If you want to apply for voluntary retirement, you should submit your retirement documents 120 days before the date you would like your retirement to be effective. If you plan to retire on December 31, January 1, January 2, or January 3, you should submit your retirement documents as soon as you know you will be retiring because these are the most popular dates to retire.

You can withdraw your application for retirement before the effective date of separation unless your activity has a valid reason for not allowing you to do so and explains that reason to you. A valid reason includes, but is not limited to, administrative disruption or the hiring of or commitment to hire a replacement.

If your retirement records are complete when received by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and a benefit election is not required, your retirement application should be completely processed in approximately 6-8 months from the date OPM receives it. If a benefit election is required, processing may take an additional 3-4 weeks.

1. You must meet the following eligibility requirements:
   • Age and length of service:

     Age is at Least	Creditable Service is at Least
     62	5 years
     60	20 years
     55	30 years

   • Have 5 years of creditable civilian service.
   • Separate from a position subject to CSRS coverage.
   • Be covered by CSRS for at least 1 year within the 2-year period immediately preceding separation.
2. Read the Information for Prospective CSRS Retirees and select your retirement date.
3. View the retirement eSeminar.
4. Request an estimate of your retirement annuity if you have not previously received one. A voluntary retirement annuity is computed using the CSRS general formula.
5. Complete the SF 2801, Application for Immediate Retirement.
6. If you are waiving retired military pay to receive credit for military service under CSRS, complete the Waiver of Retired Military Pay and send it to the military component 60–90 days before your planned retirement date.
   
   If you have active military service and have not made a deposit for post-1956 military service, complete OPM Form 1515, Military Service Deposit Election. If you have made a deposit, you are not required to complete this form, but you should attach the receipt that shows your deposit has been paid in full. The receipt can be a copy of a Leave and Earnings Statement or payroll letter showing the deposit has been paid.
   
   If you have not made a deposit for your post-1956 active military service, you still have the opportunity to do so, but it must be paid in full to your payroll office prior to your retirement.
   
   If you are retired from active military duty, made a deposit for your military service, and have decided that you will not combine your military and civilian service for CSRS retirement, you must apply for a refund of your military deposit by completing an SF 2802, Application for Refund of Retirement Deductions.
7. If you are enrolled in the Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) program and meet the 5-year requirement for continuing coverage after retirement, complete the SF 2818, Continuation of Life Insurance Coverage as an Annuitant or Compensationer. If you are not enrolled in Option A, B, or C, check the "I do not have” block. The FEGLI Calculator helps you determine the current value and cost of your life insurance and how it will change after you retire. The premiums shown on the SF 2818 have not been updated by OPM. Correct premiums are available on the OPM Web site. If you do not meet the 5-year requirement to continue your life insurance, your retirement specialist will provide information about converting to a private policy.
8. If you are enrolled in the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program, your coverage will automatically continue if you meet the 5-year requirement; no additional action is required. If you do not meet the 5-year requirement, your retirement specialist will provide information about electing Temporary Continuation of Coverage.
   
   If you want to make a Benefits Open Season election and will retire before the effective date (the first day of the first pay period in January), you cannot make your election using the Employee Benefits Information System. You must complete a SF 2809, Health Benefits Election between Monday of the second full work week in November and the Monday of the second full work week in December and send it to your retirement specialist.
9. If you are enrolled in the Federal Dental and Vision Insurance Program, your coverage will automatically continue. It may take a few annuity cycles before dental and/or vision premiums are withheld. After the first successful deduction from your annuity, BENEFEDS will adjust your deduction to catch up for the payments that were missed during the transition. You will receive a letter from BENEFEDS informing you of the amount of the adjusted deduction.
10. If you are currently enrolled in the Federal Flexible Spending Account Program (FSAFEDS), your eligibility automatically terminates when you retire. You should contact an FSAFEDS benefits counselor for information about your account.
11. If you are enrolled in the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program, you must contact Long Term Care Partners to notify them that you are retiring so they can coordinate with OPM to set up deductions from your annuity.
12. If you participate in the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), no action is required if you want to leave your money in TSP. If you want to withdraw your money from TSP, you should wait 30 days from the effective date of your retirement before submitting your request. You should contact a ThriftLine service representative if you have questions about your withdrawal options.
13. If you have a CSRS Voluntary Contribution account, complete RI 38-124, Voluntary Contributions Election 60 days before the effective date of your retirement. You should read RI 38-125, Voluntary Contributions Notice and RI 37-22, Special Tax Information for Employees and contact OPM to discuss your options. You may call OPM at 888-828-9451 or 202-606-0706 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, except on Federal holidays. You may also email OPM at VoluntaryContributions@opm.gov.
14. If you have a life threatening condition and are applying for an alternative form of annuity, complete RI 38-122, Alternative Annuity and Rollover Election and attach a doctor’s certification of your medical condition. You should read RI 38-123, Alternative Annuity Election Information for Employees and RI 37-22, Special Tax Information for Employees. You may also request an alternative form of annuity but wait until OPM provides you with specific annuity information before you complete the RI 38-122.
15. Your retirement annuity payments will be directly deposited to the same financial institution that currently receives your salary deposits. If you want to make a change, complete a SF 1199A, Direct Deposit Sign-Up Form and attach it to your retirement application or make the change after you retire using Retirement Services Online.
16. Federal tax will be withheld from your retirement annuity in the amount currently withheld from your salary. If you want to change the amount of Federal tax withheld, complete a W4-P, Withholding Certificate for Pension or Annuity Payments and attach it to your retirement application or make the change after you retire using Retirement Services Online. You can calculate how much Federal income tax should be withheld from your retirement annuity by using the Federal Tax Withholding Calculator. Part of the retirement annuity you receive is a tax-free recovery of your contributions to CSRS; the remainder of your annuity is taxable. You can figure the tax-free portion using the OPM calculator. Information about taxation of your annuity is explained in IRS Publication 721, Tax Guide to U.S. Civil Service Benefits.
17. State tax is not automatically withheld from your annuity. OPM has agreements with some states to allow the withholding of state income tax, but you must specify the dollar amount ($5 or more) you want withheld. After your retirement has been finalized, you can use Retirement Services Online to start, change, or stop the state tax withholdings. If your State does not participate, you should contact your state tax office for information or assistance.
18. You should review your designation of beneficiary for FEGLI, CSRS, and TSP and update if necessary.
19. Ensure all retirement application forms are signed and dated.
20. Make a copy of all forms for your records.
21. Notify your supervisor that you are retiring. Ask that the activity create an electronic Request for Personnel Action (SF 52) in the Defense Civilian Personnel Data System and route it to inbox NV_R_Retire_Death. You will sign a paper copy of the request and attach it to your retirement application.
22. Mail the original retirement application to the Civilian Benefits Center. Since original signatures are required, faxed or e-mailed forms are not accepted.

• OPM FEHB Handbook
• OPM Retirement Handbook Chapter 40, Planning and Applying for Retirement
• OPM Retirement Handbook Chapter 41, Voluntary Retirement Based on Age and Service
• RI 20-59, Information for Annuitants (CSRS)
• RI 20-64B, Information on Electing a Survivor Annuity for Your Former Spouse
• RI 76-12, FEGLI Information for Retirees and Their Families
• RI 79-2, Information for Retirees and Survivor Annuitants (FEHB)
• RI 83-11, Thinking About Retirement
• SF 2801A, Applying for Immediate Retirement Under CSRS
• FEGLI and Retirement Frequently Asked Questions
• FEHB Frequently Asked Questions About Coverage for Annuitants