On Budget Decisions, It’s See You in December
After recessing next week, Congress will have only two weeks before its next budgetary deadline, the need to fund agencies …More
Fedweek
Sign up Now! Free eNewslettersAnnual Leave Scheduling Reminder
While the current federal leave year doesn’t end until January 9 for most employees, the last date for scheduling “use …More
Self Plus One Brings Special Considerations
The launch of the self plus one option in the FEHB for the 2016 plan year–the open season continues through …More
Some Medicare Rates Changing
The Medicare program has announced new rates for 2016, with the monthly Part B premium for physicians and related services …More
Pay Gap Holds Steady Overall, Varies Widely among Areas
The Federal Salary Council has concluded that federal employees on average earn 34.9 percent less than their private sector counterparts, …More
Door Opened for More Expansion
The 2016 expansion of localities represents the largest growth in the GS locality pay system since it started two decades …More
Expanded Identity Protection Still Under Consideration
Moves remain under consideration to expand the identity protection services for federal employees created in the wake of the cyber …More
New Sick Leave Benefit for Veterans Finalized
President Obama has signed into law (P.L. 114-75) legislation to grant 104 days of special sick leave entitlement to newly …More
Planned FEGLI Change Canceled
OPM has withdrawn proposed rules that would have expanded eligibility for coverage on children under the FEGLI life insurance Option …More
Last Call for TSP Catch-up Elections
Employees who are age 50 or above, or who will be before the end of the year, and who wish …More
Benefits Open Season Coming Up
The annual federal benefits open season starts next Monday (November 9) and runs through December 14. During that time, FEHB-eligible …More
FEDVIP Opportunity Also Opening
The open season also allows new enrollments or enrollment changes in FEDVIP vision-dental insurance program for both active employees and …More
FSA Program Requires Re-enrollment
Unlike in the FEHB and FEDVIP programs, re-enrollment is required each year in another program affected by the open season, …More
Eligibility for Children of Partners Ending
One change in eligibility for the 2016 year in FEHB during the current benefits open season is that OPM has …More
FLTCIP Program Expands Eligibility
Meanwhile, in the FLTCIP program, OPM is expanding eligibility effective in December to opposite-sex domestic partners, and their children over …More
Budget Deal Relieves Pressure, But More to Be Done
President Obama has signed into law a budget deal that relieves several threats that had been hanging over the government, …More
TSP Funds Scare Up Solid Gains in October
All TSP funds posted gains in October, led by the large company stock C fund, up 8.45 percent, the international …More
Congress Taking Up Measure on Debt Ceiling, Agency Funding
Congress could start voting as soon as today (Wednesday) on a measure designed to lift the federal debt ceiling and …More
Only Benefits Change is a Positive One, So Far
The agreement up for voting now, starting in the House, also would provide some relief from a potential jump in …More
Additional GS Localities Finalized
The number of city areas with their own GS locality pay scales will expand for 2016 by 13, under rules …More
Changes in Localities Should Boost Pay of Many
The notice says that adding the new city areas means that some 102,000 employees will move from the RUS locality, …More
Personnel Reforms at DoD Bill Still on Track
Several civilian personnel policy changes for civilian employees at DoD remain on track to take effect despite the White House’s …More
TSP, Other Dollar Figures Announced
In the wake of the recent determination that there will be no COLA adjustment in 2016 for a number of …More
TSP Still Considering More Changes in Default Investing
The TSP is still considering another change in its investment policies, so-called “automatic escalation” of investments that newly hired employees …More
Debt Ceiling Witching Hour Approaching
The government is within weeks of hitting its debt ceiling, requiring political leaders to take some sort of action to …More
Hitting Ceiling Wouldn’t Necessarily Mean a Partial Shutdown
Unlike a funding lapse in which there would be a partial government shutdown, if the government exceeded the debt limit, …More
Social Security Figures Also Flat
The Social Security withholding “FICA” tax of 6.2 percent will continue to apply in 2016 to salary up to $118,500. …More
Medicare Premium Issue Now at Forefront
The lack of a COLA has raised the potential for CSRS retirees and certain other Medicare enrollees to pay premiums …More
TSP Limits almost Sure to Remain the Same
The lack of an inflation adjustment almost certainly means that the cap on regular investments in the TSP will remain …More
Locality Pay Issues to Get Attention
The Federal Salary Council has scheduled for November 6 its annual meeting where the official “pay gap” figure is announced, …More
