Presidents are offered the following benefits when they leave office:
Pension
The Treasury Department pays a taxable pension to former presidents which are equal to the salary of a Cabinet secretary (Executive Level I), which as of 2020, was $219,200 per year. A former president's spouse may also be paid a lifetime annual pension of $20,000 per year if they relinquish any other statutory pension.
Transition Costs
Transition funding for the expenses of leaving office is available for seven months. It covers office space, staff compensation, communication services, and printing and postage associated with the transition.
Staff & Office
Private office staff and related funding is provided by the General Services Administration. People employed under this subsection are selected by and responsible only to the former president for the performance of their duties. Each former president fixes basic rates of compensation for persons employed for them, not exceeding an annualized total of $150,000 for the first 30 months and $96,000 thereafter.
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 also eligible for up to $500,000 per year for security and official travel.
Medical Insurance
Former presidents are entitled to medical treatment in military hospitals; they pay for this at rates set by the Office of Management and Budget. Two-term presidents may buy health insurance under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.
Secret Service Protection
From 1965 to 1996, former presidents were entitled to lifetime Secret Service protection, for themselves, their spouses, and children under the age of 16. A 1994 statute limited post-presidential protection to ten years for presidents inaugurated after January 1, 1997. Under this statute, Bill Clinton would be entitled to lifetime protection, and all subsequent presidents would have been entitled to ten years of protection. On January 10, 2013, President Barack Obama signed the Former Presidents Protection Act of 2012, reinstating lifetime Secret Service protection for his predecessor, George W. Bush, himself and all subsequent presidents. Richard Nixon relinquished his Secret Service protection in 1985, the only former president to do so.
