1. What is VA Federal Retirement?

VA Federal Retirement under FERS (Federal Employees Retirement System) provides retirement benefits for eligible federal employees. The basic annuity is calculated based on years of service and the high-3 average salary.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the VA Federal Retirement formula:

Where:

• \( Annuity \) — Annual retirement benefit (USD)
• \( YS \) — Years of service
• \( H3 \) — High-3 average salary (USD)

Explanation: The formula calculates 1% of the high-3 average salary multiplied by years of service to determine the annual retirement annuity.

3. Importance of Retirement Planning

Details: Accurate retirement calculation helps federal employees plan for their financial future, understand their expected benefits, and make informed decisions about retirement timing and additional savings needs.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter years of service (including partial years as decimals) and the high-3 average salary in USD. Both values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is the high-3 average salary?
A: The high-3 average salary is the average of your highest 3 consecutive years of basic pay, typically your last 3 years of federal service.

Q2: Are there different percentages for different retirement ages?
A: Yes, this calculator uses the standard 1% multiplier. For retirement at age 62 or later with 20+ years of service, the multiplier increases to 1.1%.

Q3: What other benefits are included in FERS?
A: FERS includes Basic Benefit Plan, Social Security, and Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) in addition to the basic annuity calculated here.

Q4: How are partial years of service calculated?
A: Partial years are converted to decimals (e.g., 6 months = 0.5 years) and included in the calculation.

Q5: Is this calculation applicable to all federal employees?
A: This calculation applies to FERS-covered employees. CSRS employees have different calculation methods.