Retiring end of 2026? Start now
About ten weeks left.
File your application now. Most HR offices want it 60 to 90 days before your date.
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1. Pick your date
For FERS, the dates left in 2026 that start your annuity cleanly:
| Date | Note | Annuity starts |
|---|---|---|
| Sat, Nov 28 | Pay period end | Dec 1 |
| Sat, Dec 26 | Pay period end | Jan 1, 2027 |
| Thu, Dec 31 | Year end, mid–pay period | Jan 1, 2027 |
| Sat, Jan 9, 2027 | Last day of the 2026 leave year | Feb 1, 2027 |
Why these dates, and the CSRS rules: best days to retire in 2026 and 2027. First check that you are eligible on that date: the worst days to retire.
2. The deadlines before December 31
- Nov 9 to Dec 14 — Open Season. Retiring does not let you change FEHB plans later, so pick your retirement plan now. Enrollee premiums rise 10.9% on average for 2027. See FEHB 2027.
- Nov 28 — schedule use-or-lose leave. Retiring pays out all your unused annual leave, but if your date slips past January 9, 2027, unscheduled leave over the limit is lost.
- Dec 11 — funding deadline. Current funding runs out then. A shutdown could slow the HR and payroll staff handling your file. See the December 11 tracker.
- Jan 9, 2027 — the 2026 leave year ends. Not December 31.
3. File the application
Applications now go through OPM’s Online Retirement Application. On July 1, OPM ended paper processing for more than 95% of applications. See OPM’s “Last Day of Paper” and the retirement application.
- Ask HR for an annuity estimate and check your service history now. Errors there cause most delays.
- Decide the survivor annuity with your spouse. It is hard to undo. See survivor benefit elections.
- Check military buyback and deposits. Military deposits must be paid before you separate. See military service buyback.
4. How long until you’re paid
OPM is faster than it was. In September 2026 it averaged 66 days per case, down from 109 days in July. Online cases averaged 56 days; paper cases 149. The backlog fell to 8,814 claims.
That clock starts only when your agency and payroll office send the file. Congress’s research service puts the whole trip at three to five months. OPM pays an interim annuity in the meantime, but it is smaller than your full one, so keep a cash cushion. January is OPM’s busiest month.
5. The pay freeze and your leave payout
The President’s August 26 plan holds 2027 civilian pay at 2026 rates. If it stands, your leave is paid at the same rate in December or January, so there is no money reason to wait for the new year. It becomes final with the President’s pay order, usually in December, and Congress could still add a raise. See retire now or wait.
6. Your checklist
- This week: confirm your date and eligibility; ask HR for an estimate.
- By early November: file the online application.
- Nov 9 to Dec 14: pick your FEHB plan for 2027.
- By Nov 28: schedule any use-or-lose leave.
- Before your last day: set your TSP plan and a cash cushion for three to five months. See TSP withdrawal options.
Picking a health plan? Use Warrior Insure’s 2027 Open Season guide and premium estimator. Using leave first? See Federal Warrior’s annual leave strategy. Leaving for health reasons? Warrior Disability compares disability and regular retirement.
7. Frequently asked questions
Is it too late to retire at the end of 2026?
No, but the time is short. Most agency HR offices want your application 60 to 90 days before your date, and December 31 is about ten weeks away. File through OPM’s Online Retirement Application now, and confirm the date with HR in writing.
How long does OPM take to process a retirement right now?
OPM’s average was 66 days in September 2026, down from 109 days in July. Online applications averaged 56 days and paper ones 149. That clock starts only after your agency and payroll office send the file, so plan for three to five months from your last day to your full annuity.
What is the last day to schedule use-or-lose annual leave in 2026?
November 28, 2026. Leave over your carryover limit must be scheduled by then to be restored if an emergency stops you from using it. If you retire, all unused annual leave is paid out as a lump sum.
Should I wait until January 2027 to retire because of the pay raise?
Under the proposed freeze, no. The President’s plan keeps 2027 civilian pay at 2026 rates, so your leave payout rate is the same in December and January. The freeze is not final until the December pay order, and Congress could still add a raise.
Does retiring let me change my FEHB plan?
No. Retirement is not a qualifying life event for changing plans. Use Open Season, November 9 to December 14, 2026, to pick the plan you will carry into retirement.
- OPM, leave year beginning and ending dates
- FedSmith, OPM retirement backlog falls below 10,000 in September 2026 (OPM data)
- Congressional Research Service, federal retirement processing (Sept 2026)
- Federal News Network, 2027 civilian pay freeze plan
- OPM, Federal Benefits Open Season
- 5 U.S.C. 8464, FERS annuity commencement
General information, not individual advice. Confirm your eligibility, dates and estimate with your agency HR office.