In 2024, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) processed approximately 92,000 retirement applications. Mistakes or missing information in your retirement application can significantly delay processing, postponing your access to full benefits. The most common mistakes include incomplete personal identification details, incorrect marital status documentation, and discrepancies in federal service records.
For immediate retirement, FERS employees use the SF-3107 (www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/sf3107.pdf), with a concise four-page explanation. Below is a breakdown of what you can expect.
Section A – Identifying Information
Provide your full name, date of birth, Social Security number, home address, phone number, and email. You’ll also confirm U.S. citizenship and indicate if you’re applying for disability retirement.
Section B – Federal Service
List the department or agency you’re retiring from, your position title, pay plan, occupational series, and intended retirement date. Specify if you received an honorable discharge from the military and whether you’re receiving or entitled to military retired pay (reserve retired pay counts as “No”).
Section C – Marital Information
Check “No” if unmarried; otherwise, check “Yes” and include your spouse’s name, date of birth, Social Security number, etc. For divorced applicants, if benefits are owed to a former spouse, check “Yes” and attach relevant court orders.
Section D – Annuity Election
Initial the box for your preferred annuity: a reduced annuity with maximum survivor benefits (50%), a reduced annuity with partial survivor benefits (25%), or an annuity payable only during your lifetime. Alternatives include benefits for a former spouse or someone with an insurable interest.
Section E – Insurance Information
To continue health insurance, you must have been enrolled for five consecutive years before retirement (or since your first enrollment opportunity). Check “Yes” if eligible, then answer if a court order mandates coverage for children. For FEGLI (life insurance), the same five-year rule applies—indicate eligibility and initial your benefit choice. Spouses cannot be excluded by law, but unmarried retirees can designate a former spouse or insurable interest.
Section F – Other Claims Information
Complete this only if you’re receiving or have applied for workers’ compensation from the Department of Labor due to a job-related injury or illness.
Section G – Information About Your Unmarried Dependent Children
Listing names, birth dates, and disabilities of dependent children is optional but helpful for OPM in case of your death.
Section I – Applicant’s Certification
Certify under penalty of law that your application is accurate to the best of your knowledge. Answer Yes, No, or Not Applicable to questions about military service, survivor elections, insurance, workers’ compensation, taxes, and court orders — essentially a final review to catch oversights.
Additionally, three schedules ask Yes/No questions about military service, military retired pay, and workers’ compensation benefits.
Completing your retirement application can be a lengthy process – be sure to give yourself plenty of time before your selected retirement date.
