Will You Still Get the FERS Supplement in 2028?

July 02, 2025

You did everything right: contributed to your TSP, built your pension, and mapped out your timeline to retire at 57.

You planned around one key piece: the FERS annuity supplement—the bridge income designed to hold you over until Social Security kicks in at 62.

On average? It adds $900–$1,300/month—no small sum.

But in 2028, that bridge may collapse.

A Hidden Line in a 600-Page Bill Could Rewrite Your Retirement

Tucked inside the latest draft of the “Big, Beautiful Bill” is a quiet clause with big consequences:

✅ Anyone retiring in 2028 or later?
❌ No supplement.

That means...

  • No monthly check to cover that 5-year gap

  • No help from HR—they can’t override the law

  • And no wiggle room once the rule is live

The Real Cost: Time, Options, Freedom

What’s the supplement really worth?

💰 Over a 5-year span, it can add $50,000 to $75,000 in income.
💣 Lose it, and you may need to:

  • Delay retirement 3–5 years

  • Withdraw from your TSP faster than planned

  • Face higher taxes and market risk—earlier than expected

The Smart Fed’s Playbook (Before It’s Too Late)

  1. Know Your Timeline
    If your retirement plan touches 2028, run the numbers both ways. The difference might be bigger than you think.

  2. Stress-Test Your Plan
    What happens if you remove the supplement entirely? Build in the “no-bridge” scenario now—before Congress builds it for you.

  3. Watch for Grandfather Clauses
    These changes often include fine print. But “grandfathered in” can mean anything—from your retirement date to your application submission. Don’t guess.

The Bottom Line

This isn’t about panic.

It’s about power.

The supplement isn’t a bonus—it’s baked into how most FERS timelines were built.
If they pull it, the floor shifts. But you don’t have to fall with it.

✅ Know the rule.
✅ Watch the timing.
✅ Build the backup plan now.

—FWR