1. What is OPM Years of Service?

The OPM (Office of Personnel Management) Years of Service refers to the total creditable service time used to calculate federal employee benefits, including retirement eligibility and annuity computations.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses a simple calculation:

Where:

• Creditable Service — Total eligible years of federal service

Explanation: The calculation sums all creditable service time which may include civilian service, military service (when deposit is paid), and other special service credits.

3. Importance of Years of Service Calculation

Details: Accurate years of service calculation is crucial for determining retirement eligibility, calculating annuity benefits, and understanding leave accrual rates for federal employees.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter your total creditable service in years. Partial years should be entered as decimals (e.g., 6 months = 0.5 years).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What counts as creditable service?
A: Most federal civilian service, military service (with deposit), and certain other special service periods count toward creditable service.

Q2: How are partial years calculated?
A: Partial years are converted to decimal (e.g., 3 months = 0.25, 6 months = 0.5, 9 months = 0.75).

Q3: Does military service count automatically?
A: Military service only counts if you make a deposit payment to the retirement system unless it was performed during certain wartime periods.

Q4: How does this affect my retirement?
A: Years of service directly impact your retirement eligibility and annuity calculation under FERS or CSRS.

Q5: Where can I verify my creditable service?
A: Your Official Personnel Folder (OPF) and annual earnings and leave statements show your creditable service time.