Federal Retirement Resource
Frequently Asked
Questions.
Browse 30+ topic areas covering every dimension of federal retirement — from annuity calculations and CSRS/FERS eligibility to TSP decisions, survivor benefits, estate planning, and what to expect in your first months after leaving federal service.
30+
FAQ topic areas covering every dimension of federal retirement
CSRS & FERS
Both retirement systems covered throughout — eligibility, annuity, and benefits
OPM direct
Direct links to OPM retirement hotline and online resources throughout
Dennis Damp
Federal retirement expert and author — personal guidance throughout this site
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Annuity & Eligibility
Core retirement calculationsFERS Annuity Computations
- FERS annuity calculation — manual method
- FERS annuity supplement calculator
- Sick leave conversion to service credit
- Redeposit refunds
- How to initiate an annuity after leaving service
CSRS Annuity Computations
- CSRS annuity calculation basics
- Sick leave conversion to service credit
- 80% maximum annuity — sick leave beyond the cap
- Tax treatment of CSRS annuity payments
FERS Eligibility
- FERS Minimum Retirement Age (MRA) by birth year
- MRA+10 and reduced annuity elections
- Deferred annuity eligibility
- When can I retire under FERS?
CSRS Eligibility
- CSRS age and service requirements
- CSRS Offset — how it differs from standard CSRS
- Deferred CSRS annuity rules
Part-Time Work & Annuity
- How part-time service prorates your annuity
- Part-time reemployment options after retirement
- Impact on high-3 average salary calculation
VERA & VSIP (Early Outs)
- VERA — Voluntary Early Retirement Authority eligibility
- VSIP — Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment rules
- How early outs affect your annuity calculation
- LEO / FF / ATC / NWC 20-year early retirement
Getting Ready to Retire
Pre-retirement planningAre You Ready to Retire?
- Are you emotionally prepared?
- Are you financially prepared?
- Are you physically prepared?
- The nine questions to answer before you leave
Pre & Post-Retirement Cost Analysis
- Free downloadable retirement cost spreadsheet
- Pre and post-retirement income vs. expense comparison
- Survivor annuity impact analysis (the third column)
- When you should consider working part-time
Best Date to Retire & COLAs
- Best day to retire — leave year and annual leave
- Retirement date vs. date of final separation
- Cost of living adjustment (COLA) rules and tables
- Annual leave use-or-lose dates
Military Service Credit
- Creditable military service for military deposit
- Steps to making a military deposit
- Should retired military make a deposit?
- How to obtain DD-214 copies
- National Guard service credit
Sick Leave & Annual Leave
- CSRS and FERS sick leave conversion to service credit
- CSRS sick leave beyond the 80% annuity cap
- Annual leave lump-sum payment at retirement
Divorce & Court-Ordered Benefits
- How divorce impacts your annuity
- Court-ordered survivor annuity elections
- FERS and CSRS divorce benefit rules
- Divorce after retirement
Benefits & Insurance
Health, life, and supplemental coverageFederal Health Benefits (FEHB)
- Carrying FEHB into retirement — the 5-year rule
- Open season elections and changes
- PSHB — Postal Service Health Benefits transition
- Suspending vs. canceling FEHB coverage
- TRICARE substitution for 5-year rule
FEGLI Life Insurance
- FEGLI options and coverage levels
- Annuitant rate charts (cost for coverage)
- Evaluating your FEGLI needs at retirement
- Coverage reductions after age 65
- Designating FEGLI beneficiaries (SF-2823)
Medicare
- Medicare Parts A, B, C, and D explained
- IRMAA — income-related monthly adjustment
- Medicare and FEHB — coordinating coverage
- CSRS Medicare quarterly payment question
Dental & Vision (FEDVIP)
- FEDVIP plan options and enrollment
- Dental plan tiers and coverage levels
- BENEFEDS enrollment portal
- TRICARE dental coordination
Long-Term Care (FLTCIP)
- FLTCIP benefit triggers — the 6 ADLs
- Inflation protection options
- John Hancock administration
- Enrollment and eligibility
Flexible Spending (FSAFEDS)
- HCFSA, DCFSA, and LEX HCFSA explained
- 2026 contribution limits and carryover rules
- FSAFEDS and retirement — what happens to your balance
Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)
Withdrawals, funds, and conversionsTSP Considerations & Withdrawals
- Should I stay in the TSP or roll over to an IRA?
