Congressional Retirement Issues (Testimony, 05/15/95, GAO/T-GGD-95-165).

The retirement benefits provided by the Civil Service Retirement System
for Members of Congress are generally more generous than those provided
for other federal employees.  The major differences are found in the
eligibility requirements for retirement and the formulas used to
calculate benefits.  The Member benefit formula applies to congressional
staff, but they are covered by the general employee retirement
eligibility requirements.  Law enforcement officers and firefighters may
retire earlier than general employees and are covered by a more-generous
benefit formula than are general employees.  Under the Civil Service
Retirement System, the provisions for air traffic controllers fall
between those for law enforcement officers and firefighters and those
for general employees.  Many of the advantages afforded to Members of
Congress and congressional staff under the Civil Service Retirement
System were continued under the Federal Employees Retirement System,
which covers workers hired in 1985 and thereafter.  But under the
Federal Employee Retirement System, provisions for law enforcement
officers, firefighters, and air traffic controllers are very similar to
provisions for Members.

--------------------------- Indexing Terms -----------------------------

 REPORTNUM:  T-GGD-95-165
     TITLE:  Congressional Retirement Issues
      DATE:  05/15/95
   SUBJECT:  Federal employees
             Congressional employees
             Government retirement benefits
             Federal employee retirement programs
             Retirement pensions
             Comparative analysis
             Eligibility criteria
             Fire fighters
             Law enforcement personnel
             Air traffic controllers
IDENTIFIER:  Civil Service Retirement System
             Federal Employees Retirement System
             Federal Thrift Savings Plan
             Social Security Program
             
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