Retired US President Pension and Basic Benefits
Under the Former Presidents Act, a retired US president receives an annual pension equal to the pay of a Cabinet secretary, which was $230,700 in 2024, with annual cost-of-living adjustments. The pension begins immediately after leaving office and is paid for life by the Office of Former Presidents Affairs within the National Archives and Records Administration. The same office also provides a one-time transition allowance of up to $150,000 and a $96,000 annual staff allowance for office expenses and support.
In addition to the pension, each former president receives office space, clerical and administrative support, and access to the National Archives records management system. The Former Presidents Act also covers medical care at military facilities and travel on military aircraft for official former president business, with costs funded through a dedicated annual appropriation in the federal budget.
Post-Presidency Security, Travel, and Office Allowances
All living former presidents and their spouses receive lifetime Secret Service protection, funded by the Department of Homeland Security, with the number of assigned agents and security details determined by threat assessments and current regulations. Former presidents also retain access to government transportation, including military aircraft, for official former president activities, with travel costs reimbursed or funded through the General Services Administration and the Department of Defense.
The office allowance covers staff salaries, rent for a district office, communications equipment, and printing and mailing costs, with detailed spending reports maintained by the National Archives. The Former Presidents Act limits the use of these allowances to official purposes and requires compliance with federal ethics and records retention rules, as outlined on the National Archives website.
Additional Benefits, Funding Sources, and Related Programs
Former presidents may also receive funding for the construction and maintenance of a presidential library through the National Archives Presidential Libraries system, with private donations matched or supplemented by federal appropriations for certain eligible projects. The libraries are operated under the Office of Presidential Libraries and are subject to federal records management, access, and ethics standards.
Beyond the Former Presidents Act, retired US president benefits intersect with federal employee retirement systems, Social Security eligibility, and Medicare, with former presidents able to enroll in the Federal Employees Health Benefits program if they do not qualify for other coverage. For details on current pension rates, office allowances, and transition funding, see the National Archives Former Presidents page and the Office of Personnel Management federal pay tables.