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Applying for Retirement

The timely and accurate processing of a retirement application is extremely important to CBP. It is the last display of respect and appreciation for a career you dedicated to serving the American people. When you decide you're ready to apply for retirement, submit a completed retirement package through CBP. The checklists below can help you make sure you fill out the correct forms and collect all the necessary documents.

Employees should submit their retirement paperwork 90 – 120 days before their retirement effective date, especially during the peak retirement season (October through September). This allows the Office of Human Resources Management to review and prepare application packages timely and prevent unnecessary delays. Unfortunately, retirement packages cannot be processed any sooner than 120 days before retirement.

All retirement applications should be submitted via the Retirement and Benefits Portal. Submitting retirement applications by mail may cause a delay in the overall processing time. If you are retiring at the end of the year and plan to make a Federal Employees Health Benefit (FEHB) election during the current FEHB Open Season, you will need to submit the Federal Employees Health Benefit Election Form, SF-2809, along with your retirement application. You should not use Employee Personal Page (EPP) to make your open season change.

Once your retirement package is received, the application processing is coordinated across three Federal agencies: CBP, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Finance Center and Office of Personnel Management. This can be a lengthy process but submitting your retirement paperwork early through the portal can help expedite the process.

The Retirement and Benefits Portal provides real-time case status, self-help knowledge articles, self-guided retirement submission, and a feature to contact a Human Resources Specialist directly. If you are unable to access the portal, you can still mail your retirement package to CBP using the address information below. 

U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Retirement and Benefits Advisory Services
90K Street NE, 5th Floor
Washington, DC 20229

Last Modified: Mar 27, 2023
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