Retirement Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How does my retirement package get to Office of Personnel Management (OPM)?
When will I receive my first annuity payment?
How much will my interim payments be?
How long can I expect to receive interim payments?
How do I continue FEDVIP into Retirement?
Can I change my health insurance and/or FEDVIP coverage in retirement?
How do I continue LTC into Retirement?
Is my retirement annuity tax free?
What information will I get about my benefits when OPM finishes processing my application?
How do I make changes to my personal information in retirement with OPM?

How does my retirement package get to Office of Personnel Management (OPM)?
Once your Benefits and Retirement Specialist receives your retirement package, they will review the paperwork for completeness and contact you if there are discrepancies or problems with any of the paperwork. Your Specialist will also be available to provide guidance and assistance with answering your questions regarding the retirement process. Two weeks before your retirement date, the Specialist will forward your retirement package to the National Finance Center (NFC). NFC will certify and close out your Individual Retirement Record (IRR). The IRR reflects your retirement contributions for your current service, pay rates, unused sick leave for civil service retirement purposes, last day of pay, date and type of separation, and other data that is necessary for OPM to determine retirement benefits.

When will I receive my first annuity payment?
When the actions described above are completed, NFC will forward the hard copy retirement package to OPM. Once OPM's Retirement Operations Center in Boyers, Pennsylvania, receives the retirement application from the agency, OPM will send an acknowledgment letter that provides you with a retirement claim number. When your entitlement to an annuity is clear, OPM will authorize recurring interim annuity payments to provide you with income until your claim is completed. Therefore, you should receive your first interim payment 3 to 4 weeks after OPM has received the retirement package from NFC.

How much will my interim payments be?
Generally, interim payments average 75 percent of your final benefit.

How long can I expect to receive interim payments?
Interim payments will continue for approximately 4 to 6 months.

How do I continue FEDVIP into Retirement?
You must contact BENEFEDS to set up premium payments until your annuity is finalized. Premiums for dental and vision will not be deducted from your annuity while you are receiving "interim payments" (sometimes called "special pay"). To assist BENEFEDS in getting your premiums deducted from your annuity, you should contact BENEFEDS Customer Service at 1-877-888-FEDS (1-877-888-3337), TTY 1-877-889-5680. They are open Monday through Friday 9am - 7pm Eastern Time. Once OPM finalizes your retirement, BENEFEDS will work with you and OPM to establish deductions from your annuity.

Can I change my health insurance and/or FEDVIP coverage in retirement?
Yes. After you retire, you will still have the opportunity to change your enrollment from one plan to another during an annual open season. You cannot change to another plan simply because you retired. You may change your coverage outside of the open season if you have a qualifying life event only. To change your health insurance, please contact OPM at 1-88USOPMRET (1-888-767-6738) or visit OPM retiree website at https://www.opm.gov/retire/index.asp. To change your FEDVIP, please contact BENEFEDS (refer to the question above for contact information).

How do I continue LTC into Retirement?
You will need to contact Long Term Care Partners (LTCP) to let them know you are retiring. Deductions will not automatically transfer from your agency to OPM – you need to take action. If a payment is missed for your LTC insurance, it may be cancelled. As soon as LTCP hears from you, they will work with OPM to set up premium deductions from your annuity.

Premiums for LTC cannot be deducted from your annuity while you are receiving "interim payments" (sometimes called "special pay"). This means that until OPM finalizes your annuity, LTCP must bill you directly for the premiums due.

Once your annuity is finalized, LTCP can begin to deduct premiums from your annuity. Annuity deductions are not adjusted to "catch up" uncollected premiums, so it's important for you to pay the direct bills promptly when you receive them to keep your LTC coverage current.

To report your retirement, please call the LTCP Customer Service Center at 1-800-LTC-FEDS (1-800-582-3337) (TTY 1-800-843-3557).

Is my retirement annuity tax free?
Only a small portion of your retirement annuity is tax free. At retirement, OPM will take a look at your life expectancy and how much you contributed throughout your federal career to help determine the amount of annuity that is tax free. By using the IRS publication 721 located at http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p721.pdf you may compute your taxes. You may also use OPM’s calculator located at https://apps.opm.gov/tax_calc/index.cfm. For more information go to http://www.opm.gov/retire/html/faqs/faq1-taxfree.htm.

What information will I get about my benefits when OPM finishes processing my application?
OPM will send you a personalized statement titled "Your Federal Retirement Benefits". It provides a detailed account of your retirement benefits and elections, such as the amount of your monthly annuity payment and your health and life insurance elections.

How do I make changes to my personal information in retirement with OPM?
Once you begin receiving regular annuity payments, OPM will send you a Personal Identification Number (PIN). You begin receiving regular annuity payments when OPM has completed the processing of your claim for benefits and authorize payments representing the annuity rate you are due. Your PIN allows access to “Services Online”. This is a self service system similar to the employee personal page that you used as an employee. The following quick link takes you directly to OPM’s “Services Online” https://www.servicesonline.opm.gov/(m3ouao55fwfb3l55rbl1mb45)/Default.aspx#

If you are receiving regular payments and you have not received your PIN, you may either call OPM at 1-888-767-6738 or send them an email message to retire@opm.gov. The email should include your claim number, with "PIN Request" in the subject line. You MUST include your claim number to receive a Personal Identification Number. Use the following text in your message:
“I am receiving regular payments and I need a Personal Identification Number (PIN). My claim number is _____________.”

When using the self service systems, you need your Civil Service Annuity (CSA) number also called “claim number” located on “Your Federal Retirement Benefits” statement and Personal Identification Number (PIN). Here is a list of the various services this system allows: federal and state income tax withholdings, savings bonds, request a duplicate tax filing statement (1099R), change your PIN, various allotments, change your mailing address, direct deposit and view your annuity statements.

Page Last Updated: June 29, 2009