SF 3107 Instructions: How to Fill Out the FERS Retirement Application
Step-by-step SF 3107 instructions covering every section, required schedules, and common mistakes that delay OPM processing of your FERS retirement application.
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SF 3107 Schedule A, B, and C Instructions for FERS Retirement
Detailed instructions for SF 3107 Schedules A (military service), B (military retired pay), and C (workers' comp) — what triggers each and how to complete them.
TSP Catch-Up Contributions 2026: SECURE 2.0 Rules for Federal Employees
2026 TSP contribution limits hit $24,500 with $8,000 standard catch-up. Learn the SECURE 2.0 super catch-up for ages 60-63 and the mandatory Roth rule for high earners.
Alternatives to Pre-Retirement Seminar FEGLI Advice
What to use instead of seminar FEGLI advice from insurance brokers. Neutral resources for federal employees who want the math without the sales pitch.
Alternatives to Pre-Retirement Seminars for FERS Supplement Planning
Why the one-slide FERS supplement overview in a two-hour federal pre-retirement workshop leaves most retirees underprepared — and what works better.
Best FEGLI Guide for CSRS Employees Retiring in 2026
CSRS employees face unique FEGLI decisions at retirement — higher pensions, WEP/GPO repeal impact, and different survivor math. Here's the best resource for CSRS-specific FEGLI elections.
Best FEGLI Resource for Federal Employees Within Two Years of Retirement
Choosing the right FEGLI resource when retirement is less than two years away. What to prioritize, what to skip, and how to prepare for the SF 2818 election.
Best FERS Supplement Guide for VERA Early Retirement Candidates
VERA and DSR candidates face a delayed supplement start — the best resource maps the exact gap-year income timeline so you can evaluate the offer with real numbers.
Best FERS Supplement Resource for Federal Retirees Planning Post-Retirement Consulting
How to keep the FERS supplement while consulting after retirement — earnings test rules, exempt income types, and the RI 92-22 survey cycle explained.
Federal Retirement Supplement: What the FERS Special Retirement Supplement Actually Pays and How It Works
The FERS Special Retirement Supplement bridges your income between early federal retirement and Social Security at 62. Here's what it pays, who gets it, and when it stops.
FEGLI Basic Reduction Retirement: 75%, 50%, and No Reduction Explained
FEGLI Basic offers three reduction elections at retirement — 75%, 50%, and No Reduction. Learn how each works, what they cost, and why the choice is permanent.
FEGLI Beneficiary After Divorce: Why Your Ex-Spouse May Still Get the Payout
A divorce decree doesn't remove your ex-spouse from FEGLI. OPM generally pays by SF 2823, but qualifying court orders can take precedence. Learn how beneficiary designations, court orders, and assignments interact.
FEGLI Conversion After Retirement: The 31-Day Window and Individual Policies
When FEGLI group coverage ends — through ineligibility or cancellation — you have 31 days to convert to a private individual policy. Here's how the process works and what it costs.
FEGLI and CSRS Retirement: What Civil Service Retirees Need to Know
CSRS retirees face unique FEGLI considerations — higher Basic amounts, no FERS supplement, and the GPO/WEP repeal. Here's how FEGLI works under CSRS rules.
FEGLI Death Benefit Claims: How Long Processing Takes and What to File
Filing a FEGLI death benefit claim requires form FE-6 and supporting documents. Here's the process, typical timelines, and what delays claims.
FEGLI and Deferred Retirement: Why Coverage Ends Permanently
Deferred federal retirement means your FEGLI coverage terminates at separation and cannot be reinstated at 62. Learn why, and how postponed retirement differs.
FEGLI Enrollment Changes: Open Season, Life Events, and What You Can't Undo
FEGLI rarely has open seasons, and most changes require a qualifying life event. Here's when you can add, increase, or cancel coverage — and what's permanent.
FEGLI Five-Year Rule: The Eligibility Requirement That Kills Retirement Coverage
You generally must carry each FEGLI coverage for five continuous years before retirement — or since your first opportunity to enroll — to keep it. Learn how breaks in service, late enrollments, and VERA complicate the rule.
