<P> Congressional pension is a pension made available to members of the United States Congress . Members who participated in the congressional pension system are vested after five (5) years of service . A full pension is available to members 62 years of age with 5 years of service; 50 years or older with 20 years of service; or 25 years of service at any age . A reduced pension is available depending upon which of several different age / service options is chosen . If Members leave Congress before reaching retirement age, they may leave their contributions behind and receive a deferred pension later . The current pension program, effective January 1987, is under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), which covers members and other federal employees whose federal employment began in 1984 or later . This replaces the older Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) for most members of congress and federal employees . </P> <P> Members of Congress voted to extend pension benefits to the legislative branch under the CSRS (formerly limited to the executive branch) in January 1942 under a provision of P.L. 77 - 411 . Congress repealed their pension two months later, due to public outcry in the early months of America's involvement in World War II . It was not until after the war, in 1946, that Congress would be covered under the CSRS with the passage of P.L. 79 - 601 . The justification this time was that a pension would "bring into the legislative service a larger number of younger members with fresh energy and new viewpoints" by encouraging older Members to retire . </P>

When are members of congress eligible for pensions