FERS Minimum Retirement Age (MRA) Table and Calculator
Your FERS minimum retirement age is 55 to 57, set by the year you were born. Find your row in the table below, or enter your birth date to get your MRA date, the earliest date you meet each retirement rule, and what the MRA + 10 reduction costs at each age. To estimate your pension, use the FERS retirement calculator; to see how unused sick leave adds to it, see the FERS sick leave conversion chart.
Maintained by Archie Chang · OPM table and statute checked October 24, 2026 · Methodology & sources
FERS MRA calculator
Leave the service date empty to see only your MRA. The service date assumes continuous civilian service with no breaks, and no military service.
Your MRA is 56 and 8 months
You reach it on November 14, 2024, the day before you turn 56 and 8 months on November 15, 2024 (OPM treats you as reaching an age the day before the birthday).
Earliest last day of service for each way to retire
| Rule | Earliest date | Result |
|---|---|---|
| MRA + 30 years | June 9, 2026 | Immediate, no age reduction; annuity supplement until 62 |
| Age 60 + 20 years | March 14, 2028 | Immediate, no age reduction; annuity supplement until 62 |
| Age 62 + 5 years | March 14, 2030 | Immediate; 1.1% multiplier at 62+ with 20 years (sick leave counts toward the 20 for the amount, not for eligibility) |
| MRA + 10 years | November 14, 2024 | Immediate but reduced 5/12 of 1% per month under 62, unless postponed; no supplement |
| Special category: 50 + 20 or any age + 25 | March 14, 2018 | Law enforcement, firefighter, air traffic controller and similar only |
Each date is the first day you meet both the age and the service test, counting a period of service through its last day. Unused sick leave never counts toward these service tests. Your annuity starts the first day of the month after you separate.
MRA + 10 reduction by the age you retire
| Retire at age | Annuity starts | Months under 62 | Reduction | Pay factor | With your service |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 56 and 8 months | December 1, 2024 | 63 | 26.25% | 0.737500 | Reduced (MRA + 10) (28 years 5 months of service) |
| 57 | April 1, 2025 | 59 | 24.58% | 0.754167 | Reduced (MRA + 10) (28 years 9 months of service) |
| 58 | April 1, 2026 | 47 | 19.58% | 0.804167 | Reduced (MRA + 10) (29 years 9 months of service) |
| 59 | April 1, 2027 | 35 | 14.58% | 0.854167 | No reduction (30 years 9 months of service) |
| 60 | April 1, 2028 | 23 | 9.58% | 0.904167 | No reduction (31 years 9 months of service) |
| 61 | April 1, 2029 | 11 | 4.58% | 0.954167 | No reduction (32 years 9 months of service) |
| 62 | April 1, 2030 | 0 | 0.00% | 1.000000 | No reduction (33 years 9 months of service) |
The first five columns show the reduction on an MRA + 10 annuity that starts the first of the month after the day you reach that age: 5/12 of 1% for each full month under 62, OPM Chart 8. It applies if you have 10 to 19 years of service, or 20 to 29 years and your annuity starts before 60. With 20 years of service there is no reduction when your annuity starts at 60 or later, and with 30 years there is none at or after your MRA (5 U.S.C. 8415(h)(2)). The last column applies those rules to the service you entered, counting service through the day you reach each age.
FERS minimum retirement age by birth year
| If you were born | Your MRA is |
|---|---|
| Before 1948 | 55 |
| 1948 | 55 and 2 months |
| 1949 | 55 and 4 months |
| 1950 | 55 and 6 months |
| 1951 | 55 and 8 months |
| 1952 | 55 and 10 months |
| 1953-1964 | 56 |
| 1965 | 56 and 2 months |
| 1966 | 56 and 4 months |
| 1967 | 56 and 6 months |
| 1968 | 56 and 8 months |
| 1969 | 56 and 10 months |
| 1970 and after | 57 |
Source: OPM FERS eligibility and 5 U.S.C. 8412(h). Only your birth year matters.
