Retirement
Program
- Almost all new
employees are
automatically
covered by the
Federal Employees
Retirement System
(FERS). FERS is
a three-tiered
retirement plan.
The three tiers
are:
* Social Security
Benefits
* Basic Benefit
Plan
* Thrift Savings
Plan
You pay full
Social Security
taxes and a small
contribution to
the Basic Benefit
Plan. In addition,
your agency will
set up a Thrift
Savings Plan account
for you and will
automatically
contribute an
amount equal to
1% of your basic
pay each pay period.
These Agency Automatic
(1%) Contributions
are not taken
out of your salary,
and your agency
makes these contributions
whether or not
you contribute
your own money
to the TSP.
You are also
able to make tax-deferred
contributions
to the TSP and
a portion is matched
by the Government.
Your agency will
invest $1.00 for
every $1.00 you
invest for the
first 3 percent
of your basic
salary, and 50
cents for each
$1.00 you invest
for the next 2
percent of your
basic salary.
The agency contributions
are not taken
out of your salary;
they are an extra
benefit to you.
Online
Retirement Package
The forms you
will need to complete
your retirement
package are listed
below. Please choose
the appropriate
forms based on your
retirement coverage;
Civil Service Retirement
System (CSRS)
or the Federal Employees
Retirement System
(FERS).
All of the retirement
forms can be completed
online. You will
not be able to save
the information
however; you will
need to print the
completed forms,
sign and date them,
and mail them to
the HR servicing
office. We cannot
accept faxed or
emailed forms because
OPM requires an
original signature
on all forms for
retirement. If you
have contributed
to the Thrift Savings
Plan (TSP), a TSP
Withdrawal Package
is also provided.
The TSP forms are
not fill-able online.
We encourage you
to contact your
Retirement Specialist
for counseling.
Your specialist
will be happy to
answer any questions
you may have regarding
the retirement process
or completion of
the required forms.
Carefully read
the sections in
the Information
for Prospective
Retirees on
Income Tax, Name
and Address, and
Direct Deposit.
Your data record
on these items will
be electronically
transferred to OPM
at the time of retirement;
therefore it is
no longer necessary
to complete Direct
Deposit or W4 tax
information. If
you would like to
make changes, you
should make them
prior to retirement
so that the correct
information transfers
to OPM. You can
make changes after
retirement by contacting
OPM directly.
Once you have completed
your retirement
package, mail the
completed forms
to US Department
of Agriculture,
HRSD, Retirements,
Room 27W, 1400 Independence
Ave., SW, Washington,
DC 20250-9893.
You should make
copies of your retirement
package before sending
them in. You are
encouraged to send
your retirement
package at least
60-90 days in advance
of your retirement
effective date.
When your retirement
package arrives
in our office, we
will contact you
confirming receipt
and, if applicable,
advise you of any
missing or incomplete
documents.
After processing
our portion of the
retirement package
just prior to your
retirement date,
we will forward
it to the Office
of Personnel Management
(OPM) where your
application will
be processed. We
will send you the
employee copy of
the SF-50, Notification
of Personnel Action
- Retirement for
your records.
CSRS
& CSRS Offset
Retirees
All CSRS &
CSRS Offset retirees
must complete the
Application
for Immediate Retirement
SF 2801 (PDF;390Kb).
Disregard the "Certified
Summary of Service"
SF-2801-1 and "Agency
Checklist of Immediate
Retirement Procedures"
SF 2801 Schedule
D.
If you are electing
less than a full
survivor benefit
for your spouse,
you must complete
the Spouse’s
Consent to Survivor
Election SF 2801-2
and have your
spouse sign in
the presence of
a notary public.
The form is included
in the SF 2801
Application above.
If
you are electing
to provide No
survivor benefit
to your spouse,
you also need
to complete the
acknowledgement
form (PDF;72.2Kb)
regarding Health
benefits coverage
and have your
spouse sign in
the presence of
a notary.
If
you elect a survivor
annuity for a
former spouse,
you must complete
the Election of
Former Spouse
Survivor Annuity
or Combination
Current/Former
Spouse Annuity
SF-2801-3 form.
The form is included
in the SF 2801
Application above.
The brochure "Information
for Annuitants"
(PDF;213Kb) RI 20-59
provides additional
information to CSRS
Retirees.
Life Insurance
Election - Complete
and sign the SF
2818 (PDF;147Kb)
form if you are
eligible to continue
your Life Insurance
coverage into retirement.
Your life insurance
coverage will continue
if you meet the
5-year
rule for continuing
coverage into retirement.
The FEGLI
for Retirees brochure
RI 76-12 provides
detailed information
regarding continuing
your life insurance
coverage into retirement.
Your Health Insurance
coverage will automatically
continue if you
meet the 5-year
rule for continuing
coverage into retirement.
The FEHB
Health Benefits
for Retirees RI
79-2 (PDF;324Kb)
brochure provides
additional information
regarding your health
benefits coverage.
Waiver
of Retired Military
Pay (PDF;95.4Kb)
(if applicable):
Complete this form
if you are combining
your retired military
service with your
civilian service.
You need to complete
the form within
60 days of your
retirement and send
it directly to the
address indicated
at the bottom of
the form - do not
send it to the HRSC-NW
for processing.
Keep a copy and
enclose the copy
with your retirement
paperwork to indicate
that you have requested
the waiver
All FERS Retirees
must complete the
Application
for Immediate Retirement
SF 3107 (PDF;482Kb).
Disregard the "Certified
Summary of Service"
SF-3107-1 and "Agency
Checklist of Immediate
Retirement Procedures
SF 3107 Schedule
D - these are two
forms that we will
complete at the
HRSC-NW.
If you are electing
less than a full
survivor benefit
for your spouse,
you must complete
the Spouse’s
Consent to Survivor
Election SF 3107-2
and have your
spouse sign in
the presence of
a notary public.
The form is included
in the SF 3107
Application above.
Life Insurance
Election - Complete
and sign the SF
2818 (PDF;147Kb)
form if you are
eligible to continue
your Life Insurance
coverage into retirement.
Your life insurance
coverage will continue
if you meet the
5-year
rule for continuing
coverage into retirement.
The FEGLI
for Retirees brochure
RI 76-12 provides
detailed information
regarding continuing
your life insurance
coverage into retirement.
Your Health Insurance
coverage will automatically
continue if you
meet the 5-year
rule for continuing
coverage into retirement.
The FEHB
Health Benefits
for Retirees RI
79-2 (PDF;79.4Kb)
brochure provides
additional information
regarding your health
benefits coverage.
Waiver
of Retired Military
Pay (PDF;95.4Kb)
(if applicable):
Complete this form
if you are combining
your retired military
service with your
civilian service.
You need to complete
the form within
60 days of your
retirement and send
it directly to the
address indicated
at the bottom of
the form - do not
send it to the HRSD
for processing.
Keep a copy and
enclose the copy
with your retirement
paperwork to indicate
that you have requested
the waiver.
Thrift
Savings Plan (TSP) Withdrawal
Package
The Withdrawal Package
is provided for your use
when you separate from Federal
Service. Wait at least 30
days from separation before
submitting a Withdrawal
Request; Payroll needs time
to notify TSP of your separation.
Complete only the forms
necessary depending upon
your circumstances.
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