Retirement transition
The organizational side of the transition: filing for benefits, insurance, a budget for the new phase, and handing off work. Pension rules vary sharply by country — every point comes with a reminder to check with your own fund.

[ ] Check the exact eligibility age and conditions
    Years of service, special categories, early-retirement options — rules change often, check your country's official source rather than what you remember from years ago.
[ ] File the paperwork well in advance
    Processing often takes weeks or months — start before your planned date, not on your last working day.
[ ] Gather your full work history record
    Employment records or their digital equivalent, letters from past employers — gaps are easier to fix in advance than to dispute after a rejection.
[ ] Get an early estimate of your pension amount
    Your pension fund's calculator or an online benefits portal — so your budget is built on a real number, not a guess.
[ ] Check what changes with health coverage
    Some health coverage is tied to employment — find out what needs separate enrollment so there's no gap during the transition.
[ ] Rebuild the budget around the new income level
    Compare fixed expenses against the expected payment ahead of time — easier to adjust habits before the transition than after the first lower paycheck.
[ ] Account for other income sources
    Private savings, investments, possible part-time work — build the full picture, not just the state pension.
[ ] Check the tax implications of retiring
    Pension payments and withdrawals from savings accounts are taxed differently depending on country and account type — check the rules ahead of time, not at tax filing.
[ ] Plan the handoff of your work duties
    A list of projects, contacts and access handovers for whoever takes over — put together early so the last weeks aren't a scramble.
[ ] Confirm what benefits apply on your last working day
    Unused vacation payout, any employer-provided benefits — ask HR for the exact list rather than assuming.
[ ] Check the bank account pension payments go to
    Check whether you need to separately register the account with the pension authority — otherwise the first payment can be delayed.
[ ] Review beneficiary designations on accounts and policies
    A good moment to check these while you're already reviewing everything else — easy to put off for years without a specific trigger.
[ ] Think through a daily structure in advance
    Not a minute-by-minute schedule, just a rough shape — losing a work routine abruptly noticeably affects well-being in the first months.
[ ] Plan how to keep work-based social connections
    Keep contact info for colleagues you want to stay in touch with — save it before the last day rather than counting on it happening naturally.
[ ] Decide whether you're planning part-time work or a new pursuit
    If so — check in advance how it affects your pension amount: some systems pay less to pensioners who keep working.
[ ] Compile a contact list for the pension fund and relevant agencies
    Your case number, who to call about payments — kept handy in case something needs following up after the paperwork is filed.

Checklist from Unload: https://unloads.me/c/retirement-transition