Retirement Support

Retirement Tips - Stateside

FEA encourages members planning for retirement to work closely with their school administrators and HR, since procedures and requirements may change.

Key Steps:

1. Get a checklist (such as the FERS Non-disability Retirement Checklist) from CHRA and clarify which items apply to you.
2. Attend retiree workshops (ideally starting 5 years before retirement) or request one if none are available.
3. Request a retirement estimate from CHRA at least 1 year prior to retirement (allowed once per 366 days). You can also use DoDEA’s GRB retirement calculator.
4. Gather documents: marriage license, DD-214 (if prior military service), vehicle paperwork (if shipping a car).
5. Complete the packet with the Army Benefit Center-Civilian (ABC), return forms by mail, and request an interview to confirm completeness.
6. If on a transportation agreement, request separation travel orders via TOPS and schedule PCS/moving arrangements.
7. Stay in contact with ABC throughout the process for guidance and questions.
8. Health benefits: only pre-retirement FSA expenses are reimbursable; federal health insurance continues into retirement, so review coverage when filing.
9. Notify FEA of your retirement date to update your membership status to retired. Retired members keep NEA Member Benefits and FEA updates.

Reminder: Overseas retirees should check requirements for PCS and vehicle shipment specific to their location.

For more, download our Stateside Retirement Packet.

Retirement Tips – Overseas

FEA encourages members nearing retirement to work closely with their school administrators and HR, since procedures and requirements may change.

Key Steps to Prepare for Retirement

• Pay Schedule: Switch from a 26-paycheck schedule to the 21-paycheck allotment at least one year before retirement to avoid pay/deduction issues.
• Checklist: Request a retirement checklist (such as the FERS Nondisability Retirement Checklist) from HR and clarify which items apply to you.
• Workshops: Attend CHRA/HR retirement workshops (ideally starting 5 years out). If none are offered, request one or schedule time for virtual/phone consultation.
• Retirement Estimate: Request a retirement estimate from HR at least one year before retiring (once every 366 days). You can also use DoDEA’s GRB calculator.
• Personal Documents: Gather key paperwork (marriage license, DD-214 for prior military service, POV recall clearance if shipping a car).
• Formal Process: Contact the Army Benefits Center-Civilian (ABC) to complete retirement packets. Return forms by mail and request an interview to confirm accuracy.
• Travel Orders: Request separation orders via TOPS online, then schedule PCS move/POV shipping with your servicing agency.
• Health Benefits: Be aware FSA only covers expenses incurred before your last deduction. Federal health insurance continues into retirement; review coverage.
• Stay in Contact: ABC can assist with questions and guide you through each step.
• Good-Bye Grievance (Europe/Pacific members): File about two weeks before your last duty day. Submit the grievance form to your principal, then elevate to Step 3 and send copies to FEA UniServ Attorney Bill Freeman ([email protected]).
• Membership Update: Notify FEA when you retire to switch from “active” to “retired” membership. Retired members continue to receive NEA benefits and FEA updates.

For more, download our Europe & Pacific Retirement Packet.

SF-50 Document – Critical for Base Access

With DoD no longer issuing Civilian Retiree ID cards or allowing previously issued cards to be used for base access, the employee SF-50 document is critical for setting up base access Overseas and Stateside. Additionally, REAL IDs cannot be used for enrolling in access at Overseas bases, so former and current employees should see what IDs their local base accepts.

Retiring Employees

“Educators and ESPs should try to get a copy of their SF-50 as they retire. If you are retiring and your retirement date comes after your final day at school this year, please talk with your school secretary and ask to leave an addressed envelope and ask the secretary to mail you your retirement SF-50.  If the secretary cannot do that, ask for additional options. Be sure to keep that SF-50 and all records pertaining to your pay and benefits permanently in case you ever need them in the future to disprove an incorrect debt allegation or other false claim made against you. Online access to those records by the employee usually ends within a year of their being issued, so you should keep copies of everything yourself as a precaution. FEA provides folders for all members at the start of each school so you can keep those records together.”

Former Employees

If you are already retired but don’t have your SF-50, it’s not too late to get it. This DoDEA website page has guide on how to request your SF-50 from the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC). Note that the NPRC cannot email documents, so you must include a mailing address or fax number. Also, the NPRC requires a signature, so if you are emailing your request, you can sign a blank sheet of paper, take a picture, and upload that picture to your email. See the DoDEA page for more information.

Stateside v. Overseas Access

For all installation and MWR activity, access was and continues to be extended to all DoD Civilian Retirees at the discretion of and as authorized by the installation commander. However, DoDEA has informed FEA that a REAL ID may be used as proof of identification to enroll individuals in the U.S., its territories, and D.C., but for Overseas bases IDs are not limited to the Real ID drivers’ license — access requirements are at the discretion of the local commander. See the message from DoDEA below:

“For the United States, U.S. Territories and the District of Columbia, a REAL ID ACT compliant ID or Driver’s License, and the individual’s retirement SF-50 Notification of Personnel Action (or other official DoD agency civilian employee retirement document), may be used to enroll the individual’s REAL ID Act-compliant ID or driver’s license for future use.  Enrollment is required at the installation Visitor Control Center upon an initial visit to an installation and may be required to be periodically (annually) renewed.  Enrollment at one installation does not convey to another installation, as extension of these privileges is at the individual installation commander’s discretion.

For Overseas, the individual’s retirement SF-50 Notification of Personnel Action (or other official DoD agency civilian employee retirement document) is required for enrollment, but there is no single universal ID document requirement, as REAL ID Act compliant IDs are not applicable, and installation access requirements are at the discretion of the local installation commander.”

Overseas retirees and employees should check what ID is accepted at their local base for retiree access.

OPM Retirement Guide: A Reference for Voluntary Retirement

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has released a concise guide for federal employees considering retirement. The three-page OPM Retirement Guide: A Reference for Voluntary Retirement summarizes the major actions employees need to take before retiring, the timeline for agency processing, understanding benefits choices, and more.

Please note that OPM’s guidance should be taken as a generalized guidance and educators should work with DoDEA and CHRA on specific or individual retirement-based questions.

Download our OPM Retirement Guide.

Have Questions?

DoDEA has a department to contact with Retirement questions:

“There is a dedicated email for DoDEA employees: [email protected]. ABC-C remains committed to answering email inquiries within 48 hours. Benefits Specialists are available Monday through Thursday, from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CT, to answer any questions you may have. The ABC-C toll free line, (877) 276-9287, will remain operational at this time, with long phone hold times due to mission essential staff and reduced hours. Customers are encouraged to use the GRB Platform for transactions, as well as email for inquiries. Our ABC-C partners are available to answer concerns related to benefits and retirement.”