Saving Electronic Official Personnel File (e-OPF) at retirement?

[dtech77]

As I'm counting down to my retirement in a few weeks, I'm not sure if I should download my e-OPFs. I don't plan to return to the government and don't really see the reason to save these files (as they contain sensitive personal data (DOB and SS #). Beside for use for employment, I don't see how useful it will be save the e-OPFs.

Did you save your e-OPFs and for what purposes?

Thank you.

 

[Bullitt]

Guy that went a few months ago downloaded everything, "'just in case". I remember it was a very large zip file that he couldn't email, so he had to break it up into multiple files.

We were given the advice to download everything on a retirement seminar provided by a non-government entity. They never gave a specific rationale, but did mention the amount of problems they've seen over the years of people not getting proper payments in retirement. Maybe they felt 30 years of SF-50's could help solve those problems if they ever came up.

 

[ALRetiree]

We were told it’s a good idea to take a copy into retirement. I did and 2 1/2 years retired I’ve never needed it thankfully but I’m glad it’s here. I just printed it out a couple of months before I left and printed the individual eopf files that came until I left. It’s in a nice accordion file next to my military records.

 

[nasa1974]

I didn't download any electronic files, but I have copies of all the forms I filled out for retirement as well as all the letters mailed from OPM. Not going back to work anytime soon.

 

[PessOptimist]

As I'm counting down to my retirement in a few weeks, I'm not sure if I should download my e-OPFs. I don't plan to return to the government and don't really see the reason to save these files (as they contain sensitive personal data (DOB and SS #). Beside for use for employment, I don't see how useful it will be save the e-OPFs.

Did you save your e-OPFs and for what purposes?

Thank you.

I did. IIRC I downloaded one large PDF with everything but I found it very hard to find anything in that file. So I downloaded them one at a time, added the date to the beginning of the name, and e-mailed them home a few at a time. Thumb drives were not allowed to be used in agency owned computers. Somewhat laborious.

For what purpose? Habit I suppose. I was advised to save all paperwork when I joined the military and in 24 years it helped correct situations a couple of times. I have been retired from federal civilian employment over 5 years now and have never needed any of them but I have them if ever needed. 22+ years worth takes up only 13.5MB space.

 

[Dipstick1]

I did. IIRC I downloaded one large PDF with everything but I found it very hard to find anything in that file. So I downloaded them one at a time, added the date to the beginning of the name, and e-mailed them home a few at a time. Thumb drives were not allowed to be used in agency owned computers. Somewhat laborious.

For what purpose? Habit I suppose. I was advised to save all paperwork when I joined the military and in 24 years it helped correct situations a couple of times. I have been retired from federal civilian employment over 5 years now and have never needed any of them but I have them if ever needed. 22+ years worth takes up only 13.5MB space.

I strongly recommend saving, better to have than have not.

 

[mamikin]

I saved mine and haven't needed it, but was told by a former co-worker that was a wise move, as he didn't. He said it was very difficult to obtain the info needed later from the OPM folks in the huge basement in Boyers, PA, where all these files are stored. He said it took a lot of time and effort to obtain the documents he needed.