Take 

Control

of

Your Retirement 

Go Online!

www.opm.gov/retire

Retirement Services Online

Retirement Information Office

United State Office f 

Per nnel Manage ent

It’s never too early 

to start planning 

for retirement. 

Service OnLine

Visit www.opm.gov/retire for more 

information on each of these topics: 

1. New/Prospective Employees

z Planning

z Pre-Retirement

z Online Tools

z Federal Ballpark Estimate

2. Federal Employees

z Planning

z Pre-Retirement

z CSRS Retirement

z FERS Retirement

3. Retirees/Survivors

z Life Events

z Disability Benefits

z My Annuity

4. Benefits Officers

z Officers Resources

z Benefits Administration Letters

z CSRS/FERS Handbook

z Publications and Forms

www.opm.gov/retire

z download forms and pamphlets

z get up-to-date information

z plan and manage your retirement online

z 24-hour accessibility

United State Office f 

Per nnel Manage ent

Retirement Operations Center

Post Office Box 45

Boyers, PA 16017

Retirement Information

Web site: www.opm.gov/retire

mail address: retire@opm.gov

elephone: 1-888-767-6738

Y: 1-800-878-5707

RI 83-21

June 2011
Take Control of 

Your Retirement

Before you retire...

Talk to your agency benefits officer and visit 

www.opm.gov/retire for additional help with 

retirement planning.

Log on to www.opm.gov/retire to download 

the retirement application, along with 

other forms, brochures and pamphlets. 

You can help reduce delays in processing 

by submitting your application in advance 

and by making sure your Official Personnel 

Folder (OPF) is complete. If you submit 

your paperwork early, your personnel and 

payroll offices will be able to complete 

their action before your retirement date.

During your retirement process...

Keep in contact with your agency benefits 

officer. Make sure all of your information is 

current. Read all OPM mailings as they pertain 

to your retirement benefits and provide you 

with valuable information. Periodically visit 

www.opm.gov/retire to review information 

that may affect your retirement.

After you retire...

Read all OPM mailings; call us or log on to www.

opm.gov/retire if you have questions. You will 

receive your claim number after OPM receives 

your retirement application; your password 

will be mailed to you after your retirement is 

finalized. You will need these numbers in order 

to manage your retirement account on-line.

Checking on 

the Status of 

Your Retirement 

Application

When should you call OPM to 

check on the status of your 

retirement application?

Check with your 

Agency before

calling OPM. 

Agency processing 

times vary. Until 

we receive your 

application from 

your Agency, we will 

not be able to provide 

a status. Within seven days* of receiving your 

retirement application, OPM will send you a 

package which will include your claim number.

After you receive this package, we can 

provide you with status information.

When contacting OPM, always provide this 

claim number. (*Application for disability 

retirement takes longer to process.)

How Can You Get a 

Personal Password?

Along with your case number, a password 

allows you to manage your retirement 

online. Once your case has been finalized, 

OPM will send you a password. If you 

misplace or forget your password, call us 

and we will issue you a new password. 

You can also request your password by Email 

once you establish Personal Security Questions.

Manage Your 

Retirement OnLine

Access Your Retirement Account 

Anywhere, Anytime, No Waiting

Use the Internet and our Services Online site to 

make changes such as:

z Change your Federal Income TaxWithholding

z Change your State Income TaxWithholding

z View/Print/Request a duplicate Form 1099R for the

current tax year and two previous years

z Change your password

z Establish an allotment to an organization

z Change your mailing address

z Sign up for direct deposit of your payment

z Set up a checking or savings allotment

z View your annuity statement

What Else Should I Know?

Keep your address current with us so that you 

receive important mailings. You can update your 

address online. Keep your spouse and family 

informed of the benefits due and the actions 

they need to take in the event of your death. 

Information Your Family Should Know:

z The location of your retirement claim number

z All other benefits payable such as military benefits

z Your life insurance beneficiary

z Thrift Savings Plan

z Financial Institution information where your benefit

payments are currently paid

z Any unpaid compensation that is payable

z How to contact OPM regarding survivor benefits

z The forms that will need to be completed

z Social Security claim forms, if you are covered by FERS

Keep designations of beneficiary current; if 

you do not remember who you have designated, 

complete new forms to ensure the appropriate 

person receives the benefits upon your death. 

Remember, you can download these forms online.

ead all OPM mailings; they pertain to your 

retirement benefits and provide you with 

valuable information.