Former Vice Presidents Get a Pension, and Kamala Harris Will Too If She Leaves Office

Yes, Kamala Harris will receive a pension if she serves as Vice President and then leaves office. The Former Presidents Act of 1958 extended pension benefits to former Vice Presidents as well. Any Vice President who serves at least one full term (four years) or completes a partial term receives a monthly pension for life, along with other benefits like office space, staff, and healthcare coverage.

Harris is currently serving her first term as Vice President, which began in January 2021. If she completes this term or serves longer, she will meet the threshold for a lifetime pension. The amount she receives depends on how long she serves and when she leaves office, but the benefit is may provide once the service requirement is met.

Key Takeaways

  • Former Vice Presidents receive a lifetime monthly pension if they serve at least one full term or any portion of a term.
  • The pension amount is set by law and tied to the salary of a sitting Vice President at the time of departure.
  • Harris will also receive benefits including an office, staff, healthcare, and travel allowances after leaving office.
  • These benefits are funded through the federal budget and do not require the former Vice President to do anything to receive them.

How the Former Presidents Act Covers Vice Presidents

The Former Presidents Act, passed in 1958, was originally written to provide pensions and support to former Presidents. Congress amended it in 1965 to include former Vice Presidents. The law guarantees that any Vice President who completes their term of service receives a pension for life, regardless of whether they go on to other jobs or hold elected office again.

The pension is not something a former Vice President has to request or apply for. It is automatic once they leave office and meet the service requirement. The only exception is if a former Vice President is elected President later — in that case, they would receive the President's pension instead, which is higher.

What the Pension Amount Actually Is

The law does not set a fixed dollar amount for the Vice President's pension. Instead, it ties the pension to a percentage of the salary that a sitting Vice President earns at the time the former Vice President leaves office. The exact percentage and calculation method are set in the statute, but the amount changes each year as congressional salaries adjust.

As of 2024, a sitting Vice President's salary is $235,100 per year. A former Vice President's pension is typically calculated as a fraction of that amount, but the precise formula depends on how long they served. Someone who served a full four-year term receives a different amount than someone who served only part of a term. The Office of Personnel Management handles the actual payment and adjusts it annually for inflation.

Other Benefits Beyond the Monthly Pension

The pension is only one part of what the law provides. Former Vice Presidents also receive office space (usually in Washington, D.C.), funding for staff, and a travel allowance. They are also covered under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, meaning they can purchase health insurance through the federal system at the same rates available to current federal employees.

Former Vice Presidents are also may have access to to Secret Service protection for themselves and their immediate family for a set period after leaving office, though the length of that protection can vary. These benefits combined make the total package of support significantly more than the pension alone.

How This Compares to Other Government Pensions

The Vice President's pension is different from the pensions that members of Congress receive. Congressional pensions are based on years of service and salary, and members must serve at least five years to receive any pension at all. A Vice President, by contrast, receives a pension after serving just one term, even if that term is only four years.

Federal employees who work in other roles also have pension options, but those are typically calculated differently and depend on the specific retirement system they are part of. The Vice President's pension is one of the most generous in the federal government because the role itself is so senior and the law was written to ensure former Vice Presidents have financial security after leaving office.

What Happens If Harris Becomes President

If Harris were elected President and served in that office, she would no longer receive the Vice President's pension. Instead, she would receive the Presidential pension, which is significantly higher. A former President's pension is calculated as a percentage of the sitting President's salary, which is currently $400,000 per year. The Presidential pension is also for life and includes all the same additional benefits: office space, staff, healthcare, and travel allowances.

The law does not allow someone to collect both pensions at the same time. A person who served as both Vice President and President would receive whichever pension is higher — in this case, the Presidential pension.

When the Pension Payments Begin

Pension payments to a former Vice President begin the month after they leave office. There is no waiting period or delay. The Office of Personnel Management processes the paperwork automatically, and the payments are deposited according to the former Vice President's banking information on file.

The pension continues for the rest of the former Vice President's life. If they pass away, the law does not provide for the pension to pass to a spouse or heirs — it ends. However, some former Vice Presidents may have other retirement accounts or life insurance that they set up separately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Harris have to do anything to receive her pension?

No. The pension is automatic once she leaves office and has completed her term of service. The Office of Personnel Management handles all the paperwork and begins payments without requiring any action from her.

Can Harris refuse her pension?

Technically yes, though it would be unusual. A former Vice President could decline the pension, but there is no legal mechanism to do so — the law simply provides it. In practice, no former Vice President has refused it.

What if Harris leaves office before completing one full term?

She would still receive a pension. The law requires only that a Vice President serve some portion of a term, not necessarily a full four years. Even a partial term qualifies someone for lifetime pension benefits.

Is the pension taxable income?

Yes. The pension that a former Vice President receives is treated as taxable income for federal and state tax purposes. It is reported on tax forms like any other income.

How much will Harris's pension be?

The exact amount cannot be predicted now because it depends on the salary of a sitting Vice President at the time she leaves office. Congressional salaries adjust each year, so the amount will change based on when her service ends.