Vice presidents receive a pension, but only if they served as president or meet specific conditions

A vice president who never becomes president does not automatically receive a federal pension for that role alone. However, a vice president who served as president — either by election or succession — qualifies for the Former Presidents Act pension, which is the main retirement benefit tied to the office. Additionally, vice presidents may receive other federal retirement benefits if they worked in other government positions before or after their vice presidency.

The distinction matters because the vice presidency itself does not carry a separate pension. The federal government treats it differently from other executive positions. What a former vice president receives depends on whether they also held the presidency and what other federal service they completed.

Key Takeaways

  • A vice president who never became president does not receive a pension for serving as vice president.
  • A vice president who became president — whether by election or succession — receives a pension under the Former Presidents Act, currently set at a percentage of the president's salary.
  • Vice presidents may receive federal retirement benefits from other government jobs they held, such as military service or congressional positions.
  • The Former Presidents Act pension is separate from Social Security and does not require the former president to have reached retirement age.

The Former Presidents Act and who it covers

The Former Presidents Act, passed in 1958, created a pension for former presidents and their families. This law applies to any president who left office after January 1, 1965. A vice president who assumed the presidency — whether through election, succession after a president's death, or succession after a president's resignation — falls under this law and receives the pension.

The pension amount is set by Congress and is tied to the salary of a sitting president. As of 2024, the amount varies based on when the former president left office and other factors Congress has adjusted over time. The pension is paid for life and does not depend on the former president's age or other income.

Vice presidents who never became president are not covered by the Former Presidents Act. They do not receive a pension for the vice presidency itself, even if they served a full two terms or more.

Other federal retirement benefits vice presidents may have

Many vice presidents held federal positions before becoming vice president. If a vice president worked as a senator, representative, military officer, or civil servant, they may have earned credits toward the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) or the older Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). These credits do not disappear when someone becomes vice president.

A former vice president can claim these retirement benefits separately from any presidential pension. For example, a former vice president who served 10 years in the Senate could draw a Senate pension in addition to a presidential pension if they also became president. The two are calculated independently.

Federal employees, including vice presidents, also pay into Social Security during their federal service. A former vice president can claim Social Security benefits at the normal retirement age, just as any other worker can.

What happens to a vice president's salary and benefits while in office

While serving, a vice president receives an annual salary set by Congress. They also receive federal health insurance through the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHB) and participate in the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) like other federal employees. However, these in-office benefits do not create a separate pension for the vice presidency.

The FERS contributions a vice president makes during their term do count toward federal retirement benefits if they worked in other federal positions. But the vice presidency itself does not vest into a pension the way a 20-year military career or a long congressional career does.

How the presidential pension differs from other federal pensions

The presidential pension is not earned through years of service the way military or civil service pensions are. Instead, it is a flat benefit set by Congress for anyone who held the office of president. A president who served one term receives the same pension as a president who served two terms.

This is different from military retirement, where a service member must complete 20 years to receive any pension, and the amount grows with additional years served. It is also different from congressional pensions, which require a minimum of five years of service and calculate benefits based on years served and salary.

The presidential pension is also not means-tested. A former president receives it regardless of other income, investments, or wealth. It is paid by the federal government and is separate from any state or local pensions the former president might receive.

Survivor benefits for vice presidents and their families

If a vice president who became president dies, their surviving spouse and children may receive benefits under the Former Presidents Act. The surviving spouse receives a pension for life (or until remarriage, depending on the specific rules in effect). Children may receive benefits until they reach age 16, or age 19 if still in school.

These survivor benefits explore only if the vice president also served as president. A surviving family member of a vice president who never became president would not receive federal survivor benefits tied to the vice presidency, though they might receive benefits based on other federal service the vice president completed.

State and local pensions for vice presidents

Some vice presidents held elected office in their home states before becoming vice president. If a vice president served in a state legislature or as a state official, they may have earned credits in a state pension system. These state pensions are separate from federal benefits and are paid by the state, not the federal government.

A former vice president can collect both a federal presidential pension and a state pension if they earned credits in both systems. The two do not offset each other or reduce each other. However, some state pension systems have rules about how they treat federal service, so the details vary by state.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a vice president who never became president receive any federal pension?

Not for the vice presidency itself. However, if that person worked in other federal positions — such as the military, Congress, or the civil service — they may receive a pension from that service. The vice presidency alone does not create a pension benefit.

Does a vice president's pension start when ready after leaving office?

Yes. A former president (including a vice president who became president) can begin receiving the presidential pension as soon as they leave office. There is no waiting period or minimum age requirement. The pension is paid monthly by the federal government.

What if a vice president served under multiple presidents?

A vice president serves under one president at a time. If someone was vice president under one president and then later became president, they would receive the presidential pension based on their time as president. The vice presidency itself does not add to the pension amount.

Is the vice president's pension taxable income?

The presidential pension is taxable federal income. A former president must report it on their federal tax return. State income tax treatment varies by state; some states tax federal pensions and some do not.

Can a vice president lose their pension?

A former president cannot lose the presidential pension through normal circumstances. However, Congress has the power to change or eliminate the benefit for future former presidents. No former president has had their pension removed retroactively.