<P> When the FERS program went into effect, all Members elected in 1984 or later were automatically enrolled in the new plan . More senior Members were free to remain under the CSRS or enroll in the new FERS plan . </P> <P> The FERS program takes into account the years served and the average pay for the top three years in terms of payment . For example, a member elected before 1984 and thus qualifying under the CSRS plan, who worked for 22 years and who had a top three - year average salary of $154,267 would be eligible for a pension payment of $84,847 per year . A member elected after 1984 would have been enrolled under the FERS plan, and their pension payment under similar conditions ($154,267 top three - year average salary, but with only 20 years of service, rather than the 22 in the CSRS example) would be $52,451 . </P> <P> In 2002, the average congressional pension payment ranged from $41,000 to $55,000 . As of November 2014, senior Members of Congress who have been in office for at least 32 years can earn about $139,000 a year . </P> <P> In 2003, after James Traficant was expelled from Congress, several Congressmen tried passing a bill that would prevent expelled members from receiving their pensions . The bill was stalled and eventually dropped after being sent to the House Administration and Reforms committee for review . In 2007, the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act was enacted; this act provides that a member of Congress convicted of one or more of a list of enumerated felonies (those relating to corruption, election crimes, or official misconduct) will forfeit his or her pension . </P>

What is the pension for a us senator