FERS Supplement Calculator 2026
Estimate your FERS Special Retirement Supplement — the monthly income bridge from your FERS retirement date to age 62 Social Security. Includes the official OPM formula and the 2026 earnings test.
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Enter the annual amount (multiply monthly × 12 if your statement shows monthly)
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2026 earnings limit: $23,400/year
Enter your details above to see your SRS estimate
Need an example? ($20,000 SS benefit · 30 years FERS · age 57)
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What Is the FERS Special Retirement Supplement?
The FERS Special Retirement Supplement (SRS) is an additional monthly payment OPM provides to eligible FERS retirees who leave federal service before age 62. Because Social Security benefits cannot begin before 62, the SRS bridges the income gap from your retirement date until that milestone.
The SRS approximates the Social Security benefit you earned through your federal service alone. It is not a Social Security benefit — it is paid entirely by OPM from the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund — but it is calculated using your Social Security earnings record as an input.
The Official SRS Formula
Annual SRS = SS Benefit at 62 × (FERS Years ÷ 40)
Source: OPM FERS Handbook, Chapter 51. The formula uses your estimated Social Security benefit at age 62 as the base, then scales it by the ratio of your FERS service years to 40. A full 40-year career produces 100% of the base; 30 years produces 75%.
Worked Example: $20,000 SS Benefit × 30 Years FERS
A federal employee retires at age 57 with 30 years of FERS service. Their SSA.gov statement shows an estimated Social Security benefit of $20,000/year at age 62.
| Step | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| SS benefit at 62 (annual) | From SSA.gov statement | $20,000 |
| FERS service ratio | 30 years ÷ 40 | 0.75 |
| Annual SRS | $20,000 × 0.75 | $15,000 |
| Monthly SRS | $15,000 ÷ 12 | $1,250 |
| Years of supplement (age 57→62) | 62 − 57 | 5 years |
| Total bridge value | $15,000 × 5 | $75,000 |
FedTools 2026 analysis: A 30/40 FERS retiree with a $20,000 SS estimate receives $1,250/month SRS — worth $75,000 over 5 years before age 62
This is the most commonly cited SRS example. Verify your own inputs with the calculator above.
The 2026 Earnings Test: $23,400 Limit
If you plan to work for wages after retiring under FERS, the Social Security earnings test applies to your SRS. For 2026, you can earn up to $23,400/year without any reduction. Above that threshold, your SRS is reduced by $1 for every $2 earned over the limit.
| Post-Retirement Earnings | Over Limit | Annual Reduction | Net Annual SRS (example) |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0 – $23,400 | $0 | $0 | $15,000 |
| $30,000 | $6,600 | −$3,300 | $11,700 |
| $40,000 | $16,600 | −$8,300 | $6,700 |
| $53,400+ | $30,000+ | −$15,000+ | $0 (fully phased out) |
Example uses $15,000 annual SRS ($20,000 SS benefit × 30/40 years). The break-even earnings level where SRS = $0 depends on your individual SRS amount.
What counts as "earned income"?
Counts toward the limit:
- Wages from a job (W-2)
- Net self-employment income
- Consulting / contract work
Does NOT count:
- TSP / IRA withdrawals
- Rental income
- Dividends and capital gains
- Your FERS annuity
- Social Security benefits
Who Qualifies for the FERS Supplement?
Eligible retirees
- ✓MRA + 30 — full immediate retirement
- ✓Age 60 + 20 years — standard immediate
- ✓LEO / FF / ATC — special provision retirement
- ✓VERA — voluntary early retirement (agency-authorized)
Not eligible
- ✗MRA+10 — reduced immediate annuity
- ✗Deferred retirement — not yet age-eligible
- ✗Disability retirement
- ✗CSRS employees (different system)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the FERS Special Retirement Supplement (SRS)?
The FERS Special Retirement Supplement (SRS) — also called the FERS supplement or SRS — is a monthly payment OPM pays to eligible FERS retirees from the date of retirement until they reach age 62. It is designed to bridge the income gap between FERS retirement and the earliest Social Security eligibility age. The supplement approximates the Social Security benefit you earned through your federal service.
How is the FERS supplement calculated?
The SRS formula is: Annual SRS = (Estimated Social Security benefit at 62) × (Years of FERS service ÷ 40). For example, a retiree with a $20,000 annual SS benefit at 62 and 30 years of FERS service receives $20,000 × (30÷40) = $15,000/year, or $1,250/month.
Who is eligible for the FERS supplement?
You are eligible for the SRS if you retire with an immediate annuity before age 62 under one of three conditions: (1) MRA + 30 years of service (full immediate retirement), (2) age 60 + 20 years of service, or (3) special category employees (Law Enforcement Officers, Firefighters, Air Traffic Controllers) who retire under their special provisions. MRA+10 retirees do NOT qualify for the SRS.
What is the 2026 FERS supplement earnings limit?
For 2026, the Social Security earnings test limit is $23,400. If you earn more than $23,400 in wages or self-employment income after your FERS retirement (but before age 62), your SRS is reduced by $1 for every $2 you earn over the limit. At $46,800 in earnings, the SRS would be fully phased out for most recipients.
Does investment income count toward the earnings test?
No. Only earned income — wages from a job or net self-employment income — counts toward the earnings test. Pension income, IRA/TSP withdrawals, rental income, dividends, and capital gains do not affect your SRS.
When does the FERS supplement end?
The SRS stops the month you turn 62, regardless of whether you have started Social Security. At 62, you become eligible for Social Security benefits, so the bridge is no longer needed. There is no way to extend the SRS beyond age 62.
Understand Your Full FERS Retirement Picture
The SRS is one of three income streams in retirement — alongside your FERS annuity and TSP withdrawals. Read the complete FERS retirement guide for the full picture.
Read the Complete FERS Retirement Guide →