Information & Instructions


for Completing an


Application for


Full Retirement Status


(from Phased Retirement)


under the


Federal Employees 


Retirement System (FERS)


SF 3118

October 2014
Introduction .............................

Electing Full Retirement Status ...................

Deemed Election of Full Retirement Status .............

Deposits and Redeposits ......................

Regular FERS ..........................

FERS with a CSRS Component .................

Military Deposits ...........................

Post 1956 Military Service ....................

Computing the “Fully Retired Phased Component”.........

Regular FERS ..........................

FERS with a CSRS Component .................

Unused Sick Leave .......................

Computing the Composite Annuity .................

Annuity Supplement .........................

Insurance Coverage - FEHB and FEGLI ...............

Federal Dental and Vision Insurance Program ...........

Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program ............

Court Orders .............................

Death while Awaiting Processing of Composite Retirement ....

Annuity Commencing Date .....................

Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) ..................

Withdrawing an Application for Full Retirement Status .......

Please use these instructions for completing FERS form SF 3107 .

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Form (SF) 3107 and the pamphlet Applying for Immediate Retireme

Employees Retirement System”, SF 3113. If you are covered by the 

Retirement System, you must use SF 2826 in conjunction with SF 28

phased retirement. 

Electing Full Retirement Status 

As a phased retiree, you can elect to enter full retirement status at a

an SF 3107 application as described in these instructions. 

Deemed Election of Full Retirement Status 

Your phased employment/phased retirement is deemed to end if yo

federal service (and therefore, from phased employment) for more t

Upon being separated from service for more than three days, you a

elected full retirement and your composite retirement annuity will be

the day after your separation from federal service. 

Deposits and Redeposits 

� Regular FERS: You must have already paid deposits and redep

service as of commencement of your phased retirement and th

make service credit payments at final retirement. Unpaid depos

service will not be used in the computation of your benefit. 

� FERS with a CSRS Component: Interest on pre October 1, 19

continues to accrue until the annuity commencing date of the c

we applied an actuarial reduction to your phased annuity retirem

reduction amount will be increased by applicable cost of living 

resulting amount will be applied to the composite benefit as de

the Amount of the Composite Annuity at Full Retirement. 

Military Deposits 

Post 1956 Military Service – If you performed military service after y

retirement commenced (e.g., due to the call up of the employee for 

service) you may complete a deposit for this military service period 

before the effective date of the composite retirement annuity. If the 

your military service performed during phased employment will not 

computation of your FERS annuity. 

If you have questions concerning the payment of a military deposit, 

employing agency. Failure to pay the deposit to your agency as de

section voids any future right to pay it. 

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� Regular FERS: The “fully retired phased component” equals th

multiplying the working percentage by the amount of an annuity 

applicable FERS formula that would have been payable at the t

had you not elected a phased retirement, and as if you had bee

full-time basis, and before any reduction for survivor annuity. Th

regular FERS employees under age 62 is 1% of the average pa

years and months of creditable service (there is no credit for un

For employees age 62 or over, 1.1% of the average pay is mult

and months of creditable service. (Note: certain types of emplo

service at a different (enhanced) accrual rate will be credited wi

salary multiplied by the years and months of the enhanced serv

The resulting annual benefit will be multiplied by the Working P

� FERS with a CSRS Component: The FERS component is com

above and is combined with the benefit for the CSRS compone

to CSRS rules:

1.5 percent x “high-3” average pay x 5 years of service; p

1.75 percent x “high-3” average pay x years of service betw

2 percent x “high-3” average pay x years and months of 

Note: certain types of employees who perform service at an enhanc

will be credited with 2.5% of average salary multiplied by the years a

the enhanced service. 

The resulting CSRS benefit may be reduced by ten percent of an un

1982 CSRS deposit (with interest charged until the annuity commen

composite benefit), if applicable. 

The resulting annual FERS and CSRS benefit will be multiplied by th

Percentage. 

Unused Sick Leave: In computing the “Fully Retired Phased Comp

unused sick leave equals the quotient of the unused sick leave hour

creditable for retirement divided by the working percentage. 

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This amount is adjusted by applying the applicable reduction, if any

benefit. 

