United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office General Government Division author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 1995-05-15 monographic deposited born digital GA 1.13:T-GGD-95-165 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-T-GGD-95-165 P0b002ee180393dfe f:tgg95165 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-24 GAOREPORTS-T-GGD-95-165 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-T-GGD-95-165 T-GGD-95-165 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 Civil Service Retirement System Federal Employees Retirement System Federal Thrift Savings Plan Social Security Program Testimony GGD 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. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-T-GGD-95-165/html/GAOREPORTS-T-GGD-95-165.htm GAO/T-GGD-95-165 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-T-GGD-95-165 Testimony GAO/T-GGD-95-165; Congressional Retirement Issues; 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 Civil Service Retirement System Federal Employees Retirement System Federal Thrift Savings Plan Social Security Program