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OPM.gov / Retirement / CSRS Information / Creditable Service /
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Creditable Service

CSRS Civilian Service

Creditable service under CSRS usually includes:

  • Federal "covered service", that is, service in which the individual's pay is subject to CSRS retirement deductions, such as service under a career or career conditional appointment,
  • Federal service where an employee's pay is not subject to retirement deductions, such as, service under a temporary appointment,
  • Service for which a specific Statute allows credit or allows credit for the service, such as-
    • Peace Corps enrollment
    • Certain pre-1969 National Guard technician service
  • Service for which a specific statute allows an individual to be subject to CSRS deductions during his/her employment with a specified entity or under a specific program or type of appointment, such as-
    • Employees of Gallaudet University or D.C. Government,  Federal employees who receive assignments under the Intergovernmental Personnel Act, or employees serving as full-time officers or employees of an employee organization.

Definitions

Deposit
A deposit is the payment of the retirement deductions, plus interest, that would have been withheld from your pay if you had been covered by the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) during a period of employment when retirement deductions were not withheld from your salary. You are not required to make this type of payment.
Redeposit
A redeposit is the repayment of retirement deductions that were previously withheld and refunded to you, plus interest. You are not required to make this type of payment.

CSRS Military Service

Credit for Military Service

As a general rule, military service in the Armed Forces of the United States is creditable for retirement purposes if it was active service terminated under honorable conditions, and performed prior to your separation from civilian service for retirement.

Service Performed Before 1957

  • creditable without deposit

Service Performed on or after January 1, 1957-

  • normally creditable for Social Security benefits at age 62
  • a deposit may be due to credit the service.

If you were first employed before October 1, 1982, you can either:

  • Make a deposit for post-1956 military service, thereby avoiding a reduction in your annuity at age 62, or
  • Not make the deposit and have your annuity reduced at age 62 if you are then eligible for Social Security benefits.

If you were first hired by the Federal Government on or after October 1, 1982, you must:

  • make the deposit or receive no credit at all for military service, including eligibility to retire.

Military deposits include interest unless they are paid within a grace period.  Payments must be made to your employing agency before you separate.  They cannot be paid to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

Additional information regarding military deposits is on the service credit page.

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