Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs
This page provides answers to common questions team members have about retirement from FedEx. In addition to general information about retiring from FedEx, you can learn more about specific FedEx retirement benefits, social security, Medicare, life insurance, and more. To learn more, expand each section.
General retirement questions
Generally speaking, to be eligible to be shown in the HR system as a retiree eligible for a retiree badge and retiree shipping discounts, you must be at least age 55 with 5 years of permanent continuous service as of the date you terminate or retire. You also must be eligible for rehire.
FedEx retirees are eligible for a retiree badge and retiree shipping discounts. Eligibility for retirement benefits and retiree health plan benefits are separately determined as outlined in relevant sections of this website.
FedEx does not have a mandatory retirement age.
You should follow your operating companies’ notification requirements, which are generally no less than two weeks prior to your retirement date. Consult your HR representative if you have questions.
Pension
There are several ways to learn more about the FedEx pension plan.
- Review the Your Retirement Benefits book. Visit the website digital.alight.com/fedex. You'll need to log in securely and select Plan Information or enter keyword YRB on the intranet.
- Attend a retirement benefits course. Click on the Course Offering tab in the top navigation to register for the Pension Overview Course.
- View your pension benefits and run pension estimates click the “Manage Your Pension Benefits” icon on your customized landing page. This will redirect you to a secure login at digital.alight.com/fedex where you can view pension benefit and run estimates using the Project Your Retirement Income tool. If you have pension-specific questions, call the FedEx Retirement Service Center at 1.855.604.6221.
No, the FedEx pension plan is 100% funded by FedEx. The FedEx pension plans are closed to any employee hired or rehired on or after January 1, 2020.
While on retirement.fedex.com, select "Manage Your Pension Benefits” on your customized landing to log on securely to view your personal pension benefits at digital.alight.com/fedex. If you haven’t already, you will need to register for this site and create a unique username and login. If you need assistance, please contact the FedEx Retirement Service Center at 1.855.604.6221.
Generally, you may participate in the FedEx pension plan if your operating company sponsors a pension plan, you were hired before January 1, 2020, you were working and have remained in an eligible position since that date, and you did not elect to participate instead in the Retirement Savings Plan II when given the opportunity.. Please review the Your Retirement Benefits book for details. You can access it on the FedEx intranet by using key word: YRB. Orit’s available here on your company’s Retirement Hub landing page under "Helpful Documents." You’ll need to log in and select Plan Communications You can also visit the website digital.alight.com/fedex. You’ll need to log in securely and select Plan Information.
Contact the FedEx Retirement Service Center at 1.855.604.6221, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., CT.
As an eligible employee, you must be credited with at least 1,000 hours of service within a plan year (June 1 – May 31) to earn a PPA compensation credit. Your Retirement Benefits book has additional details. You can access the book by using keyword YRB on the intranet.
If you are an eligible participant, you receive a year of credited service each fiscal year you are credited with at least 1,000 hours. You may call the FedEx Retirement Service Center at 1.855.604.6221 or review the Your Retirement Benefits book to learn more about credited service. You can access it on the FedEx intranet by using key word: YRB. Or, visit the website digital.alight.com/fedex. You’ll need to log in securely and select Plan Information. While on the FedEx Retirement Hub, you can find it on your customizable landing page under "Helpful Documents". You will need to log in and select Plan Communications.
You will be eligible to earn credited years of service only if your new operating company also sponsors the pension plan and you will be working in an eligible position. If you have a question about your years of credited service, please call the FedEx Retirement Service Center at 1.855.604.6621 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., CT.
No, there is no limit to years of credited service in the Portable Pension Account.
You generally earn no less than 1% interest per quarter on your PPA benefit. Because you are earning interest on interest, the annual amount earned is a little over 4% each year.
You’re vested in the pension plan after three plan years that you have been credited with at least 1,000 hours of service.
You can start your vested PPA benefit at any time after you separate from all FedEx companies. However, if you are under age 55 in the calendar year of your distribution, you may be subject to a 10% excise tax if you take a lump sum and do not roll over the full amount. If you leave the company when you are 55 or older, the excise tax is not applicable. Please consult with a tax advisor for advice.