FEGLI Guide vs Hiring a Federal Benefits Counselor: Which Gets You to the Right Election?
Comparing a self-guided FEGLI workbook against hiring a federal benefits counselor. Costs, depth, and which approach fits your pre-retirement timeline.
FEGLI Living Benefits: Accelerated Payout for Terminal Illness
FEGLI lets terminally ill employees and retirees claim up to 100% of their Basic coverage while alive. Here's how the Living Benefit option works and how to apply.
FEGLI Option A Retirement: The $10,000 Benefit That Becomes Free After 65
FEGLI Option A provides $10,000 of standard coverage that reduces to $2,500 after 65 — then costs nothing for life. Learn how it works, what it costs, and whether to keep it.
FEGLI Option B Cost by Age: Premium Tables and What They Mean for Retirement
FEGLI Option B premiums jump every five years. See the full 2026 rate table by age band, calculate your monthly cost at any coverage level, and understand the retirement math.
FEGLI Option C Retirement: Spouse and Family Coverage Explained
FEGLI Option C covers your spouse ($5,000/multiple) and children ($2,500/multiple) — but premiums are based on your age, not theirs. Learn the costs and reduction choices.
FEGLI Order of Precedence: Who Gets Your Life Insurance if You Don't File SF 2823
Without a valid SF 2823 on file, FEGLI pays benefits through a strict statutory order: spouse, children, parents, estate. Here's how OPM decides.
FEGLI Post-65 Coverage: What Stays, What Reduces, and What You Pay
After 65, FEGLI Basic can become free, Option A drops to $2,500 at no cost, and Options B/C may reduce to zero. Here's what actually happens to each coverage component.
FEGLI Premium Rates 2026: Every Age Band for Basic, Option A, B, and C
Complete FEGLI rate tables for 2026 — Basic, Option A, B, and C monthly premiums by age band for active employees and retirees, with examples at real salary levels.
FEGLI Retirement Options: What Happens to Federal Life Insurance When You Retire
Federal employees face irrevocable FEGLI decisions at retirement. Learn what happens to Basic, Option A, B, and C coverage, reduction elections, and how premiums change after separation.
FEGLI Retirement Planning for Federal Employees: What to Do 1–5 Years Out
A practical FEGLI retirement planning timeline: what to audit, calculate, and decide 5 years, 1 year, and 3 months before your retirement date.
How the Social Security Fairness Act Affects Your FEGLI Decision
The WEP and GPO repeal changes the math on how much life insurance federal retirees need. Here's why your old FEGLI analysis may be wrong.
FEGLI Survivor and Accidental Death Benefits: What Your Family Gets
FEGLI pays a death benefit to your survivors — and Basic coverage includes an additional accidental-death payment while you're an active employee. Here's exactly how each benefit works and who receives it.
FEGLI for Postal Employees: PSHB Changes Don't Affect Your Life Insurance
USPS employees transitioning to PSHB for health coverage: your FEGLI life insurance stays exactly the same. Here's what postal retirees need to know.
FEGLI vs Private Life Insurance: When Federal Group Coverage Wins and When It Doesn't
Compare FEGLI group term rates against private level-term and whole life policies. Learn when keeping federal coverage makes sense and when replacing it saves money.
FEGLI vs WAEPA vs GEBA: Federal Life Insurance Alternatives Compared
Comparing FEGLI with WAEPA and GEBA supplemental life insurance for federal employees. Coverage amounts, age-band costs, and which makes sense at retirement.
FERS Supplement Application Process: Step-by-Step Filing, Paperwork, and What to Verify First
There's no separate application for the FERS supplement — it's part of your retirement filing. Here's the step-by-step process and the paperwork that affects your payment.
FERS Supplement at Age 62: What Happens When It Stops and Your Social Security Options
The FERS supplement terminates the month before you turn 62 — whether or not you claim Social Security. Here's how the transition works and what to plan for.
FERS Supplement Cash Flow Planning: Bridging the Income Gap Between Retirement and Social Security
How to plan cash flow around the FERS supplement — covering the interim pay gap, the pre-62 bridge period, and the income cliff when the supplement stops.
