Do former US Presidents get a pension? How much money do they get?
Once presidents have finished the job they continue to receive a lifetime federal pension into the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Former US Presidents are eligible for a pension after leaving office. The amount of the pension is determined by the Former Presidents Act (FPA), which was passed by Congress in 1958. It was originally set at $25,000 but as of 2021 the annual pension for a former President is $219,000.
This amount is adjusted each year based on the cost-of-living index. In addition to the pension, former Presidents also receive other benefits such as office space, staff, and travel expenses. The pension is not means-tested, which means that former Presidents can receive the full pension even if they have significant personal wealth or income from other sources.
Former Presidents who have been impeached and removed from office are not eligible for the pension or other benefits. If a President resigns or is removed from office before completing their term, they are not eligible for the pension.
Some examples of previous presidential pensions
The presidential pension for Barack Obama, who served as the 44th President of the United States from 2009 to 2017, was $207,800 per year.
In addition to the pension, the former president also provided with other benefits, such as Secret Service protection, staff and office expenses, and travel expenses for official business.