Expert’s View

Last week I encouraged you to start thinking about the upcoming Open Season. That article focused on the Federal Employees …More

Saddle up! We’re burning daylight! Get the lead out! There’s not a moment to lose! (And countless other attention-getting clichés.) …More

Last week I wrote about the requirement that you elect a survivor annuity for your spouse when you retire, unless …More

Should you elect a survivor benefit for your spouse? Believe it or not, there was a time when that decision …More

Did you ever work for the federal government, leave, get a refund of your retirement contributions, and then return to …More

Last time I wrote about various kinds of employment that weren’t covered by either CSRS or FERS—that is, no contributions …More

It’s August and we’re on the slope toward the end of the year when the largest number of employees retire. …More

The Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance program will be celebrating its 60th birthday on August 29, 2014. Happy birthday, FEGLI! …More

In case you missed it, the contributions rates for FERS employees hired (or rehired after a break in service) during …More

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Not a week goes by without someone asking me how their annuity will be affected if they have a period …More

In last week’s article about how CSRS and Social Security interact for CSRS Offset employees, I concluded by saying that …More

If you were rehired after December 31, 1983, had a break in CSRS coverage of more than one year, had …More

There are times when an employee applying for disability retirement is also eligible for an immediate optional retirement. Obviously, this …More

On May 21, OPM issued notices in the Federal Register indicating that the present value factors for CSRS and FERS …More

If you are a retired federal employee and have filed your federal income taxes at least once, you know that …More

Employees covered by the Civil Service Retirement System are a vanishing breed. However, those hardy souls who are left have …More

If you are enrolled in the self only option of a Federal Employees Health Benefits plan, you can stop reading …More

When it comes to the entitlement of family members to be covered under the Federal Employees Health Benefits program carriers, …More

Last week I wrote about Basic insurance under the Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance program. This time I want to …More

There’s one benefit program for federal employees and retirees that doesn’t get much attention: Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance. FEGLI …More

The Federal Employee Health Benefits program was enacted by Congress in 1959, the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program …More

Is there any federal employee who doesn’t know that you have to be covered by the FEHB program for the …More

Cui bono? That’s a great old Latin phrase that means “Who benefits? Do you know who will benefit from your …More

I know there aren’t a lot of you left in the workforce. I mean CSRS employees (or FERS employees with …More

When I’m looking for a dose of thrills and chills, I check the news to see what bills have been …More

Almost one year ago, Joseph A. Beaudoin, President of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, testified before the …More

Over the last three weeks, I’ve written about early retirement offers (VERAs), retirement under the MRA+10 provision, and deferred retirements. …More

Last week, I wrote about the rules governing the retirement benefits of employees whose agencies offer them an opportunity to …More

Last week I wrote about the value of sick leave, with special emphasis on how it is used to increase …More