- Withdrawal options — partial, full, installments, annuity
- RMDs — the 401(a) distinction (applies to Roth TSP too)
- 2019 TSP flexibility changes
- TSP taxes and the 10% early withdrawal penalty
TSP Fund Choices
- G, F, C, S, and I Fund — what each invests in
- Lifecycle (L) Funds — automated rebalancing
- The age-based allocation rule of thumb
- TSP Mutual Fund Window — 5,000+ funds
TSP Roth Conversion
- Roth vs. traditional TSP — side-by-side comparison
- Converting TSP to a Roth IRA — tax implications
- Two ways to get Roth money into the TSP
- Roth TSP and RMDs — the critical distinction
Survivor Benefits
Protecting your spouse and heirsSurvivor Annuity Elections
- Full vs. partial survivor annuity election
- Cost of survivor annuity — ~10% reduction
- What happens when survivor predeceases retiree?
- Adding survivor benefits after marriage
Survivor Concerns
- What the surviving spouse needs to do after death
- FEGLI claim process for survivors
- TSP survivor withdrawal options — the TSP Trap
- Switching FEHB from family to self-only after death
Reporting a Death & 1099-R
- How to report the death of an annuitant to OPM
- Requesting 1099-R replacements
- Retirement income verification letters
- OPM direct deposit changes after death
Social Security, Medicare & Disability
SS benefits and disability retirementSocial Security for Federal Employees
- WEP — Windfall Elimination Provision (repealed Dec 2024)
- GPO — Government Pension Offset (repealed Dec 2024)
- FERS Social Security supplement calculation
- Earnings test — working while collecting SS
Disability Retirement
- FERS disability — eligibility and how to apply
- CSRS disability — eligibility and how to apply
- Disability annuity calculation differences
Law Enforcement & Special Groups
- LEO, FF, ATC, and NWC early retirement eligibility
- 20-year special retirement provisions
- Mandatory retirement ages
- Enhanced annuity computation rates
Estate Planning & Finances
Protecting and transferring your assetsProbate Avoidance
- Joint tenancy, POD, and beneficiary designations
- When to use a living trust
- Sample asset allocation chart
- Gift tax exemptions and estate tax threshold
Wills & Living Trusts
- What a will does — and what it doesn't
- Revocable living trust advantages
- Joint trust vs. individual trusts for couples
- Complete trust package — 8 documents
Beneficiary Designations
- TSP-3 — verify your TSP beneficiary on file
- SF-2823 — FEGLI beneficiary in your OPF
- SF-2808 / SF-3102 — OPM annuity beneficiary forms
- Complete beneficiary review checklist (12 items)
FDIC Insurance Coverage
- $250,000 coverage limit — how it applies
- Married couple: structuring $1M at one bank
- IRA and revocable trust account coverage
- EDIE Calculator — verify your actual coverage
Financial Planning
- Retirement cost analysis — free spreadsheet
- TSP fund choices and withdrawal strategy
- Probate avoidance and estate planning
- FDIC coverage for your savings accounts
Other Topics
Contact, taxes, lifestyle, and moreContact OPM
- OPM Retirement Hotline and Resource Center
- Change of address after retirement
- Direct deposit setup and changes
- Obtaining a Federal Retiree ID card
Taxes on Federal Annuities
- What states don't tax federal annuity income?
- How much federal tax will I owe on my annuity?
- CSRS IRS tax considerations
- TSP taxes and the 10% early withdrawal penalty
Lifestyle, Travel & Employment
- Employment options for retirees — rehired annuitants
- Security clearance — defense and contractor jobs
- Ways to save and economize in retirement
- Dennis Damp's retirement journal and lifestyle forum
Can't find what you're looking for?
The fedretire.net forum — hosted by Dennis Damp and Linda Duncan — covers thousands of specific reader questions across every topic area listed above. For OPM-specific questions (annuity status, direct deposit, change of address), contact OPM directly at 1-888-767-6738.
For estate planning and financial questions requiring professional guidance, our 11-part estate planning guide and financial planning section walk through the decisions step by step.