NARFE Federal Benefits Institute presents
The Retirement Process
Thursday, September 17, 2026, 2:00 p.m. ET
Planning for federal retirement involves more than choosing a retirement date. Consider your eligibility, years of service, Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) or Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) benefits, Social Security, the Thrift Savings Plan, FEHB and Medicare, survivor benefits, taxes, and potential changes in income. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) advises submitting your retirement application to your agency at least 60 days before your planned retirement date.
NARFE benefits specialist Tony Opat offers a third in-depth overview of the process, which typically takes 3 to 5 months. Learn how to review your retirement estimate carefully and understand how unused sick and annual leave may affect your benefits. It is also important to consider the following:
- Preparation timeframe (how soon should you start preparing?)
- Creating an actionable checklist
- Verify total years of service, and understand how your high-three average salary is determined
- Confirm life and health insurance coverage
- Set up direct deposit and decide how your taxes should be withheld
- Learn about common application mistakes
- Confirm that your application is complete and finalized
- Learn what happens at OPM after you submit your application
A Q&A session will follow the presentation.
Join us and Tony on September 17 for another deep dive into the federal retirement process. Learn how to maximize your benefits for a smooth transition.