In response to Mr. Homer Campbell letter to the editor. I suggest he go to the website www.opm.gov to get his facts correct.

There are two retirement systems CSRS (Civil Service Retirement System), which is being phased out as those employees retire and FERS (Federal Employees Retirement System).

FERS was enacted on 1/1/87 and covers federal employees hired after that date. FERS is a three tier system, the Basic Benefit, plus Social Security and Thrift Savings Plan, which the individual is responsible for making contributions to.

Under the CSRS system you can retire at age 62 with 5 years of service, age 60 with 20 years of service or age 55 with 30 years of service. Under FERS age 62 with 5 years of service, age 60 with 20 years of service, or Minimum Retirement age (as determined by Social Security) with 30 years of service.

Under both systems the annuity is determined by the highest average basic pay for any three consecutive years of service (high three).

Under CSRS it is calculated as 1.5 percent for the first 5 years of service, 1.75 percent for the second 5 years of service and 2 percent for all years over 10.

FERS employees age 62 or older with less than 20 years of service is calculated at 1 percent of their high three for each year of service. 62 and older with 20 or more years of service is calculated at 1.1 percent of their high three.

If a CSRS employee retires at age 62 with 30 years of service and a high three average of $61,000 his/her annuity will be calculated as follows: 1.5 percent = $4,575 for the first 5 years, 1.75 percent = $5,337. for the 2nd 5 years and 2 percent = percent 24,400 for the following 20 years. Therefore the total annual annuity would be $34,312.

A FERS employee at age 62 with 30 years of service would receive: 1.1 percent or $20,130. In addition he/she would receive Social Security benefits and could withdraw monies they had contributed to their Thrift Savings Account.

As you can see that is nowhere near $60,972 a year that Mr. Campbell thinks federal retirees receive. There are may federal employees who do not earn $61,000 per year and therefore, their annuities are far less. I know because I am one of them.

It is misinformation like this that give Federal employees and retirees a bad rap.

Rita Smith, South Point