Also if applicable, the monthly annuity derived from this formula for 

CSRS component, would also be adjusted by an actuarial reductio

the phased retirement (due to an unpaid pre March 1, 1991, CSRS r

by applicable cost of living adjustments (COLAs). 

Annuity Supplement 

If applicable, the annuity supplement is payable upon commencing 

annuity at full retirement. 

Insurance Coverage-FEHB and FEGLI 

If you want to continue your Federal Employees Health Benefit (FEH

Employees’ Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) coverage as a retiree, you 

following basic requirements. You must be retiring on an immediate 

must have been enrolled in the program for the five years of Federa

preceding your annuity commencing date for final retirement status

than five years, for the full period(s) of service during which coverag

FEHB coverage as a family member (and coverage under TRICARE 

counts toward the five year requirement for health benefits. 

Federal Dental and Vision Insurance Program 

Your Federal Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) covera

continue into retirement as long as you continue to pay the applicab

your composite retirement annuity is finalized, you may receive bills 

You must pay these bills in order to keep your FEDVIP coverage. A

annuity is completed, BENEFEDS will automatically begin deducting 

pay future premiums. 

Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program 

Your Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) coverag

continue into retirement as long as you continue to pay applicable p

currently paying FLTCIP premiums by agency payroll deduction, yo

premiums another way, either by deductions from your annuity, thro

debit or direct bill. You may call LTC Partners at 1-800-LTC-FEDS (1

make these arrangements. 

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Death while Awaiting Processing of Composite Retirement 

If you should die after separation from phased employment but befo

application for a composite retirement annuity, you will be deemed t

application for composite retirement annuity. The composite retirem

accrue from the day after your separation through the date of your d

surviving spouse, he or she must file an application for survivor ben

survivor annuity will be payable. 

Annuity Commencing Date 

The commencing date of your composite retirement annuity is the d

separation from your federal employing agency. 

Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) 

Cost of living increases are effective on December 1 and are payabl

annuity payment. They are determined by the percentage increase 

Consumer Price Index for the “base quarter” of the year in which the

the “base quarter” of the preceding year in which an increase occur

quarter” is July, August, and September. If applicable, you will rece

your composite annuity benefit. 

Withdrawing an Application for Full Retirement Status 

You may withdraw your application for full retirement status by subm

written request to your agency before the effective date of your full r

Please use these instructions for completing FERS form SF 3

� Section A – Identifying Information 

You must complete all items in this section except for item # 8, 

application, which is not applicable. Please refer to the Instruct

Application on SF 3107 for detailed information pertaining to co

� Section B – Federal Service 

Complete items 1- 3 and 5 in this section. If you performed ac

during phased employment, complete item 4. Please refer to t

Completing Application on SF 3107 for detailed information per

this Section. 

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� Section D – Annuity Election

Complete all items in this section. It is very important that you r

information on the Annuity Election in the Instructions for Comp

SF 3107 and the pamphlet, SF 3113.

� Section E – Insurance Information

Complete all items in this section. Please refer to the Instructio

Application on SF 3107 and the pamphlet, SF 3113, for detailed 

pertaining to completing this Section.

� Section F – Other Claim Information

You must complete all items in this section. Please refer to the 

Completing Application on SF 3107 for detailed information per

this Section.

� Section G – Information About Children

Complete all items in this section. Please refer to the Instructio

Application on SF 3107 for detailed information pertaining to co

� Section H – Direct Deposit and Tax Withholding Information

You must complete all items in this section. Please refer to the 

Completing Application on SF 3107 for detailed information per

this Section.

� Section I – Applicant’s Certification

Be sure to sign (do not print) and date your application after rev

� Schedule A – Military Service Information

If applicable, you must complete all items in this Schedule if yo

service during phased employment. Please refer to the Instruct

detailed information pertaining to completing this Schedule. Pl

wish to pay a deposit for this period of military service, you mus

full to your agency no later than the day before the effective dat

retirement status.

� Schedule B – Military Retired Pay

If applicable, you must complete all items in this Schedule. Ple

Instructions on SF 3107 for detailed information pertaining to co

Schedule.

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� Applicant’s Certification

Be sure to sign (do not print) and date this portion if you have c

it.

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U.S. OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGE

1900 E STREET, NW

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20415

www.opm.gov/retirement-services