FERS Supplement Common Mistakes: How to Avoid Reduction and Maximize Your Bridge Payment
Federal retirees lose supplement income to avoidable mistakes — inflated service counts, missed surveys, wrong income types. Here are the errors to watch for.
FERS Supplement and Deferred Retirement: Why Leaving Early Means No Bridge Payment
Deferred and postponed FERS retirements are both excluded from the Special Retirement Supplement. Here's the distinction between them and what it means for your income plan.
FERS Supplement Earnings Limit 2026: The $24,480 Threshold and How the Reduction Works
The 2026 FERS supplement earnings limit is $24,480. Here's exactly how OPM calculates the reduction, what counts as earned income, and what's exempt.
FERS Supplement Earnings Test: How OPM Tracks Your Income and When the Reduction Hits
The FERS supplement earnings test reduces your benefit $1 for every $2 above $24,480 in 2026. Here's the full mechanics — timing, reporting, exemptions, and reinstatement.
FERS Supplement Eligibility: Who Qualifies, Who Doesn't, and the Retirement Types That Get Excluded
Not every FERS retirement path qualifies for the Special Retirement Supplement. Here's the exact eligibility matrix by retirement type, age, and years of service.
FERS Supplement Form RI 92-22: How to Complete the Annual Earnings Report and What Happens If You Don't
OPM mails Form RI 92-22 every spring to report your post-retirement earnings. Here's how to fill it out, when it's due, and what happens if you miss the deadline.
FERS Supplement Guide vs Financial Planner: Which Do You Actually Need?
Comparing a $29 FERS supplement guide against $300+/hr federal retirement planners for navigating the MRA-to-62 income bridge.
FERS Supplement and Investment Income: What's Exempt from the Earnings Test
TSP withdrawals, capital gains, dividends, and rental income don't count against the FERS supplement earnings test. Here's exactly what's exempt and what counts.
FERS Supplement and Military Buyback: Why Bought-Back Service Doesn't Count Toward the Bridge Payment
Military buyback years increase your FERS annuity but are excluded from the supplement calculation. Here's exactly how the numerator works and the one military exception.
FERS Supplement MRA+10: Why This Retirement Path Doesn't Qualify and What You Can Do Instead
MRA+10 retirees are excluded from the FERS Special Retirement Supplement — even if they postpone their annuity. Here's why and what alternatives exist.
FERS Supplement and COLA: Why the Supplement Gets No Inflation Adjustment and What That Costs You
The FERS supplement receives a 0% COLA every year — unlike the basic annuity, which has a 2.0% FERS COLA rate in 2026. Here's what that means over a 5-7 year bridge period.
FERS Supplement and OPM's Online Retirement Application: What the ORA Portal Means for Your Bridge Payment
OPM's digital retirement application affects how fast your FERS supplement gets processed. Here's what to know about filing through ORA and the supplement timeline.
FERS Supplement and OPM Processing Time: When the First Payment Arrives and the Interim Pay Gap
OPM excludes the supplement from interim pay — you won't see it until final adjudication. Here's the timeline, what to expect, and how to plan for the delay.
FERS Supplement Overpayment: What Happens If You Don't Report Earnings and How to Get Reinstated
OPM can suspend or reduce your FERS supplement for unreported earnings. Here's how overpayments happen, what repayment looks like, and how to get reinstated.
FERS Supplement and Second Careers: How Much You Can Earn Without Losing Your Bridge Payment
Planning a second career after federal retirement? Here's how post-retirement employment affects your FERS supplement and strategies to keep more of the bridge payment.
FERS Supplement and Your Social Security Statement: Why the Numbers Don't Match
OPM uses a different calculation than the estimate on your SSA statement. Here's why the FERS supplement is lower than expected and how the two programs interact.
FERS Supplement for Law Enforcement, Firefighters, and Air Traffic Controllers
Special category federal employees get different FERS supplement rules — earlier eligibility, earnings test exemptions, and unique retirement timelines.
FERS Supplement and the Three-Legged Stool: How the Bridge Payment Fills the Social Security Gap
The FERS supplement acts as a temporary bridge payment in the three-legged stool of federal retirement. Here's how it fits with your pension, TSP, and Social Security.
