Expert’s View

Do you know who will benefit from your Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) policy or Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) …More

Those of you who are considering retiring have heard horror stories about OPM’s processing of retirement claims. And those of …More

As I mentioned last week, if you are approved for phased retirement, you’ll receive additional credit for that service toward …More

OPM has finally published proposed regulations to implement phased retirement. While nothing will happen until those regs are final, at …More

I’m amazed at the number of questions I get from employees that begin with the assumption that they can make …More

I’ve been getting a lot of questions from employees wanting to know if their retirement contributions will be increased. Well, …More

Representative Paul Ryan’s budget proposal for fiscal year 2014 passed the House on March 21. It includes a provision that …More

One of the hottest proposals aimed at stemming the growth in entitlement spending is the Chained CPI. That’s the short …More

One of the hottest topics in the federal health benefits arena is the Postal Service’s proposal to leave the Federal …More

On April 11, Joseph A. Beaudoin, president of the National Association of Federal Employees and Retirees, testified before the House …More

Over the last three weeks, I’ve described the origin of the Federal Employee Health Benefits program, focused on how premiums …More

Over the last two weeks, I’ve described the origin of the Federal Employee Health Benefits program, focused on how premiums …More

Last week I wrote about the origin of the Federal Employee Health Benefits program and focused on how premiums are …More

"The time has come," the walrus said, "To talk of other things Of shoes and ships and sealing wax Of …More

One aspect of federal retirement policy often hits uninformed retirees like a bolt from the blue, and routinely results in …More

Here we go again with an example of the kind of "I’ve been told" question on military deposits that I …More

On and on the false facts parade goes, picking up nuts the squirrels have left behind. This time I won’t …More

There’s nothing more infuriating than a know-it-all. Especially one who not only is wrong, but occupies a position in which …More

Here’s another entry in the false facts series. This one is about the common misunderstanding among retiring employees about when …More

While many of the misconceptions floating around the government are the result of mischievous rumors or personal desires that have …More

It’s amazing how many bits of pure nonsense make their way like a brushfire through the federal employee population. And …More

Social Security increases, like cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs), are based on annual changes in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage …More

For the second year in a row, Social Security recipients and most federal retirees received a cost-of-living adjustment effective with …More

OMB has issued a memo instructing agencies on how to respond to uncertainty about the amount of funding available for …More

Two of the most frequently asked questions I get from employees are these: "Is my agency going to offer early …More

Questions have arisen since last July when OPM revised eligibility policies for insurable interest annuities. Let’s begin at the beginning …More

We’re all familiar with the term "counting your pennies." Well, the up-coming cost-of-living adjustment for retirees, survivors and Social Security …More

The federal government has a diminishing number of CSRS employees. However, from the mail I’m receiving (e- and snail), many …More

A reader recently asked if his birthday was the earliest date on which he would meet the age portion of …More

Last week while describing what kinds of pay are included in a lump-sum payment for unused annual leave at retirement, …More