Benefits Personnel

Benefits personnel -- this section is for you! The following information will help you respond to questions from employees who are unsure of which retirement system to choose. It is important to encourage all employees who are eligible to transfer to FERS to read the FERS Transfer Handbook! This Handbook contains enough information so that all employees can make a decision on their own. Note that links to the full text of the FERS Transfer Handbook are available throughout this website. Please be sure that employees are aware of this website and that they have taken the time to explore the many resources provided here.

Just because you have been charged with handling FERS transfer inquiries, you may not feel confident that you can answer all employee questions. You may at times feel that there is no way you can become knowledgeable enough of both CSRS and FERS to respond to employee concerns. Remember that you are not supposed to make decisions for employees; you are not to recommend one plan over the other. You are only supposed to present employees with the facts, or point them in the direction of the facts, and let them make their own decisions.

If an employee asks you a question and you are not sure of the answer -- don't guess! Wrong answers can have serious, negative consequences. Research the answer using this website and other available resources. If you are still unsuccessful in finding an answer, you may refer the question to your appropriate agency personnel.

Information Briefs - Employee Assistance

• Choosing a Transfer Date
• Special Retirement Supplement (FERS Supplement)
• Credit for Military Service
• Assisting Employees Who Plan to Retire Soon After Transferring to FERS
• Assisting CSRS Offset Employees Transferring to FERS
• Disability Benefits Under CSRS and FERS
• Involuntary Retirement and "Early-Out" Retirement
• Survivor Benefits Under CSRS and FERS
• Sample Employee Situations
• Special Considerations

OPM Publications - Elections Administration

• Social Security Administration Mailing of the Personal Earnings and Benefits Estimate Statement (PEBES) [123 KB]
  Benefits Administration Letter 98-110
• Elections of FERS Coverage [390 KB]
  (Chapter 11 of CSRS and FERS Handbook for Payroll Offices)
• Frozen SF 2806's and Redesignating the SF 2806
  (Part of Chapter 81 of CSRS and FERS Handbook for Payroll Offices)
• FERS: An Overview of Your Benefits [451 KB]
• Retirement and Insurance Publications

FERS Election Forms - Electronic Forms

• FERS Election Forms
• OPM Electronic Forms