FERS guide
FERS retirement checklist
A practical FERS retirement checklist for gathering dates, salary estimates, benefit questions, and source links before choosing a retirement date.
Short answer
A good FERS retirement checklist starts with the estimate inputs, then adds benefit-continuation, survivor, insurance, paperwork, and source-review questions before you separate.
Last reviewed 2026-04-28
Start with the estimate, not the final decision
A first estimate helps you see the rough shape of a retirement date. It should not be treated as a final decision or official computation.
Use the result to decide what to compare, what to save, and what to ask your agency benefits office.
Keep unresolved items visible
The most useful checklist is not a wall of tasks. It is a short list of items that could change the decision: retirement path, health coverage, life insurance, survivor benefits, service records, and paperwork timing.
If an item is not supported by the current calculator, keep it as a review question instead of forcing it into the estimate.
Example: a checklist before choosing a date
Someone planning a 2030 retirement date might first run a basic estimate, then save the result and list unresolved questions about FEHB, FEGLI, survivor elections, sick leave, and application timing.
That sequence keeps the estimate useful without pretending it replaces official records or benefits-office review.
FERS retirement checklist sections
| Checklist area | What to gather | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Estimate inputs | Birth date, service start date, retirement date, and high-three estimate. | These are the basic inputs needed for the calculator. |
| Benefit continuation | FEHB, FEGLI, and any coverage history that may matter. | Income timing and benefit continuation should be reviewed together. |
| Decision questions | MRA+10, postponed versus deferred, survivor elections, and sick leave questions. | These topics can change the conversation even when the estimate looks simple. |
Sources
This checklist is educational. Confirm official retirement and benefit decisions with OPM materials and your agency benefits office.