What other perks do former US presidents receive besides pension?

1. What proponents say the law actually grants — a concise inventory that matters to taxpayers

The statutory framework gives former presidents an annual monetary allowance equal to the pay of a Cabinet secretary (the pension), plus office and staff allowances, communications support, equipment, printing, supplies, and travel expenses necessary for post-presidential duties; the law also authorizes transition and short-term relocation expenses tied to leaving office ^{[1] [2]}. The Former Presidents Act specifically anticipates ongoing public-facing obligations — speaking with constituents, replying to official correspondence, and participating in ceremonial or advisory roles — and funds staff and facilities to perform those tasks ^[1]. Multiple summaries compiled by government and research outlets reiterate the same core package while differing on caps and administrative interpretation of allowable travel and security expenditures ^{[4] [5]}. That legislative baseline explains why former presidents maintain small offices and staffs at public expense.

2. Security and protection — lifetime Secret Service coverage and its limits

Lifetime Secret Service protection for former presidents and, in most recent practice, their spouses is a major, costly benefit explicitly recognized across reports; Congress restores or clarifies the detail and scope periodically, but the core practice remains lifetime protective coverage for the ex-president ^{[6] [7]}. Sources indicate that protective details, logistics, and associated travel and security expenses are often the largest line items tied to former presidents, and some statutes authorize significant appropriations for security- and travel-related costs—with provisions allowing substantial annual appropriations per former president and spouse in extraordinary circumstances ^[1]. Watchdog summaries and GAO-style inventories emphasize that security needs drive variability in annual costs, complicating simple per-former-president averages and fueling calls for clearer caps ^{[2] [4]}.

3. Health care, survivor benefits, and funeral honors — who gets what and when

Former presidents may obtain federal health coverage under the Federal Employees Health Benefits program if they qualify by prior participation, and spouses and widows receive certain monetary allowances; widows historically have received distinct lifetime payments under separate provisions ^{[8] [5]}. The law also guarantees state funerals and full honors when applicable, including military honors and ceremonial preparations that are executed and funded through established protocols ^[7]. Sources note differences in practice: some benefits depend on prior federal service (health plan eligibility) while others are automatic or customary, such as funeral honors and, more recently, lifetime Secret Service protection for immediate family—positions that have evolved through statutory amendments and administrative decisions ^{[3] [8]}.

4. Transition funding, one-time allowances, and operational support after leaving the White House

Presidential transition support and one-time outlays to establish an office and staff form a distinct category: transition funding can approach high six figures overall, covering initial moves, office setup, communications systems, and two staff members’ travel in early post-presidential months ^{[9] [2]}. Government analyses outline routine annual allowances for staffing with ceilings on salaries for office employees, plus recurring communications and printing services; these operational supports are justified as enabling ex-presidents to respond to continuing public demands and preserve the dignity of the office ^{[1] [5]}. Critics and reform advocates emphasize that the scale of these operational supports varies widely by administration and is a principal source of cost disputes ^[4].

5. Costs, controversy, and reform debates — conflicting tallies and competing agendas

Estimates of taxpayer cost since 2000 range across reports, with watchdog groups citing cumulative figures and government audits pointing to specific line items; one recent tally cited roughly $125 million since 2000 for various former-president supports, while other summaries produce different totals depending on whether Secret Service, transition, or incidental travel costs are included ^{[4] [2]}. Reform proposals aim to cap benefits or index them — for example suggesting $200,000 annual limits for non-security perks — and proposals reflect divergent motives: fiscal restraint proponents highlight rising costs and post-presidential commercial opportunities, while defenders argue public duties and security needs justify continued support ^{[4] [3]}. The factual record shows statutory benefits exist, their administration produces variable annual expenses, and the precise taxpayer burden depends on what line items are included and how Congress chooses to legislate limits ^{[2] [6]}.