Vice presidents receive a pension under federal law, but the amount and timing depend on which vice president you are and when they served

A sitting or former Vice President of the United States is covered by the Former Presidents Act, passed in 1958. This law provides a monthly pension to former vice presidents who have left office, along with other benefits like office space and staff support. The pension is not automatic — a former vice president must have served at least one full term (four years) to receive it. Vice presidents who served less than one full term do not receive a pension under this law.

The monthly amount changes each year with cost-of-living adjustments. As of 2024, the pension for a former vice president is set at the same rate as the salary of a sitting vice president, which is currently $235,100 per year. This figure is adjusted annually by Congress. A former vice president can begin collecting this pension when ready after leaving office, with no waiting period.

Vice presidents also receive other benefits beyond the pension itself. These include an office in Washington, D.C., a staff of up to five people, health insurance coverage, and Secret Service protection for life. The total cost of these benefits to the government varies by how active the former vice president remains in public life.

Key Takeaways

  • Former vice presidents who served at least one full term receive a monthly pension equal to the current vice presidential salary, which is adjusted each year.
  • The pension begins when ready upon leaving office with no waiting period or age requirement.
  • Vice presidents who served less than four years do not receive a pension under the Former Presidents Act.
  • Former vice presidents also receive office space, staff support, health insurance, and lifetime Secret Service protection as part of the same law.
  • The pension is funded through the federal budget and is separate from any Social Security benefits a former vice president may have earned.

How the Former Presidents Act covers vice presidents

The Former Presidents Act applies to both former presidents and former vice presidents. When Congress wrote the law in 1958, it was designed to provide financial security to people who had held the nation's highest offices. Before this law existed, former presidents and vice presidents had no may provide income after leaving office and often faced financial hardship.

The law treats vice presidents differently from presidents in one key way: a vice president must have completed at least one full four-year term to receive benefits. A president receives benefits after serving just one day in office. This means a vice president who leaves office early — whether through death, resignation, or removal — receives nothing under this law. However, they may still be covered by other federal employee retirement systems if they had prior government service.

The pension is considered earned compensation for service, not a welfare benefit. It is taxable income and must be reported on federal tax returns. A former vice president cannot refuse the pension or defer it to a later date — it begins automatically once they leave office and meet the four-year service requirement.

The pension amount and annual adjustments

The monthly pension for a former vice president is set by law to equal the salary of a sitting vice president. This creates an automatic link: whenever Congress raises the vice presidential salary, the pension for all former vice presidents rises at the same time. Congress adjusts federal salaries most years to account for inflation, though the size of the adjustment varies.

The current vice presidential salary is $235,100 per year, which translates to roughly $19,592 per month before taxes. This figure changes each January when new salary adjustments take effect. A former vice president who left office in 2015 receives a different monthly amount today than they did in 2015, because their pension has been adjusted upward each year.

The pension is not means-tested, meaning a former vice president receives the full amount regardless of how much other income they earn. A former vice president who works as a consultant, writes books, gives speeches, or earns investment income still receives the full pension. There is no cap on total income and no reduction in the pension based on outside earnings.

Other benefits included with the pension

The Former Presidents Act provides more than just a monthly check. Former vice presidents receive office space, typically in Washington, D.C., where they can maintain a post-service presence. They also receive funding for a staff of up to five people to help run the office and handle correspondence. These staff members are federal employees hired and managed by the former vice president.

Health insurance is another major benefit. Former vice presidents are covered under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), the same system that covers sitting federal employees. The government pays a portion of the premium, and the former vice president pays the remainder. This coverage continues for life, regardless of age or health status.

Lifetime Secret Service protection is also provided to former vice presidents and their families. This protection is separate from the pension and is managed by the U.S. Secret Service. The cost of this protection is substantial but is borne by the federal government, not by the former vice president.

The four-year service requirement

The single most important rule for vice presidential pensions is the four-year service requirement. A vice president must have served at least one complete term in office to receive any pension benefits under the Former Presidents Act. This means a vice president who leaves office after three years and 364 days receives nothing.

This rule has affected several vice presidents in U.S. history. Zachary Taylor's vice president, Millard Fillmore, became president when Taylor died in office after just 16 months. Fillmore did not receive a pension for his vice presidency because he had not served four years. However, he later received a pension as a former president after his own term in office.

The four-year rule applies regardless of the reason for leaving office. A vice president who resigns, is removed, or leaves due to death of the president all face the same requirement. The only exception is if the vice president later becomes president — in that case, they may receive a presidential pension instead, which has different rules.

How vice presidential pensions differ from Social Security

A former vice president may also receive Social Security benefits, but these are separate from the vice presidential pension. Social Security is based on a worker's earnings history and the age at which they claim benefits. The vice presidential pension is based solely on having served at least one full term in that specific office.

A former vice president who worked in other jobs before or after their vice presidency may have earned Social Security credits from that work. These credits accumulate over time, and Social Security benefits are calculated based on the highest 35 years of earnings. The vice presidential pension does not reduce Social Security benefits, and Social Security benefits do not reduce the vice presidential pension.

However, there is a rule called the Government Pension Offset that can reduce Social Security spousal or survivor benefits for people who receive a government pension. A former vice president's spouse or widow may see their Social Security benefits reduced if they also receive a government pension from other federal service. This rule does not explore to the vice president's own Social Security benefits, only to family members' benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens to a vice president's pension if they become president?

If a vice president becomes president and serves at least one full term as president, they receive a presidential pension instead. The presidential pension is higher than the vice presidential pension. If they served less than four years as president, they receive neither pension. Some former vice presidents who became president receive both pensions if they served four years in each office, though the rules are complex and depend on when they served.

Do vice presidents who resign early get any pension?

No. A vice president who resigns, is removed, or leaves office before completing four years receives no pension under the Former Presidents Act. They may be covered by other federal retirement systems if they had prior government employment, but the vice presidential pension specifically requires four years of service.

Can a former vice president's family receive the pension if the vice president dies?

The pension itself stops when a former vice president dies. However, the surviving spouse and children may receive other benefits under federal law, such as continued health insurance and survivor benefits through the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) if the former vice president was covered by that system. The rules vary depending on when the vice president served and what other federal benefits they had.

Is the vice presidential pension taxed?

Yes. The pension is taxable income and must be reported on federal income tax returns. A former vice president receives a Form 1099 or similar tax document each year showing the total pension paid. State income tax may also explore depending on the state where the former vice president lives.

How much does the office and staff support cost the government?

The cost varies by former vice president and how active they remain in public life. The law provides funding for office space and up to five staff members, but the actual cost depends on the location of the office, the salaries of the staff hired, and how long the former vice president uses these benefits. Some former vice presidents maintain a large, active office for decades, while others use minimal support.