When preparing for federal retirement, overlooking the accuracy of your Official Personnel Folder (OPF) until the eleventh hour can prove to be a critical error. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) relies on the information within your OPF to determine retirement eligibility, calculate annuity amounts, and more. Neglecting to rectify discrepancies before retirement may result in delays in receiving your full pension benefits.
Contents of Your OPF
Your OPF comprises vital documents such as your federal employment history, military service credits, records pertaining to your FERS annuity, health and life insurance details, beneficiary designations, and Thrift Savings Plan records. It’s advisable to scrutinize your OPF for inaccuracies at least a year before your planned retirement date, affording ample time for necessary corrections.
Thoroughly Review Form SF-50
Form SF-50 holds crucial retirement-related information that demands meticulous verification. For instance, Box 30 specifies your official retirement plan—Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), or CSRS-Offset. Surprisingly, some federal employees have discovered erroneous retirement system placements only close to their retirement dates.
Equally significant is your Retirement Service Computation Date (SCD), indicating your initial retirement plan contributions. SCD influences your retirement eligibility and gross FERS annuity amount. Key details to check on Form SF-50 include:
- Ensuring accurate spelling of your name.
- Confirming correctness of your Social Security number and date of birth.
- Verifying the correct FEGLI life insurance election code.
- Reviewing and updating beneficiary forms, especially after life changes like divorce and remarriage.
Verifying Creditable Service
Creditable Service denotes the duration of federal government employment contributing towards your FERS retirement. Even temporary roles, such as working for the Census Bureau or IRS during tax season, count if FERS deductions were made from your pay. Any discrepancies or omissions in your creditable service should be promptly reported to your agency’s HR office.
To access your OPF, contact your agency’s HR office, and promptly notify them of any errors or missing information discovered.
