Open Season for FEDVIP and FSAs
Like FEHB, FEDVIP and the flexible spending account program are affected by the upcoming annual open season, but unlike FEHB, …More
Fedweek
Sign up Now! Free eNewslettersReminder: No FEHB Self Plus One in 2015
Although a law enacted late in 2013 allows for the FEHB program to offer a self-plus one option, that choice …More
Stopgap Funding Plan Starts to Move
The House could vote as soon as this week on a temporary budget measure that generally would fund agencies until …More
FSA Grace Period Policy Changing
OPM is revising the flexible spending account program’s “use or lose” feature effective with the 2015 plan year. Under the …More
OPM’s Advice on Seeking Phased Retirement
OPM recently issued guidance on the new phased retirement program emphasizing that the first step for employees eligible and interested …More
Guard Against Hitting TSP Dollar Limit
This time of year is a good point for FERS employees to check to make sure they won’t lose government …More
What Happens When Limit is Hit
If FERS investors hit the dollar cap before the last pay period of the year, their own investments will shut …More
Expert’s View: Get Ready for the Annual Open Season
Open season is your annual opportunity to either change or elect coverage that you can rarely do at any other …More
Guidance Sent on Work Flexibilities
OPM has sent guidance following up a June White House memo encouraging agencies to inform employees of the various workplace …More
OPM Explains Right to Request Flexibilities
Reflecting language in the White House memo, the OPM guidance adds: “Federal employees have the right to request, without fear …More
Congress Returning to Work, for a While
Congress returns next week from a five-week recess but has scheduled only three weeks of work, a total of 12 …More
Some Ideas Have Faded Away
Several initiatives of both the White House and some in Congress have fallen by the wayside and there is no …More
Other Proposals Still Have Hope
There is bipartisan agreement in some areas, although most of those issues involve relatively minor tweaks to policies. Among the …More
One Percent Raise All but Certain
As expected, President Obama has issued a notice of his intent to set a 1 percent federal employee raise in …More
Message Notes Sacrifices Already Made
The President’s action, in the form of a letter to Congress, in effect is a defensive move allowed under federal …More
No Dog Days for TSP in August
All TSP funds posted gains in August except for the international stock I fund which fell 0.14 percent while the …More
TSP Updates Beneficiary Policies
The TSP has sent guidance on beneficiary designations and similar policies in light of a recent rules change. For a …More
Expert’s View: Your Annuity and Divorce
A court order can apportion or divide your CSRS or FERS annuity, writes benefits expert Reg Jones. “It may seem …More
FEHB Announcement Ahead
The annual announcement of premiums and plan offerings in FEHB for the upcoming plan year—that is, calendar year—typically is made …More
Expect Cost Saving Provisions, Other Changes
Earlier this year in its annual “call letter” to insurance carriers, OPM again put emphasis on getting enrollees to participate …More
Open Season Affects Several Programs
The annual benefits open season allows FEHB-eligible persons to enroll, change plans, change between self-only and self-and-family enrollment, or change …More
FEHB Eligibility Expansion Planned
One change in eligibility planned for this year’s open season involves temporary, seasonal and intermittent employees, whose eligibility for FEHB …More
Proposed Changes Left on Back Burner
While the White House earlier this year proposed several changes in the FEHB program that would require legislation, there has …More
OPM Examines Federal Employee Health, Wellness
OPM recently reported on health trends in the federal workforce based on findings of a survey of federal employees regarding …More
Pay Order Is Likely
With no federal employee raise amount for 2015 having been set by legislation yet, President Obama can use authority under …More
Raise Order Not the Last Word
Contrary to how the events commonly are reported by news outlets not particularly well versed in the procedures of federal …More
New Per Diem Rates Announced
GSA has announced new per diem rates for travel on federal business effective October 1. For destinations not covered by …More
MSPB Readies New VA SES Appeals Rules
Somewhat reluctantly, MSPB has defined how it will carry out a much-truncated process for SES members at VA to appeal …More
Expert’s View: Redeposits to Capture Service
If you ever worked for the federal government, left, got a refund of your retirement contributions, and then returned to …More
EEOC Clarifies Pregnancy Discrimination Issues
EEOC recently released guidance on pregnancy discrimination and related issues in the workplace, including the federal government. For a closer …More
