Last updated: June 26, 2024
Article
Special Retirement for Wildland Firefighters
NPS
Choosing to be a federal wildland firefighter means you are going into a profession which is far more physically demanding than other occupations in the Federal service. Because of the nature of the job, wildland firefighters are in what’s called “covered service,” which provides special provisions allowing them to retire earlier, and with a larger post-retirement monthly annuity, than other federal employees.
Maximum Entry Age
New employees starting positions covered as primary/rigorous must be under the age of 37. If you are a qualified preference eligible veteran, the maximum entry age may be waived.
Mandatory Retirement
Firefighters are required to retire once they are 57 years old and have 20 years of covered service, if they are still in a special retirement covered position. However, after you work for 20 years and “lock in” your special retirement, you may apply for another job in the Federal government and continue to work if you’d like. You will never lose the special retirement once you have hit 20 years of covered service.
Voluntary Retirement
Firefighters may retire once they are age 50 with 20 years of covered service, or at any age if they have 25 years of covered service.
Extra Retirement Deduction
Employees who are covered by the special retirement program pay an extra 0.5 percent into the retirement fund.
Example 1 (Special Retirement): A Hotshot, age 51, wants to retire. Their years of service, and high 3-average salary are below. The basic annuity is in the table below:
Total federal service:
- 23 years, 6 months covered firefighter service
- 2 years non-fire service
- Total Federal service: 25 years, 6 months
- High 3 average salary: $45,000
| 20 years of firefighter special enhanced retirement annuity | 1.7% x $45,000 = $765 | $765 x 20 =$15,300 |
| 5.5. years at regular retirement rate | 1.0% x $45,000 = $450 | $450 x 5.5 = $2,475 |
| Add both totals together for grand total annual retirement annuity. | TOTAL: $17,775 |
Example 2 (Regular Retirement): A human resources (HR) specialist, age 60, wants to retire. Their years of service, and high-3 average salary are below. The basic annuity is in the table.
Total federal service:
- 25 years, 6 months
- High 3 average salary: $45,000
| 25.5 years at regular retirement rate | 1.0% x $45,000 = $450 | $450 x 25.5 = $11,475 |
| Annual retirement annuity | Total: $11,475 |
The HR Specialist must work until they are older to meet eligibility requirements for a voluntary retirement. You can see that, even though both examples have the same amount of federal service and the same high-3 average salary, the HR Specialist will receive $6,300 per year less than the Hotshot each year post-retirement.
Legal References
Read the special retirement regulationsin full: