📘 Quick Glossary
Terms & Acronyms
Federal service comes with its own language. This glossary decodes the most common terms and acronyms you'll encounter throughout your career and in retirement planning.
| ATC | Air Traffic Controller |
| CSRS | Civil Service Retirement System (pre-1984 plan, now closed to new feds) |
| DCFSA | Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (used to pay for eligible child or elder care with pre-tax money) |
| DFAS | Defense Finance and Accounting Service |
| eOPF | Electronic Official Personnel Folder |
| FEGLI | Federal Employees Group Life Insurance |
| FEHB | Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (your federal health insurance system) |
| FERS | Federal Employees Retirement System (your main retirement plan) |
| FERS Supplement / RAS | Retiree Annuity Supplement; a temporary bridge payment until age 62 for some early retirees |
| FF | Firefighter |
| FSAFEDS | Flexible Spending Accounts for Federal Employees; includes HCFSA and DCFSA |
| GS | General Schedule (the main pay system for federal employees) |
| HCFSA | Health Care Flexible Spending Account (pre-tax account for copays, dental, glasses, etc.) |
| LEO | Law Enforcement Officer |
| LES | Leave and Earnings Statement (your federal "pay stub" showing earnings, leave balances, deductions) |
| MRA | Minimum Retirement Age (between 56 and 57 based on birth year) |
| OPM | Office of Personnel Management (handles pensions, retirement applications, and federal personnel policies) |
| PD | Position Description |
| QLE | Qualifying Life Event (e.g., marriage, divorce, birth, death — allows benefits changes outside of Open Season) |
| RAS | Retiree Annuity Supplement (see FERS Supplement) |
| RIF | Reduction in Force (a layoff process for federal employees) |
| SCD | Service Computation Date. There are different types: SCD-Leave, SCD-Retirement, SCD-TSP |
| SCE | Special Category Employee |
| SF-50 | Standard Form 50, the official federal employment record used to verify service history |
| SSA | Social Security Administration |
| TSP | Thrift Savings Plan, your retirement investment plan (similar to a 401(k)) |
| WGI | Within-Grade Increase (a federal step increase in pay) |
Pro Tip: Keep this glossary handy as you navigate through the Learning Center. If you encounter a term that's not listed here, use the "Ask Coach" search feature to find more information.
Ready to Start Your Journey?
Now that you understand the key terms, dive into these essential modules: