90-Day Federal Retirement Countdown: Your Checklist

A personal, step-by-step guide to navigating the final stretch of your federal career.

After decades of showing up, serving the public, and carrying the mission forward, you’re finally approaching a milestone you’ve earned—retirement. The last 90 days can feel exciting, overwhelming, and even a little surreal. There’s paperwork to do, decisions to make, and benefits to understand… but with the right plan, this transition can be smooth, confident, and empowering.

This guide walks with you step-by-step through your final 90 days, helping you get organized and prepare for the retirement you’ve worked so hard for.

90 Days Out: Laying the Groundwork

1. Let HR Know You’re Ready

Around the 90-day mark, reach out to your HR office and let them know your planned retirement date. They’ll help you verify your service time, guide you through agency-specific steps, and get your retirement counseling scheduled. This is your moment to ask questions—no question is too small.

2. Gather the Documents You’ll Need

Ask HR for:

• A certified summary of your federal service
• SF-50 history
• Sick leave balance
• Military deposit information (if applicable)
• FEHB/FEGLI eligibility verification
• Your annuity estimate

Getting these early will help you avoid last-minute stress.

3. Start Filling Out Your Retirement Forms

This is the time to begin filling out your official retirement application—not submit it. You’ll turn it in around the 60-day mark, but starting now gives you plenty of time to understand your options and gather everything you need.

Depending on your retirement system, you’ll complete:

• SF 3107 (FERS) or
• SF 2801 (CSRS)

Take your time. Think through your elections. You’ve earned this.

60 Days Out: Finalizing the Important Decisions

4. Submit Your Retirement Application

Once you reach 60 days out, you’ll officially submit your retirement application package. HR will review everything, send your paperwork to payroll, and help you prepare for your transition.

5. Choose Your Survivor Benefit

Your survivor benefit decision is one of the biggest choices you’ll make.

Your options:

• Full survivor benefit
• Partial survivor benefit
• No survivor benefit

Your spouse must consent to anything less than the full benefit.

This election determines how much of your pension continues to your spouse if you pass away—so it’s worth discussing together. Survivor benefits and FEGLI Basic, A, and B also work hand-in-hand to provide financial protection for your family.

6. Review Your FEHB Coverage

FEHB is one of the best benefits federal employees carry into retirement—and it continues as long as:

• You’ve been enrolled for the last five years, and
• You’re receiving an immediate annuity

If you’re considering a postponed retirement, you can reenroll in FEHB once your annuity starts. If you choose deferred retirement, FEHB is gone permanently.

This is a crucial distinction.

7. Make Your FEGLI Elections

At retirement, FEGLI works a little differently.

You’ll choose:

• For Basic: 75% reduction, 50% reduction, or no reduction
• For Option A: Keep or cancel
• For Option B: Full reduction or no reduction (for all multiples)

These choices affect your future premiums and the protection your family receives.

8. Review Your TSP Strategy

It’s time to start thinking about how you’ll use your TSP in retirement.

Your options include:

• Monthly payments
• Partial withdrawals
• Lump sum withdrawals
• A TSP life annuity
• Leaving your money in TSP
• Rolling funds to an IRA at any time

Take a moment to check your investment allocation too—your retirement strategy may look different from your working years.

30 Days Out: Getting Ready to Cross the Finish Line

9. Double-Check All Submitted Paperwork

By now, HR should have everything they need. This is a good time to confirm nothing is missing and no signatures are still required.

10. Review Your Annual Leave Payout

Your final LES should show your accurate leave balance. This payout often helps bridge the gap between your last paycheck and your first interim retirement payment.

11. Update Your Beneficiaries

Your beneficiaries should be current for:

• TSP
• FEGLI
• Unpaid compensation
• FERS/CSRS contributions

Many people don’t realize these forms override wills—so updating them is essential.

2 Weeks Out: Final Housekeeping

12. Confirm Your Exact Retirement Date

Make sure HR has your date correct and that your retirement SF-50 will process on time.

13. Download Everything You Want to Keep

Once you retire, access to many systems goes away. Before that happens, download:

• eOPF
• LES history
• W-2s
• FEHB and FEGLI documentation
• TSP statements
• Any awards, certifications, or training records you’d like to keep

14. Prepare Financially for the “OPM Gap”

This part is important.

It’s normal to go 2–3 months before your first interim payment arrives. You will receive back pay once OPM processes your claim, and all your benefits remain active during the waiting period—but planning ahead helps reduce stress.

Retirement Day

This is the day you walk out for the last time. Turn in your badge, say your goodbyes, take a deep breath, and celebrate—you're officially retired from federal service.

After You Retire: What Happens Next

15. Managing Your TSP

After retirement, you can:

• Start withdrawals
• Pause them
• Change them
• Roll funds into an IRA
• Leave everything in TSP indefinitely

It’s your choice—and your strategy may evolve as your needs change.

16. Keeping Your FEHB Coverage

Your FEHB continues into retirement as long as you met the requirements. Premiums will eventually be deducted from your annuity once OPM finalizes it.

17. FEGLI After Retirement

Based on your reduction elections, your coverage will either:

• Reduce over time
• Or stay level with higher premiums

Your final annuity letter will outline everything clearly.

18. Watch for OPM’s Final Decision

OPM will send:

• Interim payments
• Requests for additional documents (if needed)
• Your official annuity determination
• Your retirement welcome packet

While you wait, your benefits stay active.

Free Federal Retirement Training

The last 90 days of your federal career can be emotional—exciting, bittersweet, and filled with decisions. But with a clear roadmap, you can move through this transition with confidence and peace of mind.

Join us for a free, live webinar! Select from 4 dates in December to learn how to maximize your TSP and federal retirement benefits as you near retirement. 

Register Here

You’ve served your agency, your community, and your country. Now it’s time to enter retirement  confidently.