FERS Special Retirement Supplement

The Special Retirement Supplement (SRS) is available to qualifying FERS employees who retire before the age of 62. It is designed as a bridge between early retirement and Social Security qualification age.  The SRS ends at age 62 even if the employee chooses to defer Social Security.

FERS employees who retire with an immediate annuity and a minimum of 30 years of creditable service are eligible to begin the SRS at their minimum retirement age (MRA).  Those who retire with an immediate annuity and a minimum of 20 years of creditable service are eligible to begin at age 60.

FERS Special Provisions (SP) employees are eligible to receive the SRS at any age with 25 years of creditable SP service or after age 50 with 20 years of creditable SP service.

The Special Retirement Supplement is calculated by dividing an eligible employee’s creditable years of service by 40 and then multiply the result by the age 62 Social Security benefit. Military service years purchased back are not included in this calculation as creditable service.

For employees receiving the SRS, there is a limit to how much earned income they can earn before the SRS begins to reduce.  In 2024, any earned income above $22,320 will reduce the SRS by $1 for every $2. Special provisions employees are not subject to this earnings test until they reach the regular minimum retirement age. This same earnings test applies to Social Security benefits prior to reaching full Social Security retirement age.