The library

Resources for every
federal career moment.

Guides, templates, and agency-specific insight covering benefits, pay, promotions, relocations, and the life events of a federal career.

2026 Guides

7 comprehensive guides

Comprehensive, up-to-date guides for the new year — written and revised for 2026.

Federal RIF Survival Guide 2026Everything you need to know about Reduction in Force: your rights, retention factors, bump and retreat, MSPB appeals, severance pay, and a preparation checklist.Urgent
Complete Guide to GS Pay in 20262026 GS pay tables, locality areas, step increases explained, the Executive Level IV cap, and how to calculate your federal salary.Updated Jan 2026
FERS Retirement Planning GuideThe complete FERS guide: eligibility requirements, the MRA chart, pension formula, High-3 calculation, survivor benefits, and early-retirement options.Comprehensive
FEHB Guide 2026Federal health benefits explained: plan types (HMO, PPO, HDHP), 2026 premiums, retirement considerations, and Open Season tips.2026 Rates
TSP Guide 2026The Thrift Savings Plan, complete: 2026 contribution limits ($24,500+), fund options, agency matching, Roth vs Traditional, and withdrawal strategies.New Limits
Federal Severance Pay GuideA complete guide to federal severance pay: eligibility, the calculation formula, age adjustment, the 52-week cap, tax withholding, and benefit impacts.RIF Related
High-3 Salary GuideWhat the High-3 average salary is, what counts as basic pay, how to calculate your highest 36 consecutive months, common OPM errors, and how to verify before retiring.Pension Foundation

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Featured Resources

FERS vs CSRS Compared

Side-by-side on pension formulas, COLAs, TSP matching, and survivor benefits across the two federal retirement systems — and which one favors your situation.

Military Buyback Guide

What it costs to buy back military time for FERS credit — the deposit, the interest, the step-by-step process, and whether the buyback pays off.

More resources

Reference & tools

Data tables and printable worksheets to take with you.

Data

FERS & CSRS COLA History

Every federal cost-of-living adjustment from 1999 to 2026, side by side — with the rule behind each annual increase.

Free Downloads

Printable checklists and worksheets — RIF prep, TSP separation, retirement readiness, and the VERA/VSIP decision.