View source for Federal Employees Retirement System

==Eligibility==
Except for some rare instances, all Federal employees newly hired during or after 1987, as well as prior employees rehired who had less than five years nonmilitary service prior to 1987, are covered by FERS.  Employees hired between 1984-1986 were transitioned to FERS in 1987; their service period prior to that is called "CSRS Offset" and benefits for that period are calculated under the old CSRS rules.  Former employees with five or more years nonmilitary service who were under CSRS could, upon rehire, choose to go back to CSRS or, within six months of rehire, move under FERS (but such a move was irrevocable).  Employees under CSRS also could move under FERS but such a decision was also irrevocable.