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 $24,480. If you earn more than $24,480 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. Your supplement is fully phased out once your earnings exceed the limit by twice your annual supplement amount.

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.

Does the FERS supplement get a COLA?

No. Unlike your main FERS annuity (which receives partial COLA adjustments), the FERS supplement does not receive an annual cost-of-living adjustment. The amount is fixed at retirement and stays flat until it stops at age 62.

Can I lose the FERS supplement?

Yes, in two ways: (1) Exceeding the earnings test limit reduces or eliminates it, and (2) Reemployment in a federal position subject to FERS deductions suspends the supplement for the period of reemployment.

How do I find my Social Security benefit at 62?

Log into your free My Social Security account at ssa.gov. The statement shows estimated benefits at ages 62, 67 (full retirement age), and 70. Use the age-62 estimate for this calculator. If you have not yet created an account, you can do so at ssa.gov/myaccount.

Do MRA+10 retirees get the FERS supplement?

No. If you retire under MRA+10 (Minimum Retirement Age with 10 to 29 years of service, taking an immediate reduced annuity), you do not qualify for the SRS. The supplement is only available to those retiring with an unreduced immediate annuity or under a special provision.

Calculator

FERS Supplement Calculator 2026

Estimate your Special Retirement Supplement — the monthly income bridge from your FERS retirement date to age 62 — using the official OPM formula and the 2026 earnings test.

Reviewed by Jonathan D., 20-year federal employee · Formulas verified against OPM.gov · Updated June 2026

Enter your information

Estimated SS benefit at age 62 (annual)

From your SSA.gov Social Security statement.

Enter the annual amount (multiply monthly × 12 if your statement shows monthly).

Years of FERS-creditable service

Whole years only; capped at 40 in the formula.

Your current age

Used to calculate years until 62 and your total bridge value.

Post-retirement earned income (annual)

Optional — leave blank if you will not work after retiring.

2026 earnings limit: $24,480/year.

Enter your details above to see your SRS estimate

Need an example? ($20,000 SS benefit · 30 years FERS · age 57).

Editorial note — not financial advice

This tool is independent journalism and education for federal employees. It is not financial, legal, tax, or investment advice. Pay, retirement, TSP, and benefits decisions depend on your individual circumstances and on the rules OPM, the IRS, and your agency apply. Verify anything you read here with your HR Benefits Officer, a fee-only financial planner, or a qualified tax professional before acting. See our editorial standards and terms for details.

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.

It 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. A full 40-year career produces 100% of the base; 30 years produces 75%.

Worked example: $20,000 × 30 years

A federal employee retires at 57 with 30 years of FERS service and a $20,000/year estimated Social Security benefit at 62.

FERS Special Retirement Supplement calculation example
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	62 − 57	5 years

FedTools 2026 analysis: a 30/40 FERS retiree with a $20,000 SS estimate receives $1,250/month — worth $75,000 over the five years before age 62.

The 2026 earnings test: $24,480 limit

If you work for wages after retiring under FERS, the Social Security earnings test applies. For 2026 you can earn up to $24,480/year without any reduction. Above that, your SRS is reduced by $1 for every $2 earned over the limit.

FERS SRS earnings test reduction examples
Earnings	Over limit	Reduction	Net SRS
$0 – $24,480	$0	$0	$15,000
$30,000	$5,520	−$2,760	$12,240
$45,000	$20,520	−$10,260	$4,740
$54,480+	$30,000+	−$15,000	$0 (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.