Former President Joe Biden might be set to receive a substantial pension funded by taxpayers, as indicated by a recent analysis.
The National Taxpayers Union Foundation suggests that Biden’s pensions could total around $417,000. This amount surpasses his annual presidential salary and appears to be more than any former president has collected, stemming from various retirement plans he has accessed since he started his political career back in the 1970s.
Demian Brady, the foundation’s president, mentioned, “It’s quite unusual and historically unusual to have such a large pension.”
Biden’s lengthy political journey qualifies him for benefits from the 1958 Former Presidents Act, along with retirement benefits from the Civil Service Retirement System from his time as both a senator and vice president.
Under the 1958 Presidential Act, a president’s pension matches the salaries of cabinet members, which currently stands at $250,600. Additionally, Biden may be eligible for up to $166,374 from his service as a senator and vice president, according to Brady.
However, it’s still uncertain whether Biden will actually cash in on these benefits. His press secretary didn’t provide an immediate comment when reached for clarification.
Biden embarked on his political journey as a senator in 1972 and later served as vice president under Barack Obama for eight years, beginning in 2009. His salary as president was set at $400,000 annually.
Interestingly, Congress is currently exploring ways to limit the income designated for former presidents post-tenure. Senator Joni Ernst has reintroduced the Presidential Benefits Modernization Act of 2025, which proposes a cap of $200,000 on presidential pensions. This bill has been submitted to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
That said, previous attempts to regulate presidential pensions have faced roadblocks. Notably, President Obama vetoed a similar bill that Congress approved in 2016, right before leaving office.
