Joe Biden's extensive political career has led him to retire with the biggest taxpayer-funded pension of any former president in U.S. history—an eye-popping $417,000, which actually exceeds his presidential salary, according to a new analysis.
At 83, Biden is set to collect this hefty sum from two pension plans in his first year out of office, as highlighted by Demian Brady, vice president of the National Taxpayer Union Foundation.
“It’s historically quite rare to see such a vast pension amount,” Brady explained. “I would confidently say it’s the largest in history,” he added when comparing Biden's pension with those of other former presidents.
Biden’s situation is quite unique, thanks to his long tenure as a senator, vice president, and president. This career path allows him to exploit a loophole that grants access to multiple taxpayer-supported retirement accounts, Brady noted.
Once describing himself as “one of the poorest members” of Congress, Biden can now enjoy these lucrative benefits by taking advantage of provisions from the Former Presidents Act and the Civil Service Retirement System for ex-senators.
The CSRS pension calculation considers his 44 years in public service, including his three highest earning years in Congress and the vice presidency. Brady estimates that Biden's initial pension could reach $166,374, including a spousal benefit set-aside of $18,186, assuming he aimed to maximize his Senate pension.
Without an annual cap limiting payouts to 80% of his peak salary—capped at $230,700 during his time as vice president and Senate president—Biden could have earned over $254,000 annually from the CSRS alone.
Having entered the Senate in 1972, Biden's timing was crucial; he benefits from a more generous retirement plan that newer members don't access.
In addition to his Senate and vice presidential pensions, Biden also receives around $250,600 annually from his presidential pension, a figure mandated by the 1958 law that aligns it with a cabinet secretary's salary.
This legislation was introduced largely due to concerns about the financial struggles of former President Harry Truman, though historians now believe Truman was actually quite wealthy post-presidency.
This law also provided additional taxpayer-funded perks for outgoing presidents, such as staff salaries, office space, and equipment.
For fiscal year 2026, the General Services Administration has allocated more than $1.5 million for Biden, with $727,000 earmarked solely for office space—more than any other former president has received.
“There’s no cap on expenses for that,” said Brady. “It could be in a pricey area with no limits on the square footage funded by taxpayers.”
This arrangement is available for life.
Biden’s team did not respond to a request for comment.
Brady raised concerns about whether younger former presidents, like Obama, should continue to bill taxpayers for office space often used for personal memoirs or lucrative speaking gigs.
He suggested that Congress should consider reforms to prevent future presidents from enjoying the kind of taxpayer-funded benefits Biden is accessing.
“Biden is actually earning more in retirement than the current president,” he remarked. “It’s a unique scenario, but it’s also a situation that calls for reform moving forward."
Last year, Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) proposed the Presidential Allowance Modernization Act, aiming to cap presidential pensions at $200,000 and limit benefits like office space, staff, and travel expenses.
A previous iteration of this legislation passed in 2016 but was vetoed by Obama just before he left office, as he would have benefited from the cuts the bill sought to impose.
The issue of taxpayer-funded pensions isn’t limited to former presidents. Any member of Congress can qualify for a pension after just five years in office, costing taxpayers around $38 million annually.
Some representatives have sparked controversy over their pension plans. For instance, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) announced her resignation after just enough time served to qualify for an $8,717-per-year pension.
While Greene's pension is modest compared to the anticipated $107,860-per-year payout for longtime Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) upon her exit in 2027, Greene will still reap over $265,000 over her lifetime from taxpayer-funded benefits.