Federal Civilian Retirement

NEWS!! OPM implements Online Retirement Application!

As of June 2025 - All current employees with retirement effective date after 06/01/25 MUST complete retirement paperwork in the Online Retirement Application (ORA). No more hard copy applications will be accepted. If you are planning to retire within the next 90 days (and only in the next 90 days - we will not start applications earlier than 90 days), submit your information clicking I WANT A RETIREMENT APPLICATION and BIE's HR Office will create a record and send you a link to start the online application.

Making a virtual appointment is critical for Benefits Team!

Employees MUST schedule a consultation visit as Team may be unavailable due to processing priorities. There is no onsite Benefits Specialist for HRO-ABQ, please DO NOT travel to ABQ office.

2025 TSP Webinars
TSP has online training and webinars to assist employees to become better acquainted with TSP and its benefits. These are FREE webinars and can help employees better understand the TSP program and options.

Please visit Awareness and Training | The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)

2025 TSP Contribution Limits

Employees may contribute $23,500 in combined Traditional and Roth TSP contributions.

Employees aged 50 or older in 2025 may contribute an additional $7,500 in catch-up contributions.

Employees aged 60, 61, 62, or 63 in 2025 have a higher catch-up contribution limit of $11,250.

Monthly Retirement Briefings

See your Business Tech or the BIE HR SharePoint for the schedule and registration link.

"To DREAM of retirement is good, to PLAN for retirement is better!"

If you want to schedule a consult, send an email to bie-benefits@bia.gov or contact your servicing Benefits Specialist. No walk-ins please, schedule an appointment! Most consultations are currently virtual, walk-in appointments are limited.

Want to retire? Don't know where to start? Contact your servicing Benefits Specialist. Click here for their contact information.

What are the Steps to Retire? (Updated 2025)

steps2retire-flyer-oct2025amd.pdf (142.72 KB)

Estimates

Employees who wish to have retirement estimates and/or counseling session are asked to download the form and complete the Retirement Estimate Request Form. When you have a complete your form, please follow the instruction on how to submit to the Bureau of Indian Education Human Resources Office. Each request requires time to research service history and complete calculations, we appreciate your patience!

Click here for Retirement Estimate Request form

We recommend requesting an estimate first to verify eligibility, to determine possible monthly annuity, to discuss benefit options, and to clarify the process.

Once you have a completed estimate available, schedule a consultation session with the servicing Benefits Specialist to review the estimate and learn about the retirement process.

Refer to the instructions in your completed Estimate Packet on how to schedule a consultation and to know what documents to have available.

Employees who submit an Estimate requests less than 60 days before their target date will NOT receive the information in time to make an informed decision.

Don't wait to submit your estimate as although schools may be on break (Spring, Summer, Fall or Winter), the Benefit Specialists are receiving multiple request daily and process in the first come first served manner.

Remember: The estimates provided to employee are estimated amounts and are not intended to represent actual amounts. The Office of Personnel Management has sole authority and responsibility for adjudicating retirement claims.

A Retirement Application Packet may be included in the completed Estimate Packet sent to employees.

Retirement Systems

Retirement System Review

Social Security

Social Security is part of the retirement plan for almost every American worker. It provides replacement income for qualified retirees and their families. Social Security replaces a percentage of your pre-retirement income based on their lifetime earnings. The portion of your pre-retirement wages that Social Security replaces is based on your highest 35 years of earnings and varies depending on how much you earn and when you choose to start benefits. For more information click here for Social Security Website

Office of Personnel Management

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is the Federal Agency that completes retirements for Federal Employees, and becomes the servicing agency for employees once they retire. For more information click here for OPM's Retirement Website

Automated Systems Access

FHR Navigator: https://app.fedhrnavigator.com/frbweb/logon.do?operation=index&client=BIA

Employees must have an active PIV/CAC card to access FHR Navigator.

Electronic Official Personnel Folder (eOPF): https://eopf.opm.gov/doi/

Employees must have an active PIV/CAC card to access your eOPF.

Employee Express: https://www.employeeexpress.gov/

Retirement Forms

What forms do I need to submit with my retirement application?

If have FEGLI, don't forget SF-2818- Continuation of Life Insurance Coverage

If changing Federal tax withholding or electing no Federal taxes withheld, don't forget W4P.

For disability retirement applicants - SF-3112, Documentation in Support of Disability Retirement Application

Bureau of Indian Education Benefit Specialist's contact information

VACANT - please check in with Stephanie Blanken

Office Phone: 505-563-5451

Email: pending

Service Area: BIE Headquarters, SIPI, and schools located in NM and UT. Plus locations under AZ Navajo North

Stephanie Blanken

Office Phone: (785) 830-2731

Email: stephanie.blanken@bie.edu

Services Area: BIE Headquarters, HINU, and Schools located in CA, OK, SD, ND, OR, MT and WY. Plus locations under AZ Navajo South and AZ Navajo Central with Havasupai