US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

5 U.S.C. § 8333

Eligibility for annuity

(a)
An employee must complete at least 5 years of civilian service before he is eligible for an annuity under this subchapter.
(b)
An employee or Member must complete, within the last 2 years before any separation from service, except a separation because of death or disability, at least 1 year of creditable civilian service during which he is subject to this subchapter before he or his survivors are eligible for annuity under this subchapter based on the separation. If an employee or Member, except an employee or Member separated from the service because of death or disability, fails to meet the service requirement of the preceding sentence, the amounts deducted from his pay during the service for which no eligibility for annuity is established based on the separation shall be returned to him on the separation. Failure to meet this service requirement does not deprive the individual or his survivors of annuity rights which attached on a previous separation.
(c)
section 8334 of this title A Member or his survivor is eligible for an annuity under this subchapter only if the amounts named by have been deducted or deposited with respect to his last 5 years of civilian service, or, in the case of a survivor annuity under section 8341(d) or (e)(1) of this title, with respect to his total service.

Pub. L. 89–55480 Stat. 569Pub. L. 91–93, title II, § 201(b)83 Stat. 138Pub. L. 94–183, § 2(34)89 Stat. 1058(, , ; , , ; , , .)

Historical and Revision Notes

Derivation

U.S. Code

Revised Statutes and

Statutes at Large

(a), (b)

5 U.S.C. 2253(f), (g).

July 31, 1956, ch. 804, § 401 “Sec. 3(f), (g)”, 70 Stat. 746.

(c)

5 U.S.C. 2256(f) (last sentence).

July 31, 1956, ch. 804, § 401 “Sec. 6(f) (last sentence)”, 70 Stat. 750.

Aug. 27, 1958, Pub. L. 85–772, § 1(a), 72 Stat. 930.

In subsection (c), the words “eligible for” are substituted for “entitled to”.

Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 94–1831975—Subsec. (c). substituted “of this title” for “of title 5” and “of this title” for “of this chapter”.

Pub. L. 91–931969—Subsec. (c). provided for eligibility for a survivor annuity under section 8341(d) or (e)(1) of this title only if the requisite amounts are deducted or deposited with respect to total service period.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1969 Amendment

Pub. L. 91–93section 207(a) of Pub. L. 91–93section 8331 of this titleAmendment by inapplicable in cases of persons retired or otherwise separated prior to , their rights and of their survivors continued as if such amendment had not been enacted, see , set out as a note under .