FERS Supplement and VERA: When Early-Out Retirees Get the Bridge Payment (and When It Starts)
VERA retirees qualify for the FERS supplement — but it doesn't start until the month after you reach your MRA. Here's how the timing works and what to plan for during the gap.
FERS Supplement and Working After Retirement: Which Income Counts and Which Doesn't
TSP withdrawals, rental income, and dividends are exempt from the FERS supplement earnings test. W-2 wages and self-employment earnings aren't. Here's the complete breakdown.
How to Calculate FERS Supplement: The Formula, What Counts as Service, and a Step-by-Step Example
The FERS supplement calculation uses your years of civilian service and a hypothetical Social Security estimate. Here's the formula, what's excluded, and how to estimate yours.
How to Decide Your FEGLI Basic Reduction Election Without a Financial Adviser
A structured approach to choosing between 75% Reduction, 50% Reduction, and No Reduction on SF 2818 — using your own numbers instead of paying for a consultation.
How to Plan the FERS Supplement Income Gap Without a Financial Advisor
A step-by-step approach to planning the MRA-to-62 income bridge using the FERS supplement, TSP withdrawals, and the earnings test — no planner required.
SF 2818 How to Fill Out: FEGLI Continuation of Coverage Form for Retirees
Step-by-step instructions for completing Standard Form 2818, the form that locks in your FEGLI reduction elections at retirement. Avoid the errors that cause OPM rejections.
SF 2823 Designation of Beneficiary: How Federal Life Insurance Death Benefits Are Paid
OPM pays FEGLI death benefits by SF 2823, not your will. Learn how to file, update, and audit your federal life insurance beneficiary designation before retirement.
Should I Keep FEGLI Option B in Retirement?
FEGLI Option B premiums escalate sharply after retirement. Here's how to evaluate whether keeping, reducing, or cancelling Option B coverage makes financial sense.
TSP and FEGLI Retirement Planning: Coordinating Withdrawals With Insurance Premiums
How TSP withdrawals, RMDs, and FEGLI premium escalation interact in retirement — and why coordinating them matters for your tax bracket and net income.
Alternatives to ProFeds Retirement Workshops for Special Category Employees
What federal LEOs, firefighters, and air traffic controllers can use instead of ProFeds workshops for special category retirement preparation.
Best FERS Special Category Retirement Resource for Injured First Responders
How injured federal LEOs, firefighters, and CBP officers can navigate the First Responder Fair RETIRE Act to preserve enhanced retirement coverage after reassignment.
Best Retirement Planning Resource for Federal LEOs Near Mandatory Separation
What federal law enforcement officers within 5 years of age-57 mandatory separation actually need to verify covered service and prepare for OPM adjudication.
How to Audit Your Federal Retirement Records Without Hiring an Attorney
A step-by-step approach for federal LEOs, firefighters, and ATCs to verify their SF-50 covered-service records and enhanced annuity eligibility independently.
Special Category Retirement Guide vs Financial Planner: Which Do You Actually Need?
Comparing a $29 special category retirement guide against $300+/hr financial planners for federal LEOs, firefighters, and air traffic controllers approaching retirement.
Alternatives to Federal Retirement Seminars: What Actually Helps After You Separate
Federal retirement seminars are pre-retirement planning. If you've already separated and need to manage OPM processing, interim pay, and insurance deadlines, here are better options.
Best Federal Retirement Transition Tool for New Retirees on Interim Pay
Living on 60% interim pay while OPM processes your claim? Here's what to look for in a federal retirement transition tool and why most options miss the mark.
Federal Retirement Checklist vs OPM Retirement Guide: Which Format Actually Helps?
OPM's retirement guides explain the rules. Checklists track what you need to do and when. Here's why format matters more than content during the transition year.
Federal Retirement Toolkit vs Financial Advisor: Which Do You Actually Need?
A toolkit tracks your OPM claim and interim pay. A financial advisor manages investments. Most new federal retirees need the first before they need the second.
