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Pensions and Perks for Former Presidents

The Former Presidents Act of 1958 provides several benefits and perks that are available to presidents after they leave office. The biggest personal benefit that former presidents are entitled to is an annual pension equal to the pay for a Cabinet Secretary, which is $253,100 in 2026.

Former presidents who also served in Congress or other positions in the executive branch can also be eligible for a separate federal pension program. For example, President Joe Biden served in the Senate from 1973 to 2009 and then spent eight years as Vice President for a combined tenure of 44 years. In 2024, NTUF estimated that his starting congressional pension could be worth as much as $166,374 for a combined dual pension pay out that exceeds the salary of the sitting president. There is no law that prevents a former president from collecting both pensions.

Widows of former presidents are eligible for a $20,000 yearly pension and franking privileges.

Below is an overview of the additional benefits for former presidents (a more detailed analysis is available in NTUF’s issue brief, The Rising Cost of Pensions and Perks for Former Presidents Requires Reform):

  • Office Space and Staffing Allowances: Starting six months after a president leaves office, the General Services Administration (GSA) provides funding to establish, furnish, and staff an official office anywhere in the U.S.
  • Communications: Former presidents also get support for communications, which, according to the Congressional Research Service (CRS), can include “cable, phone, and UPS/Fedex charges.”
  • Equipment: According to CRS, this category includes “furniture or information technology hardware or software and the related installation.”
  • Printing, Supplies, and Materials: In addition to supporting printing costs, GSA provides funding for office supplies and subscriptions.
  • Travel Expenses: Former presidents and up to two staff members are reimbursed for up to $1 million in costs annually. Spouses of former presidents are eligible for up to $500,000 per year for security and official travel if they do not receive protection from the United States Secret Service.
  • Health Benefits: Provided that they had been enrolled in the Federal Employees Health Benefits program for at least five years, former presidents are eligible for health annuities, similar to all federal employees. For example, Jimmy Carter was ineligible because he only served a single term and did not hold another federal position. CRS notes that George H.W. Bush was eligible for health benefits but declined them.
  • Funerals: Presidents are guaranteed a ceremony with full honors and the option to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery. After a proclamation by the current President announcing the death of a former president, the U.S. Army’s Military District of Washington is responsible for the state funeral arrangements. The ceremonies can be held over several days in multiple locations, depending on the wishes of the president’s family. The proclamation also declares a National Day of Mourning on which federal agencies are closed and most federal employees get the day off with pay.
  • Secret Service Protection: Presidents and their spouses are eligible for lifetime protection, though they have the option to decline it. Their children under the age of 16 are also eligible. Former spouses will lose this protection if they divorce from the former president and widows can continue to receive lifetime protection unless they remarry. The related costs are classified.
  • Other Services: According to CRS, this category includes funding for security payments to the Department for Homeland Security for lease location, license and support hours for contracting of services, postage for franked mail, furniture moves, and disposal costs.

Impact of Impeachment and Removal from Office

Presidents who are removed from office through the impeachment process are no longer eligible for the pension and benefits provided in the Former Presidents Act. Lifetime Secret Service protection is provided under a separate law, so this benefit would not be impacted by removal from office.

Estimated Totals for Former Presidents

Table 1. Total Estimated Allowances and Benefits per President from 2000 to 2026 (in Millions of 2024 Dollars)

President

Total

# of Years of Benefits

Average per Year

Gerald Ford

$7

8

$0.9

Jimmy Carter

$17.7

25

$0.7

Ronald Reagan

$5.6

6

$0.9

George H.W. Bush

$21.6

19

$1.1

William Clinton

$38

26

$1.5

George W. Bush

$27

18

$1.5

Barack Obama

$12.8

10

$1.3

Donald Trump*

$3.7

4

$0.9

Joe Biden

$1.5

1

$1.5

Grand Total

$134.9

27

$5

*Note: Due to lack of information, this only includes the pension amount for FY 2021.

Table 2. Presidential Perk Details: 2016–2026 Net Totals by Category (in Thousands of 2024 Dollars)

President

Jimmy Carter

George H.W. Bush

William Clinton

George W. Bush

Barack Obama

Donald Trump

Joe Biden

Total  

Pension

$2,418

$833

$3,141

$3,091

$2,797

$1,042

$265

$13,587

Personnel Compensation

$0

$380

$1,252

$1,252

$1,200

$454

$147

$4,685  

Personnel Benefits        

$0

$292

$1,574

$1,486

$1,277

$480

$189

$5,298

Communications

$193

$217

$55

$1,513

$346

$117

$73

$2,514

Equipment

$0

$103

$345

$239

$412

$51

$17

$1,167

Office Space

$1,287

$983

$7,342

$6,624

$5,824

$1,072

$710

$23,842         

Printing

$65

$37

$224

$166

$133

$17

$8

$650

Supplies and Materials

$21

$41

$98

$307

$103

$37

$10

$617

Travel

$0

$288

$0

$74

$35

$0

$0

$397

Other Services

$1,239

$294

$927

$1,070

$706

$385

$115

$4,736

Total

$5,223

$3,468

$14,958

$15,822

$12,833

$3,655

$1,534

$57,493

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