OPM.gov / Retirement / faq / Applying for Retirement Benefits

# Learn more about applying for retirement benefits

FAQs and answers about applying for federal retirement benefits.

## Questions and answers

###                                             How long will it take to process my federal retirement application?                                        

It takes around 60 days (2 months) to process applications for common cases.

Your application could take longer if:
                      - We need additional information from you or your former employing agency
                      - Your retirement claim has special circumstances, like applying under disability provisions, a specific retirement law (LEO, FF, or ATC), or evaluating a court order
                      - We need to contact you to make a benefit election, like a service credit deposit
                      - We need to contact another agency, like the Social Security Administration, if a benefit from them impacts your claim

Learn about average days to process federal retirement applications

###                                             Who processes my federal retirement application?                                        

Your agency's HR and payroll offices work to create your retirement application package, and then they send it to OPM for processing.

###                                             How does my agency's HR office process my application?                                        

Your HR office will work to:
                      - Complete the Agency Check List of Immediate Retirement Procedures (SF-2801, Schedule D for CSRS or SF-3701, Schedule D for FERS)
                      - Prepare and get your signature on the Certified Summary of Federal Service (SF-2801-1 for CSRS or SF-3701-1 for FERS)
                      - Verify any service not fully documented in your Official Personnel Folder. (If documentation is missing, your HR office may need to contact federal record centers. If they can't get verification, OPM will work to complete verification once we get your retirement application package. This process will add time to your application processing.)
                      - Certify and transfer your coverage under the Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) program to OPM
                      - Certify and transfer your enrollment under the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program to OPM
                      - Prepare Notification of Personnel Action (SF-50)
                      - Send all of your retirement materials to your agency's payroll office

###                                             What happens after my agency's HR office processes my application?                                        

They will send your retirement package to your agency's payroll office, who will work to:
                      - Authorize your final pay check and lump sum payment for unused annual leave
                      - Prepare your Individual Retirement Record (SF-2806 for CSRS or SF-3100 for FERS), which documents your federal service, salary history, and annual retirement contributions
                      - Send all your retirement documentation to OPM for processing

###                                             How do I check the status of my retirement application?                                        

After OPM receives your retirement package from your agency, we'll notify you and then assign you a claim number. After you get this notification and claim number, you can contact us to get an update on the status of processing your retirement application.

###                                             What information will I get about my retirement benefits once OPM finishes processing my application?                                        

OPM will send you a welcome letter and personalized retirement booklet. Your booklet will detail your entire retirement benefits package, including how much your monthly annuity payment will be, your enrollment in health care and life insurance coverage, and information you will need to prepare your annual tax returns.

###                                             I got my retirement benefits under the FERS program, but I should have received benefits under CSRS. How can I switch to CSRS?                                        

You'll need to apply for corrected retirement program coverage.

Learn more about how to switch retirement programs

###                                             Am I eligible for voluntary early retirement?                                        

Maybe. If your agency undergoes a major reorganization, reduction in force, or transfer of function, and a significant percentage of the employees will be separated or will be reduced in pay, then the head of your agency can ask OPM to allow early optional retirement for eligible employees.

If your agency gets approval to allow early optional retirements, eligible employees will be notified of the opportunity to retire voluntarily.

Learn more about early optional retirement under CSRS

Learn more about early optional retirement under FERS

###                                             Do I need to submit a letter of resignation?                                        

No. A completed and signed retirement application is equivalent to a letter of resignation.

If you leave the federal service but you're eligible for a retirement benefit in the future, you should not resign. You should just wait to submit a retirement application at a later date. This is because if you die after separating from service but before submitting a retirement application, then no life insurance, no survivor benefit, and no survivor health benefits would be available to your survivors. You should still complete all the other required exit procedures from your HR office.

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## Related information

                  - Check your interim retirement pay status
                  - Planning for retirement
                  - Understanding retirement eligibility

##                                         A claim number is required to make a help submission.                                    

                                            If you are an annuitant, you can find your CSA or CSF claim number on your 1099-R, your annual COLA notice or your Benefits Booklet.                                        

                                            If you are unable to locate your CSA or CSF claim number, or you are not a retiree, former spouse of a retiree or a survivor of a retiree, or you are inquiring about the status of a refund application, please contact us on                                        

                                            1-888-767-6738 and one of our representatives will be able to assist you.                                        

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## Contact us for more support

### Report a Death

To report a death of a Retired Federal Employee or Current Federal Employee, please click the link below that applies:
              - Report Death of a Federal Retiree
              - Report Death of a Current Federal Employee

### **Submit a help request                                    

Submit your information below and one of our Customer Service Specialists will begin working on your request. All fields are required. We usually respond within 3 to 5 business days.

Please be advised that the information submitted must be entered by the annuitant or on behalf of the annuitant by the Representative Payee.
                                                    Formatting requirements**

Your claim number will start with "CSA" or "CSF". Enter A or F below, followed by your 7-digit claim number and your 1-character suffix (For Example: 0 or W)

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### **                                        Call us                                    

Call us if you can't find an answer to your question on OPM.gov or if you can't sign in to OPM Retirement Services Online to manage your annuity account. You may also need to call us for special or complex cases, or because we directed you to.

**Phone:**1-888-767-6738TTY: 711

**Hours:** Monday thru Friday, 7:40 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ETClosed on federal holidays

Our busiest time is between 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. ET.

### **Write to us                                    

Please make sure your first and last name, phone number, email address, claim number, and signature are included in any inquiries or documents you mail to us. We usually respond within 1 to 3 weeks after we receive your mail.

**Retirement Operations Center**                                        U.S. Office of Personnel Management                                        Post Office Box 45                                        Boyers, PA 16017                                    

### **Visit us in person                                    

**Retirement Services Support Center**                                        U.S. Office of Personnel Management                                        1900 E. Street, NWRoom 1323                                        Washington, DC 20415Directions**

**Hours:** Monday thru Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to                                        4:00 p.m. ET                                        Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. ET                                        Closed on federal holidays                                    

### **Fax us documents                                    

OPM Retirement Services does not have a main fax number.

You should only fax us documents if an official OPM form or one of our Customer Service Specialists asks you to (the fax number will be provided on the form, or the Customer Service Specialist will provide you one.) Otherwise, you should mail us your documents.