How to Track Your OPM Retirement Claim Without a Financial Advisor
You don't need a financial advisor to monitor your federal retirement claim. Here's the complete system for tracking OPM processing, interim pay, and insurance deadlines yourself.
Social Security Fairness Act and Federal Retirees: WEP and GPO Repeal Explained
The Social Security Fairness Act repealed WEP and GPO effective January 2024. Here's what changed for federal retirees, retroactive payments, and the 6-month filing trap.
Mandatory Retirement Age for Federal Law Enforcement, Firefighters, and Air Traffic Controllers
Federal LEOs and firefighters face mandatory retirement at 57, ATCs at 56. Here's how mandatory separation works, exemptions, and what happens if the notice comes late.
FERS Special Category Secondary Position Transfer: The Three-Day Break Rule and How to Protect Your Coverage
Transferring from a primary to secondary FERS special category position? A break exceeding three days permanently strips your enhanced retirement. Here's how the rules work.
Special Category Retirement Deposits and Redeposits: FERS Service Credit Rules
FERS deposits and redeposits for special category employees affect your annuity calculation. Here's when you need them, what they cost, and the deadlines.
SF-50 Covered Service Audit: How to Verify Block 30 Retirement Codes Before You File
An incorrect retirement code in Block 30 of your SF-50 can cost you the 1.7% multiplier. Here's how to audit your covered service records before retirement.
First Responder Fair RETIRE Act: How Injured Federal LEOs and Firefighters Keep Enhanced Retirement
The First Responder Fair RETIRE Act lets injured federal first responders keep their enhanced retirement when reassigned to non-covered positions. Here's how it works.
FERS Annuity Supplement for Special Category Employees: Earnings Test, MRA Exemption, and 2026 Limits
Special category federal retirees get the FERS supplement immediately — and are exempt from the earnings test until MRA. Here's how the 2026 rules work.
Federal Law Enforcement Retirement Calculator: How the 1.7% Multiplier Works
Calculate your federal LEO retirement annuity with the enhanced 1.7% multiplier. Step-by-step formula for law enforcement officers, firefighters, and ATCs.
Federal Law Enforcement Officer Retirement: Eligibility, Benefits, and the 20-Year Threshold
Federal LEO retirement eligibility requires age 50 with 20 years of covered service. Here's how the rules work, what counts as covered, and what to verify.
Air Traffic Controller Retirement Age: Mandatory Separation, Eligibility, and What Happens at 56
Federal air traffic controllers face mandatory retirement at age 56. Here's how eligibility works, what exceptions exist, and how to plan your ATC retirement timeline.
OPM Online Retirement Application: How ORA Works, Processing Times, and the 2026 Backlog
OPM's Online Retirement Application moved most federal retirement filing online in 2026. Here's how ORA works, current processing times, and what to expect during the backlog.
FERS Special Provisions Retirement: Eligibility Rules for LEOs, Firefighters, and Controllers
FERS special provisions retirement gives LEOs, firefighters, and ATCs early retirement at 50 with 20 years. Here's how coverage, eligibility, and the enhanced formula work.
FERS Retirement Timing Strategy for Special Category Employees: Best Month and Age to Retire
When should federal LEOs, firefighters, and ATCs retire? Here's how to pick the best month and age to maximize your special category annuity and benefits.
FERS COLA Adjustment for Special Category Retirees: Why You Don't Wait Until 62
Standard FERS retirees wait until age 62 for COLA adjustments. Special category employees get theirs immediately. Here's how the FERS COLA formula works.
Federal LEO, Firefighter, and ATC Retirement Pay Examples: What the 1.7% Multiplier Actually Pays
Worked retirement pay examples for federal law enforcement officers, firefighters, and air traffic controllers using the 1.7% enhanced annuity multiplier.
eOPF Download Before Retirement: How to Save Your Federal Personnel Records
Your eOPF access disappears the day you separate. Here's exactly what to download from your electronic Official Personnel Folder before federal retirement.
Federal LEO, Firefighter, and ATC Retirement Checklist: What to Complete Before You Separate
A pre-retirement checklist for federal law enforcement officers, firefighters, and air traffic controllers. Every step to complete before your special category separation.