What you can do at your MRA
- MRA + 30 years: immediate annuity with no age reduction, plus the annuity supplement until 62 (5 U.S.C. 8412(a), 8421(a)).
- MRA + 10 years: immediate annuity reduced 5/12 of 1% for each full month under 62 (5% a year), with no supplement. You can postpone the start to a date at least 2 days before your 62nd birthday to shrink or avoid the reduction (8412(g), 8415(h); OPM types of retirement).
- Age 60 + 20 years: no age reduction (8412(b)). Age 62 + 5 years: immediate annuity (8412(c)).
- Special category (law enforcement officer, firefighter, air traffic controller, Capitol and Supreme Court Police, nuclear materials courier, CBP officer): 50 with 20 years or any age with 25 years (8412(d)(1), (e)).
Unused sick leave does not count toward any of these service requirements. It only increases the pension once you qualify.
FERS minimum retirement age questions
What is the minimum retirement age for FERS?
It depends on your birth year (5 U.S.C. 8412(h)). Born before 1948: 55. Born 1948 through 1952: 55 plus 2 months for each year after 1947, up to 55 and 10 months. Born 1953 through 1964: 56. Born 1965 through 1969: 56 plus 2 months for each year after 1964, up to 56 and 10 months. Born 1970 or later: 57.
Can I retire at my MRA with a full pension?
Yes, with 30 years of service. Retire at your MRA with 30 years and your annuity is not reduced, and you can also receive the annuity supplement until age 62. With 10 to 29 years you can still retire at your MRA, but the annuity is reduced.
How much is the MRA + 10 reduction?
The annuity is reduced by 5/12 of 1% for each full month it starts before your 62nd birthday, which is 5% a year (5 U.S.C. 8415(h)(1)). OPM publishes the factors in Chart 8 of Handbook chapter 50. Example: an annuity that starts at 58 years and 0 months is multiplied by .804167, which is 47 months under 62.
Can I avoid the MRA + 10 reduction?
Yes, by postponing the start of your annuity. By written election you can choose a start date no earlier than the 31st day after you file and before the date you become 62 (5 U.S.C. 8412(g)(2)). Because OPM treats you as turning 62 the day before your birthday, OPM says the start date must be the first day of a month at least 2 days before your 62nd birthday. The reduction does not apply if the annuity starts when you would qualify for MRA + 30 or for age 60 with 20 years of service (8415(h)(2)); OPM puts it as having 20 years of service with a start at 60 or later. With 20 to 29 years of service there is no reduction from 60 on.
Do I get the FERS annuity supplement with MRA + 10?
No. The supplement in 5 U.S.C. 8421(a) goes to retirees under MRA + 30, age 60 with 20 years, and the special provisions for law enforcement officers, firefighters, air traffic controllers and similar. MRA + 10 retirements under 8412(g) are not listed, so there is no supplement.
What if I am a law enforcement officer, firefighter or air traffic controller?
Special category employees can retire at 50 with 20 years of that service, or at any age with 25 years of it (5 U.S.C. 8412(d)(1), (e)), unless removed for cause on charges of misconduct or delinquency. The calculator assumes all of your service is in that kind of position.
How does OPM decide the date I reach my MRA?
The OPM Handbook says that for retirement and Social Security purposes you reach an age on the day before the birthday, a note written for age 62. This calculator applies the same rule to your MRA. OPM does not publish a rule for February 29 birthdays; the calculator treats the birthday in a non-leap year as February 28, so check with your agency if the exact day matters.
What if I leave before my MRA?
With at least 5 years of civilian service you can take a deferred annuity at 62, or at your MRA with 10 years of service (5 U.S.C. 8413). A deferred MRA + 10 annuity is reduced the same way unless you wait until 60 with 20 years or until your MRA with 30 years. Deferred annuities do not get sick leave credit or the supplement.
Authoritative sources: OPM FERS eligibility · OPM types of retirement · Handbook chapter 50 (Chart 8) · 5 U.S.C. 8412 · 5 U.S.C. 8413 · 5 U.S.C. 8415 · 5 U.S.C. 8421