CSRS (Civil Service Retirement System)

If you’re retired or separated from federal service, getting a copy of your personnel file used to mean paper forms, a call to your old agency, or a request to the National Personnel Records Center — often with a long wait attached. OPM’s new Document Request Service changes that. Eligible former employees can now request their complete eOPF file, including their SF-50s, entirely online, with records delivered securely by email in most cases. This guide breaks down who qualifies, how the process works, and why it’s worth doing even if you think you already have copies of your key documents. more…

Ed Zurndorfer explains how CSRS and FERS cost-of-living adjustments are calculated, with 2026 numbers and real-world examples — plus how COLAs affect survivor annuities, and other federal employee death benefits. more…

See every CSRS and FERS COLA since 1999, and how the two are calculated differently. more…

New inflation data just moved the needle on next year’s estimate. See where CSRS and FERS currently stand — and what it could mean for your retirement income. Includes new information on the Medicare Part B premium offset more…

A new Congressional Research Service report is renewing debate over whether retirement cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) should be based on how retirees actually spend their money instead of the inflation experienced by working households. While the report finds that a retiree-focused inflation index would have generally produced slightly higher COLAs over the past four decades, no changes to federal law are currently under consideration. Here’s what federal employees and retirees need to know about the proposal, why it matters, and whether it could affect future COLAs. more…

Your Official Personnel Folder (OPF) plays an important role in your federal retirement. Learn what documents to review, when to review them, how to identify potential issues before you retire, and download the free OPF Retirement Review Checklist to help make sure your personnel records are complete more…

Most federal employees know they have to submit a retirement application, but few understand what happens after they do. This step-by-step guide explains what happens after you submit your paperwork, how your agency and OPM process your application, what interim payments are, common causes of delays, and what you can do to help ensure a smoother transition into retirement. more…

The Office of Personnel Management has reduced its workforce by approximately 35% while continuing to modernize its retirement processing system. Learn what these staffing changes could mean for federal employees planning to retire, current retirees, and the future of retirement application processing. more…

Social Security isn’t disappearing, but it does face long-term financial challenges. This guide explains what the projected depletion of the trust fund reserves really means, what the 2026 Trustees Report says, and how it could affect federal employees and retirees. more…

Could retirees receive a larger COLA in 2027? According to the latest inflation figures and analysts, the answer may be yes. See the newest Social Security, CSRS, and FERS COLA projections, compare how each retirement system is affected, and learn why the next three months of inflation reports will determine your final increase. more…