Top 30 Questions Federal Employees Commonly Ask About Retirement

These are the questions that tend to have the biggest impact on retirement income, healthcare, taxes, and long-term financial security:

  1. When am I eligible to retire under FERS or CSRS?

  2. How will my pension be calculated, and what factors affect the amount I receive?

  3. Should I retire as soon as I'm eligible or continue working longer?

  4. How does unused sick leave impact my pension benefit?

  5. Should I complete a Military Service Buyback, and how could it affect my retirement?

  6. Will my pension, TSP, and Social Security provide enough income in retirement?

  7. How much should I have accumulated in my TSP before retiring?

  8. Should I contribute to the Traditional TSP, Roth TSP, or both?

  9. What are my options for taking income from my TSP after retirement?

  10. When is the best time to claim Social Security benefits?

  11. What is the Special Retirement Supplement (SRS), and will I be eligible to receive it?

  12. Can I keep my FEHB health insurance after retirement, and what is the 5-year rule?

  13. How do FEHB and Medicare work together, and do I need Medicare Part B?

  14. What happens to my FEGLI coverage when I retire, and what are my options?

  15. Should I elect a survivor benefit, and how would it affect my pension and my spouse?

  16. How will my pension, TSP withdrawals, and Social Security benefits be taxed?

  17. Can Roth conversions help reduce taxes during retirement?

  18. How will Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) impact my taxes and Medicare premiums?

  19. What are the most common retirement mistakes federal employees make?

  20. How do all of my federal retirement benefits work together to create a successful retirement plan?

  21. How much of my pension will my spouse receive if I pass away first?

  22. Can I continue working after retirement and still collect my pension and benefits?

  23. What happens to my FEHB coverage if I retire before age 65?

  24. What changes when I turn age 65 regarding FEHB, Medicare, and Social Security?

  25. Will my Social Security benefits be reduced because I receive a federal pension?

  26. How does the Social Security earnings limit affect my Special Retirement Supplement (SRS)?

  27. Should I pay off my mortgage before retiring?

  28. How can I reduce taxes on my retirement income and TSP withdrawals?

  29. What happens to my TSP, pension, and insurance benefits if I leave federal service before retirement eligibility?

  30. What happens to my FEGLI coverage and premiums as I age in retirement?

If you have questions about your federal retirement benefits that are not listed above, feel free to click the "Ask a Question" button below and submit your question. We are happy to help provide educational information on topics such as your pension, TSP, FEHB, FEGLI, Social Security, Medicare, survivor benefits, military service buyback, retirement eligibility, and more.

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Please note that the comments herein do not constitute legal or tax advice or a legal or tax opinion. Any decision to implement the ideas or concepts discussed herein shall be made solely by the client on the advice or his or her legal and tax advisors. Any guarantees in the Insurance policy/annuity referenced here are subject to the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company. Annuities are not a deposit, are not insured by the FDIC or by any government agency and may lose value.