wages up to the Social Security taxable wage base to the Social Security trust fund. The taxable wage base is $106,800 in 2011.
The minimum retirement age (MRA) under CSRS is 55 for workers who have at least 30 years of service. Under FERS, the MRA was 55 for employees born before 1948. The MRA for employees born between 1953 and 1964 is 56. It will increase to age 57 for those born in 1970 or later. Both FERS and CSRS allow retirement with an unreduced pension at the age of 60 for employees with 20 or more years of service and at the age of 62 for employees with at least 5 years of service.
The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) is a retirement savings plan similar to the 401(k) plans provided by many employers in the private sector. In 2011, employees covered under either CSRS or FERS can contribute up to $16,500 to the TSP. Employees aged 50 and older can contribute an additional $5,500 to the TSP. Employees under FERS receive employer matching contributions of up to 5% of pay from the federal agency by which they are employed. Federal workers covered by CSRS also can contribute to the TSP, but they receive no matching contributions from their employing agencies.
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) estimates the cost of CSRS to be an amount equal to 25.8% of employee pay. The federal government pays 18.8% of this amount and the other 7.0% is paid by employees. OPM estimates the cost of the FERS basic annuity at an amount equal to 12.5% of pay. The federal government contributes 11.7% of this amount and the other 0.8% is paid by employees. There are three other employer costs for employees under FERS. Both the employer and employee pay Social Security taxes equal to 6.2% of pay up to the maximum taxable amount; agencies automatically contribute an amount equal to 1% of employee pay to the TSP; and agencies make matching contributions to the TSP equal to up to 4% of pay.
At the start of FY2009, the CSRDF had an unfunded liability of $674.2 billion, consisting of a $673.3 billion deficit for CSRS and a $0.9 billion deficit for FERS. Although the civil service trust fund has an unfunded liability, it is not in danger of becoming insolvent. OPM projects that the balance of the CSRDF will continue to grow through at least 2080, which point it will hold assets equal to more than four times total payroll and about 19 times total annual benefit payments.
The CSRDF is invested in special-issue U.S. Treasury bonds. Congress could permit the trust fund to invest in other assets—such as corporate stocks and bonds—but the effects of such a change on the federal budget and on government ownership of private-sector assets would deserve careful consideration.
Date of Report: January 5, 2011
Number of Pages: 18
Order Number: 98-810
Price: $29.95
Follow us on TWITTER at http://www.twitter.com/alertsPHP or #CRSreports
Document available via e-mail as a pdf file or in paper form.
To order, e-mail Penny Hill Press or call us at 301-253-0881. Provide a Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover card number, expiration date, and name on the card. Indicate whether you want e-mail or postal delivery. Phone orders are preferred and receive priority processing.
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