Yes, annuity payment options are available for the Portable Pension Account. Log on securely to digital.alight.com/fedex and select “Project Your Income” from the homepage to see your annuity options and the values. Also, you may go to the following FedEx Retirement Hub resources to learn more about pension payment options:
- Course Offerings tab to register for the Pension Overview Course
- Video Hub tab to view the Pension Payment Options video
- On the Benefits tab navigate to the Pension Plan section
- Download the FedEx Pension Overview infographic under the "Helpful documents" section on the customized landing page.
Once your form of payment has been confirmed and authorized, you cannot change your form of payment after your Annuity Starting Date (i.e., your benefit commencement date).
Generally, your first monthly pension plan benefit will be paid no sooner than one month following your date of retirement. If there are delays with the entry of your retirement date in Workday or you do not authorize your elections before the deadline, the first benefit payment could be delayed until the second month following your retirement date. Contact the Retirement Service Center at 1.855.604.6221 to discuss when your first check may be available based on your specific scenario.
Yes, taxes apply. You’ll decide on the federal and, if applicable, state tax withholding when you make your pension benefit choices. Please consult with a tax advisor for advice.
Yes. If you are legally married at the time of your death, your surviving spouse is automatically your beneficiary.
The FedEx Retirement Service Center will provide your surviving spouse with a retirement kit at the appropriate time.
For additional details on survivor benefits, please contact the FedEx Retirement Service Center at 1.855.604.6221.
In the event of your death before you start to receive the Traditional Pension Benefit, these benefits can be paid only to a spouse. If you don’t have a spouse, that benefit you earned is unpaid.
If you are married and wish to designate someone other than a spouse as a beneficiary for your Portable Pension Account formula, your spouse must provide notarized consent that he or she agrees to waive their right to this benefit. In the event of your death before starting this benefit and you have not made a beneficiary designation; your benefit will be payable to a legally married spouse. If you are not legally married, then your benefit will go to your estate. While on retirement.fedex.com, click the "Manage Your Pension Benefits" icon on your customized landing page to log on securely at digital.alight.com/fedex to check that you have designated a beneficiary and it is up to date.
Payments made to your spouse after your death will depend on which payment option you choose at retirement. To see the options available to you while on this site, go to your customized landing page, click on the "Manage Your Pension Benefits" icon to log on securely to digital.alight.com/fedex. There you will select "Project Your Pension Income" to run retirement calculations which will allow you to see your pension amounts and options and will provide an explanation of each pension payment option.
The form of payment you elect when you retire will determine if there will be any benefits payable to a beneficiary upon your death. If you have further questions, please contact the FedEx Retirement Service Center at 1.855.604.6221, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., CT.
Yes. Early retirement is defined beginning from age 55 and prior to age 60*. For eligible employees, the Early Retirement Reduction Factor for the Traditional Pension Benefit (TPB) in the FedEx Corporation Employees’ Pension Plan is .0025% for each month you retire (i.e., start your benefit) prior to age 60. If you terminate from all FedEx companies and do not start your CORP benefit until age 60 or later, your TPB will not have an early retirement reduction. While on this site, select “Manage My Pension Benefits” where you can log on securely to run pension benefit estimates at any date or age.
*Note: If you have benefits accrued under different pension plan formulas, your normal retirement date will differ for certain portions of the benefit. Log on securely to digital.alight.com/fedex and then select Key Dates under Quick Actions to see the normal retirement dates applicable to you.
It depends. If you terminate from all FedEx companies prior to age 55, you may start only your vested benefits from the PPA. However, once you are at least age 55, you must start the TPB and PPA benefits at the same time.
No, the Social Security Leveling Option does not provide any benefits following your death. If married, your spouse must consent to this option by completing a notarized consent.
While on this site, go to your customized landing page, select “Manage Your Pension Benefits” to log on securely to digital.alight.com/fedex and select Update Beneficiaries under Quick Actions. If you need assistance, call the FedEx Retirement Service Center at 1.855.604.6221.
Yes. If you have credited service for benefit accrual in more than one FedEx pension plan, beginning June 1, 2023, your credited service will be combined to determine your PPA compensation credit percentage based on your FedEx company (i.e., participating employer).
If you are an eligible employee with a FedEx company who sponsors the Corp Plan, your PPA percentage will be based on the existing Corp Plan PPA compensation credit chart. If you are an eligible employee with a FedEx company who sponsors the Freight Plan, your PPA percentage will be based on the existing Freight Plan PPA compensation credit chart. You must work or be credited with at least 1,000 hours of service during the plan year (June 1 – May 31) to receive a PPA compensation credit.
