Covers the retirement package for the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) employees. Congress created the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) in 1986, and it became effective on January 1,1987. Since that time, new Federal civilian employees who have retirement coverage are covered by FERS. U.S. Federal employees that started working within the U.S. Federal Government after January 1, 1987, their spouses, and families will be most interested in this guidance relating to their retirement benefits package.