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Washington—Working with key legislators, the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) has secured language in the pending House-Senate economic stimulus measure that would result in economic relief for federal retirees under both the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), the leader of NTEU said.

The benefit for CSRS retirees will come in the form of a refundable tax credit of $250 for this year; FERS retirees will be eligible for a one-time payment of $250.

“This language will ensure that federal retirees who spent their lives in public service are provided the economic relief they have earned and deserve,” said NTEU President Colleen M. Kelley.

House and Senate conferees reached agreement on the stimulus package after working out differences in their respective versions of the bill. Originally, only the Senate-passed bill included the $250 payments to retirees receiving Social Security, including those under FERS, but would have excluded CSRS federal retirees who are not collecting Social Security from other non-federal employment.

In response, NTEU worked closely with members in both the House and Senate including Sen. Kerry (D-Mass.), Sen. Baucus (D-Mont.), and Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.), to ensure that the final stimulus agreement retained the $250 payment to Social Security recipients and that federal retirees, such as those under CSRS who are not eligible for Social Security benefits, would be eligible for some type of benefit.

President Kelley thanked the three lawmakers for their help in ensuring the inclusion of the language in the final stimulus package. “I am happy to see that all the federal retirees will be eligible for some type of benefit under the legislation and I appreciate the work of these three key members of Congress on this issue,” Kelley said.

Once the House and Senate conclude their work on the stimulus package, it will go to the White House for the president’s signature. The Obama administration has made approval of economic stimulus legislation a priority matter in the opening weeks of its term.

NTEU is the largest independent federal union, representing 150,000 employees in 31 agencies and departments.