Planning for retirement is an ongoing journey and there are resources to help you feel prepared.

Where Are You in Your Retirement Journey?

I am gathering information or need assistance on whether I am ready to retire

To get started on your retirement planning or if you are still gathering information, these are the resources available for you:

• Schedule a Retirement Planning Session with Fidelity – A Fidelity representative can help you create a plan for your retirement, estimate your monthly retirement income, and determine if you are on track to retire. They will look at how much you've saved, how much you'll need, and help you build an income plan for cash flow designated to last. Schedule an appointment today.
• Estimate your future Social Security benefits – Register with the Social Security Administration to estimate your future benefit.
• Review the Retirement Planning Guide – This guide has been prepared to assist you in planning for your retirement. It includes information about the benefits that will continue in retirement, information about the Rule of 75 and how it is used to determine eligibility for continuing health and dental insurance in retirement as well as eligibility to continue the Children's Tuition Grant program as a retiree. The "Rule of 75" is NOT used to determine whether you are ready to retire. This is a personal question that a financial advisor or a tax advisor can help you determine.
  • If you need a retiree health insurance eligibility determination, retiree health insurance pricing, or have additional questions about other Duke benefits that would continue in retirement, please email hr@duke.edu or call the Human Resource Information Center (HRIC) at 919-684-5600 to have those questions addressed.

Six Months Before Retiring

• Review eligibility requirements for Retiree Health Insurance, Medicare, and other benefit programs - If you need a retiree health insurance eligibility determination (Rule of 75), retiree health insurance pricing, or have additional questions about other Duke benefits that would continue in retirement, please email hr@duke.edu or call the Human Resource Information Center (HRIC) at 919-684-5600 to have those questions addressed.
• Review Medicare Eligibility - If you or a covered dependent is age 65 or older or otherwise Medicare-eligible, you will need to sign up for Medicare prior to your last day of work. You should apply for Medicare (Parts A & B) 2-3 months prior to your last day of work. For information on how to apply for Medicare, please visit Medicare.gov.
• Generate a pension estimate of your Employees' Retirement Plan Benefit – If you are or have been a non-exempt employee, generate a pension benefit through Duke@Work under "MyBenefits."
• Contact your 403b retirement service provider(s) to understand income and distribution options including the required minimum distribution rules.

90 Days Before Retiring

• Apply for Medicare (Parts A & B) - If you or a covered dependent is age 65 or older or otherwise Medicare-eligible, you will need to sign up for Medicare prior to your last day of work. You should apply for Medicare (Parts A & B) 2-3 months prior to your last day of work. For information on how to apply for Medicare, please visit Medicare.gov.

45-60 Days Before Retiring – Schedule an Appointment with Benefits

Once you have decided that you will retire from Duke, schedule an appointment with Duke Benefits to assist you in completing any paperwork relevant to your official retirement.

In preparation for your appointment, do the following:

• Review the Retirement Planning Guide
• Review Medicare Eligibility - If you are already Medicare eligible and still working, you should apply for Medicare (Parts A & B) 2-3 months prior to your last day of work. For information on how to apply for Medicare, please visit Medicare.gov.

Retirement Date is Less Than 45 Days Away

Call the Human Resource Information Center at (919) 684-5600 immediately. You need to allow at least 30 days for:

• Your Medicare enrollment to be completed; and
• Your pension paperwork to be processed.