Seasonal Federal Workers Lose Pension Credits Despite Decades of Service
A federal worker who spent two decades repairing critical infrastructure at the Soo Locks found that his repeated seasonal employment did not count toward a FERS pension, despite being included in Social Security records. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers relies on such workers to maintain aging locks during winter closures, but those hired under temporary appointments for one year or less are typically excluded from federal retirement benefits. The Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) generally requires service with FERS deductions to accrue pension credit. However, repeated short-term contracts do not automatically qualify as permanent employment. This distinction means that 20 years of seasonal work may contribute nothing toward a federal annuity, even though the same wages count for Social Security benefits. The issue highlights how retirement eligibility depends heavily on appointment type and duration. Workers hired under temporary roles after 1988 often cannot buy back those years later, making early awareness crucial to avoid long-term financial consequences.
Topics: pension rules retirement seasonal employment Social Security U.S. Army Corps of Engineers