Alternatives to NARFE for CSRS Retirement Planning
If you don't want a NARFE membership just to get CSRS retirement guidance, here are the alternatives — free and paid — that cover legacy federal retirement rules.
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All articles about The CSRS Retirement Guide (Including the WEP/GPO Repeal).
Best CSRS Retirement Resource for Offset Employees Facing the Age-62 Reduction
Which CSRS retirement resource actually explains the Offset age-62 pension reduction — the one most guides skip entirely — with worked formulas and claiming coordination.
CSRS Annual Leave Payout: How the Lump Sum Is Calculated at Retirement
CSRS retirees receive a lump-sum payment for unused annual leave. Learn how your agency payroll office calculates the payout, the tax implications, and whether to use leave or take the cash.
CSRS COLA 2026: How the 2.8% Adjustment Works and Why It Beats FERS
The 2026 CSRS COLA is 2.8% — uncapped, effective December 1, 2025, and reflected in the January 2026 payment. Learn how CSRS cost-of-living adjustments are calculated and how they compare to FERS.
CSRS Creditable Service: What Counts, What Doesn't, and Part-Time Proration
Not all federal service counts equally under CSRS. Learn which service types are creditable for eligibility and annuity, and how part-time work is prorated.
CSRS Deposit and Redeposit: Rules, Deadlines, and the Pre-1982 Penalty
CSRS deposits cover non-deduction service; redeposits restore refunded contributions. Learn the pre-1982 penalty, interest rules, and why timing matters.
CSRS Disability Retirement: Eligibility, Application Process, and Annuity Calculation
CSRS disability retirement requires 5 years of civilian service and a disabling condition. Learn the eligibility rules, the application timeline, and how the annuity is computed.
CSRS Offset Explained: How the Age-62 Pension Reduction Works
CSRS Offset reduces your civil service pension at age 62. Learn the two-formula reduction calculation, how it differs from standard CSRS, and what the WEP/GPO repeal changed.
CSRS Retirement Calculator: The High-3 Formula and Percentage Chart Explained
Calculate your CSRS annuity with the three-tier formula. Covers the High-3 average salary, the 1.5%/1.75%/2.0% multipliers, and the 80% cap.
CSRS Retirement Checklist 2026: Every Step Before You Submit the SF 2801
A step-by-step CSRS retirement checklist for 2026 covering the service audit, deposits, ORA digital filing, survivor elections, and the interim pay cash bridge.
CSRS Retirement Eligibility: Age, Service, and Every Path to an Immediate Annuity
CSRS retirement eligibility requires specific age and service combinations. Learn the rules for voluntary, early, deferred, and discontinued service retirement.
CSRS Retirement Guide vs. Hiring a Federal Retirement Counselor
Comparing a CSRS-specific retirement guide to hiring a federal benefits counselor — coverage, cost, and which makes sense for legacy employees.
CSRS Retirement Guide vs. Assembling OPM Pamphlets Yourself
What you get from a CSRS retirement guide that you can't piece together from free OPM pamphlets — and the gaps that matter most for legacy employees.
CSRS Retirement Planning Timeline: What to Do 12 Months, 6 Months, and 90 Days Out
A month-by-month CSRS retirement planning timeline covering the service audit, deposit deadlines, ORA submission, and separation-date considerations.
CSRS Sick Leave Retirement Credit: Conversion Table and How Hours Become Service
CSRS sick leave at retirement converts to additional service credit. Learn the 2,087-hour conversion table, the 174-hour monthly threshold, and what sick leave can't do.
CSRS Survivor Annuity: Election Options, Cost, and Spousal Consent Rules
CSRS survivor annuity provides 55% of your unreduced pension to your spouse. Learn the election options, the cost formula, and the spousal consent requirement.
How to Plan a CSRS Retirement When Every Seminar Is Built for FERS
A practical path for CSRS employees who can't find a retirement seminar that covers their actual rules — where to get CSRS-specific guidance when the system assumes you're FERS.
SF 2801 Retirement Application: Instructions, Digital Filing via ORA, and Common Mistakes
The SF 2801 is the CSRS retirement application. Learn how to fill it out, submit through OPM's ORA digital platform, and avoid the errors that cause processing delays.
WEP and GPO Repeal: What Changed for CSRS Employees and What Didn't
The WEP and GPO were repealed in January 2025. Learn what this means for CSRS and CSRS Offset retirees, what's still in effect, and how to claim retroactive benefits.