The Retirement Process

NARFE Federal Benefits Institute presents

The Retirement Process

Tuesday, July 7, 2026, 2:00 p.m. ET

Retiring from federal service requires several key steps, primarily overseen by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). NARFE benefits specialist Tony Opat offers another in-depth overview of the process, which typically takes 3 to 5 months. OPM advises submitting your retirement application to your agency at least 60 days before your planned retirement date. During processing, most retirees receive interim payments equal to 60-80% of their full benefit. Tony will explain each stage of the process, including the following topics:

• 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 on July 7 for the second session of our deep dive into the federal retirement process. Learn how to maximize your benefits for a smooth transition.