Social Security
401(k) plan
There are several ways to learn more about the FedEx 401(k) plan.
- Go to the homepage of retirement.fedex.com and answer a few questions. From there, select the Save tab in the navigation bar at the top of the page.
- Go directly to Vanguard’s website at Vanguard.com/retirementplans.
- Attend a benefits course. Go to retirement.fedex.com/course-offerings/ to register for webinars hosted by FedEx as well as Vanguard for more information on the 401(k).
- For personal benefit information, go to vanguard.com/retirementplans. You’ll need to register using your plan number. If you work at FedEx Office or Supply Chain, or are a Genco Infrastructure Solutions salaried team member, your plan number is 093285. If you work in Puerto Rico with Express, FedEx Freight or FTN Transport & Brokerage, your plan number is 093851. All other employees in the remaining FedEx companies will use one of the following the plan numbers: RSP I - 093111 or RSP II - 090381. If you have specific 401(k) questions, call Vanguard Participant Services at 1.800.523.1188, Monday – Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 8 p.m. CT.
- Go to the Benefits and SAVE tabs in the top navigation.
- Go to the Course Offerings tab to register for a FedEx RSP benefits or Vanguard course.
- Go directly to Vanguard’s website at vanguard.com/retirementplans.
- Go the Video Hub tab, select among an array of 401(k) specific videos.
- For personal benefit information, go to vanguard.com/retirementplans. You’ll need to register using your plan number. If you work at FedEx Office or Supply Chain, or are a Genco Infrastructure Solutions salaried team member, your plan number is 093285. If you are a Genco Infrastructure Solutions hourly employee, your plan number is 097572. If you work in Puerto Rico with Express, FedEx Freight or FTN Transport & Brokerage, your plan number is 093851. All other employees in the remaining FedEx companies will use one of the following the plan numbers: RSP I - 093111 or RSP II - 090381. If you have specific 401(k) questions, call Vanguard Participant Services at 1.800.523.1188, Monday – Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 8 p.m. CT.
Vanguard is the 401(k) plan administrator.
If you work at FedEx Office or FedEx Supply Chain, or are a Genco Infrastructure Solutions salaried team member, your plan number is 093285. If you are a Genco Infrastructure Solutions hourly employee, your plan number is 097572. If you work in Puerto Rico with Express, FedEx Freight or FTN Transport & Brokerage, your plan number is 093851. All other employees in the remaining FedEx companies will use one of the following the plan numbers: RSP I - 093111 or RSP II - 090381. If you were hired on or after January 1, 2020, your plan number is 090381.
If you have 401(k)-specific questions, call Vanguard Participant Services at 1.800.523.1188.
If you have 401(k)-specific questions, call Vanguard Participant Services at 1.800.523.1188, Monday – Friday, 7:30 a.m. – 8 p.m. CT.
While on this site, click on "Manage Your 401(k) or Retirement Savings Plan Benefits" icon on your customized landing to log on securely to your Vanguard account at vanguard.com/retirementplans. At the bottom of the homepage, select "Manage My Money." From the list of options, select "Change my paycheck deduction" to choose your Pre-tax (1-50%) and/or Catch up (1-30%) contributions.
For additional questions, call Vanguard Participant Services at 1.800.523.1188 for help. You can learn more about contribution rates by selecting the Benefits tab and navigating to the 401(k) section.
To be eligible, you must be age 50 or older, or attain age 50 by the end of the calendar year in which you elect to contribute. A separate Catch-up contribution election is required and you may start contributions at any point in the calendar year in which you turn 50.
While on this site, click on "Manage Your 401(k) or Retirement Savings Plan Benefits" icon on your customized landing to log on securely to your Vanguard account at vanguard.com/retirementplans. Go to the menu in the top left-hand corner, select "My Profile" and "Beneficiaries".
You can roll over your 401(k) from a previous employer’s plan by logging into your account at vanguard.com/retirementplans, scrolling to the bottom of the screen, selecting "Manage My Money" and finally , "Roll over money into this plan." For additional assistance, call Vanguard Participant Services at 1.800.523.1188. To learn more about what qualifies as a rollover, select the "Plan" tab on this site, scroll to the "401(k) Plan" section, and select "Rollover Contributions."
