Benefits Administration Letter

Number: 15-303 Date: April 2015

United States

Office of 

Personnel Management

The Federal Government’s Human Resources Agency

Subject: Changes to Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) Contribution 

Rates for Fiscal Year 2016 

At its 2013 meeting, the Board of Actuaries of the Civil Service Retirement System recommended 

revised economic assumptions for use in actuarial valuations of the Federal Employees Retirement 

System (FERS). These revised assumptions result in new normal cost percentages that will increase 

the employer contributions that agencies pay for FERS employees. 

New employer contribution rates will become effective with the first pay period beginning on or after 

October 1, 2015. 

The following table summarizes changes to FERS contribution rates: 

Category

FERS Agency Contribution Rate (%)

CPDF

Code Current 10/2015 

Regular K 13.2 13.7

Law Enforcement Officer M 28.8 30.1

Air Traffic Controller L 31.1 31.8

Military Reserve Technician N 16.9 17.3

Customs and Border Protection Officers O 28.8 30.1

Employees under section 303 of the CIA 

Act of 1964 for certain employees (when 

serving abroad) 

NONE 18.9 19.5 

Member of Congress NONE 20.2 20.8

Congressional Employee NONE 18.4 19.1

Congressional Employee – Capitol Police NONE 18.4 19.1
The following table summarizes changes to FERS-Revised Annuity Employee (FERS-RAE) 

contribution rates: 

Category

FERS-RAE Agency Contribution Rate 

(%)

CPDF 

Code Current 10/2015 

Regular KR 11.1 11.9

Law Enforcement Officer MR 26.5 28.4

Air Traffic Controller LR 28.9 30.1

Military Reserve Technician NR 15.0 15.4

Customs and Border Protection Officers OR 26.5 28.4

Employees under section 303 of 

the CIA Act of 1964 for certain 

employees (when serving abroad) 

NONE 16.8 17.8 

Member of Congress NONE 11.1 11.9

Congressional Employee NONE 11.1 11.9

Congressional Employee – Capitol Police NONE 16.1 17.3

The following table summarizes changes to FERS-Further Revised Annuity Employees (FERSFRAE) contribution rates:

Category

FERS-FRAE Agency Contribution 

Rate (%)

CPDF 

Code Current 10/2015 

Regular KF 11.1 11.9

Law Enforcement Officer MF 26.5 28.4

Air Traffic Controller LF 28.9 30.1

Military Reserve Technician NF 15.0 15.4

Customs and Border Protection Officers OF 26.5 28.4

Employees under section 303 of the CIA 

Act of 1964 for certain employees (when 

serving abroad) 

NONE 16.8 17.8 

Member of Congress NONE 11.1 11.9

Congressional Employee NONE 11.1 11.9

Congressional Employee – Capitol Police NONE 16.1 17.3

. 
The following table summarizes changes to FERS-FRAE U.S. Postal Service and Postal Regulatory 

Commission contribution rates:

Category

U.S. Postal Service and Postal 

Regulatory Commission 

FERS-FRAE Agency Contribution 

Rate (%)

CPDF 

Code Current 10/2015 

Regular - FRAE Postal NONE 9.8 10.7

Law Enforcement Officer – FRAE Postal NONE 25.2 27.2

If you have any questions about this letter, we would prefer that you email us at finance@opm.gov, 

so we have a record of them. You may of course call us on 202-606-0606. 

Kim Farington

Associate Chief Financial Officer 

Financial Services

.