New Year Brings New Finances
The arrival of the new year brings changes in the financial pictures of federal employees and retirees, some due to …More
Fedweek
Sign up Now! Free eNewslettersRetirees Not Getting a COLA
Federal retirement benefits are not increasing in January due to the negative inflation in the measuring period for the adjustment, …More
TSP Investment Limits Stays Flat
The investment limit on tax-favored retirement savings plans such as the TSP will remain $18,000. That’s the cap on regular …More
Social Security Figures Also Stable
The Social Security withholding “FICA” tax of 6.2 percent will continue to apply to salary up to $118,500. For FERS …More
Key Interest Rate Also Unchanged
The interest paid in the voluntary contribution retirement savings program available to CSRS (but not FERS) employees will remain 2 …More
Open Season Choices Take Effect
Insurance elections made during the recent benefits open season also take effect in January–as of the first of the month …More
Medicare Part B Flat for Some, Rising for Others
The Medicare Part B (physicians and related services) premium will remain $104.90 a month for most enrollees due to a …More
Final Budget, Raise Order Wrap Up Year
Enactment of the agreement to fund agencies through the remainder of the fiscal year and the subsequent executive order finalizing …More
Order Sets Specifics of Raise
The executive order carrying out the raises–they will be paid as of the first full pay period of the new …More
Some Personnel Policy Changes Made
The budget agreement contains several provisions related to federal personnel policies, for the most part arising out of the scandals …More
More Scrutiny Lies Ahead for VA
The spending bill contains language criticizing the VA for allowing reprisal against whistleblowers, although it did not reflect language pending …More
Leave, DoD Policies Also to Be on the Table
Several other ongoing issues are expected to arise early in the new year, including to further restrict the use of …More
Agency Funding Almost at Finish Line
Congress is poised to pass yet another short-term measure to buy time to enact agency spending authority for the remainder …More
New Pay Tables Likely Coming Soon
Passage of the larger spending bill without mention of a federal pay raise will represent the completion of a strategy …More
Half Day of Time Off Granted for December 24
President Obama has issued an executive order generally granting federal employees excused absence on the last half of their scheduled …More
Unusable Annual Leave Can Be Donated
Employees who will be unable to use all their “use or lose” annual leave by the time the current federal …More
SES Order Issued; Service Awards Announced
President Obama has issued an executive order to reform several personnel practices of the SES, including speeding up and simplifying …More
Guidance Issued on TSP Taxation Change
The TSP has issued guidance on a law enacted this year (P.L. 114-26) allowing certain federal law enforcement officers, customs …More
Another Partial Federal Shutdown Looms in Three Days
For the second time this year, Congress and the White House are going right up to a deadline for a …More
Another Bite at the Self Plus One Apple to Be Allowed
Also worth a close look for many of those currently with family coverage is the new self plus one option. …More
FSA Enrollment Requirement Reminder
The open season is also the annual opportunity to enroll in the flexible spending account program, in which employees (but …More
Another Partial Government Shutdown Looming Beginning December 12
Political leaders once again are coming up on a government funding deadline with no clear course in sight to prevent …More
January Federal Pay Raise Still on Course
Regardless of the outcome of the budget situation, there has been no indication of a change in direction regarding the …More
Pay Increases Would Range Up to 1.6 Percent
Along with that order, the administration released a table showing that—again, barring a change of direction—raises are to range from …More
Clearance Breach Notices Wrapping Up
By the end of next week, the last of the notices to those affected by the cyber theft of security …More
Employee Benefits Survey Being Sent Out
The latest version of the Federal Employee Benefits Survey is being sent out by email to about 40,000 randomly chosen …More
TSP Returns Mixed in November
The TSP funds produced mostly positive returns in November, led by the small company stock S fund, up 1.75 percent …More
Holiday Speculation Under Way
As commonly happens at this time of year, federal employees are wondering whether they will get time off without charge …More
What’s Acceptable in Gift-Getting
Unless the frequency of the acceptance of gifts would appear to be improper, an employee generally may accept: gifts based …More
Reminder about FSA Accounts
Toward the end of the year, many employees become concerned about losing money in their flexible spending accounts due to …More