You can find more information on the Vanguard advice tools by logging onto your account at vanguard.com/retirementplans. Scroll to the bottom and click on "Get Advice". You can also register for Vanguard courses for more information on specific topics such as saving, investing, or budgeting by selecting the Course Offerings tab in the top navigation.
You may no longer contribute to the plan after retiring; however, if your balance is more than $1,000, you may leave your account at Vanguard and manage your investment options and any withdrawals you’d like to make. There is a small quarterly administrative fee, which Vanguard will deduct from your account balance.
There is a 30-day waiting period after you terminate from all FedEx companies.
If your balance is more than $1,000, you may leave your account at Vanguard and manage your investment options and any withdrawals you’d like to make. There is a small quarterly administrative fee, which Vanguard will deduct from your account balance.
Yes, there is a small quarterly administrative fee, which will begin in the calendar quarter following your termination date with the company.
There are a variety of distribution options for the 401(k) plan.
- You may elect to receive a total lump sum or partial distribution(s) from your plan account.
- You may receive your account balance in annual, semi-annual, quarterly, or monthly installments, to be paid over a period not to exceed your life expectancy. Once installments start, the amount of each payment is determined by dividing your account balance at the time of payment by the number of installments remaining to be paid.
- You may elect to receive distributions in any amount you wish, beginning and ending as you direct.
- If your account balance is $1,000 or less, it will be distributed as soon as administratively possible, after 30 days from your date of termination.
You can make after-tax Roth contributions to your 401(k) plan, providing a tax-efficient way to build your retirement nest egg. Your contributions are taxed as ordinary income before reaching your account, and the earnings will grow tax-free. This opens up the potential for tax-free income in retirement, as long as you meet two key conditions:
- You are at least age 59½ when you take the money out of your account.
- It’s been at least five years since you made your first Roth contribution.
Download the EXPLORE ROTH OPTIONS IN YOUR FEDEX RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN (RSP) INFOGRAPHIC on your overview page under Download official plan documents.
Other Retirement benefits
To learn about any life insurance which can be converted to an individual policy when you retire, please reference the SPD (Your Employee Benefits book) available on the choosewell.fedex.com site or call Choose Well Care Connect at 1-833.FDX.WELL (1.833.339.9355).
Yes, you can elect to continue the same coverage that you had as an active employee for medical, dental and vision under COBRA legislation – generally, for a period not to exceed 18 months. You will receive a COBRA enrollment packet after you terminate from FedEx which will provide the applicable premium rates.
For questions about COBRA, call the COBRA Service Center at 1.877.292.6272 (toll-free).
For questions about COBRA, call COBRA Service Center at 1.877.292.6272 or consult the Summary Plan Description (SPD) by visiting choosewell.fedex.com.
The COBRA packet typically arrives within 2 to 3 weeks from your date of termination. If you have not received your packet, for help enrolling over the phone, or for any other COBRA questions please call the COBRA Service Center at (1-877-292-6272).
Three months before your 65th birthday. Visit medicare.gov for details
Please send an email to idbadge@fedex.com. You may also call 1.901.434.3839.
To receive the replacement retiree ID badge, you will need to supply a nine-digit FedEx shipping account number along with your home mailing address. Please note that P.O. Box addresses cannot be used.
To apply for Medicare in a Special Enrollment Period, you must have or had group health plan coverage within the last 8 months through your or your spouse’s current employment. People with disabilities must have large group health plan coverage based on your, your spouse’s or a family member’s current employment.
This form is used for proof of group health care coverage based on current employment. This information is needed to process your Medicare enrollment application. The employer that provides the group health plan coverage completes the information about your health care coverage and dates of employment.
Follow these steps:
- Send an email to: benefits.forms@fedex.com
- You may make your request as early as three months prior to your retirement/termination from FedEx.
- FedEx has the required form on hand (CMS-L564E) so you do not need to provide the blank form.
- Include the following information in your email:
- Your full name
- Your Employee ID Number
- If you need the form for you only or you and your spouse (if age 65 or older)
- Either your full home mailing address, FedEx email address or personal email address for return of the completed form to you
- Please double check any address you provide to ensure accurate delivery. The completed form includes sensitive data.
- Generally, allow for up to ten (10) business days, plus any mail time, for completion of your form.
Visit the Social Security Administration’s website at https://www.ssa.gov/. Visit the Video Hub tab to view the “Basics to Social Security” video or register for the Vanguard course “Timeline to Retirement” course.