The imminent resignation of Georgia Republican U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene from Congress has sparked a wave of inquiries and some misinformation regarding the health care and pension benefits that lawmakers receive after their time in public service. The complexities of the system hinge on factors such as the year of entry into Congress and the duration of service, with Greene set to surpass the minimum eligibility requirement of five years upon her departure in January.
Members elected to Congress after 1984 fall under the Federal Employees’ Retirement System (FERS), while those elected prior to this date may be subject to different calculations under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). According to a report from the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service (CRS), pensions for members of Congress, like those for all federal employees, are funded through both employee and employer contributions.
The CRS highlights the eligibility criteria for retirement benefits: members can access pensions at age 62 after five years of service, at age 50 after 20 years of service, or at any age after 25 years of service. The pension amount depends on the length of service and the average salary from the highest three earning years, with a legal cap preventing the starting pension from exceeding 80% of a member’s final salary. Additionally, all members contribute to Social Security and handle their taxes and benefits similarly to other beneficiaries.
Currently, members of Congress, excluding leadership, earn an annual salary of $174,000. Greene, who took office on January 3, 2021, will be eligible for pension benefits totaling approximately $8,700 per year after she turns 62, given her service time. She is currently 51 years old.
In contrast, former U.S. Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who was first elected in 1987, is projected to receive a substantially larger annual pension of around $107,860 once she retires in January 2027. This difference is attributed to her longer tenure and higher salary during her time in congressional leadership.
Regarding health insurance, members who retire or resign are allowed to purchase coverage through the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) if they had been insured through Washington D.C.’s Affordable Care Act marketplace for the five years leading up to their retirement. While serving in Congress, they can enjoy some employer-subsidized health coverage as long as they opt for plans from the D.C. marketplace, known as DC Health Link. The federal subsidy amounts vary based on whether the lawmaker chooses an individual plan or one that covers family members as well.
As Greene approaches her resignation date, these aspects of congressional benefits have not only drawn attention to her situation, but also raised broader questions surrounding the retirement and health care systems in place for lawmakers.
