Understand Your
FERS, CSRS,
and TSP Benefits
Benefit Basics, Explained
The federal retirement system includes several key components your pension, Social Security, and the Thrift Savings Plan. Each follows its own rules for eligibility, contributions, and distributions, and together they form the core of many federal employees’ long-term retirement framework. Understanding how these programs interact can provide useful context as you review factors such as service time, survivor provisions, and inflation adjustments. By learning about each component early, you can gain a clearer view of how the system works and what considerations may be relevant to your situation.
Things to consider
Retirement Timing Basics
Understanding when you become eligible to retire and how factors like service credits or unused leave influence your pension calculation can provide helpful context as you review your benefits. In many cases, even small timing differences may affect the amount you receive or the date your benefits begin, making it important to understand the rules that apply to your situation.
Savings Overview
Your Thrift Savings Plan works alongside your pension, and understanding its withdrawal rules and tax treatment can provide helpful context as you review your long-term finances. Learning how these elements interact can give you a clearer view of how different income sources function over time and what general considerations may be relevant to your situation.
Survivor Benefit Options
Each survivor-related election influences the level of coverage that may continue for a spouse or dependent. Understanding how survivor annuities, FEHB eligibility rules, and insurance programs work can provide helpful context as you review your options. Learning about these components early offers a clearer view of the considerations that may apply to your situation.
Your Service Journey
You’ve spent years building a meaningful career through dedication and service. As you approach retirement, this is a natural time to review the benefits you’ve earned and understand how they work together. The income and coverage available to you reflect long-standing contributions, and learning how each piece functions can provide helpful context. This stage is about more than calculations—it’s about gaining a clearer view of the possibilities ahead.
Your Service Journey
You’ve spent years building a meaningful career through dedication and service. As you approach retirement, this is a natural time to review the benefits you’ve earned and understand how they work together. The income and coverage available to you reflect long-standing contributions, and learning how each piece functions can provide helpful context. This stage is about more than calculations—it’s about gaining a clearer view of the possibilities ahead.
Your Starting Point
Your retirement journey begins with understanding. The more you learn, the clearer the overall picture becomes. Exploring how your benefits connect can provide helpful context as you review the factors that may apply to your situation. Our goal is to simplify complex rules and present information in a way that makes your options easier to evaluate.
More Resources
Retirement Resources
If you don't know where to start, our retirement education resources introduce you to general concepts you'll need in order to understand how benefit programs and savings options work together. If you want additional information, we can refer you to our network of independent experts.
Income & Benefits Education
You'll learn about the general concepts and retirement rules that will help you understand how different retirement programs and saving options may affect your long term financial stability. If you want additional information, we can refer you to our network of independent experts.
Discover Retirement Basics
Retirement benefits can feel overwhelming. Our articles and guides break it down for you so you can thoroughly understand the factors that are important to your situation. Use our resources at your own pace. Explore our materials and build your knowledge about how all these retirement elements fit together.