Higher Retirement Contributions Required for Newly Hired
The budget deal meanwhile imposed a further increase in required retirement contributions by those hired into government in this year …More
Fedweek
Sign up Now! Free eNewslettersTSP Investment Limits Stay the Same
The investment limit on tax-favored retirement savings plans such as the TSP will remain $17,500. That’s the cap on regular …More
Social Security TaxThreshold Rises
The Social Security withholding “FICA” tax of 6.2 percent will apply to salary up to $117,000, up from $113,700. For …More
Other Social Security Figures Rising
For those drawing Social Security benefits, the earnings test applying to beneficiaries aged 62 through “full retirement age, currently 66, …More
Mileage Rate, Transit Subsidy Fall
The mileage reimbursement rate for federal employees using their personal vehicles for official business is falling from 56.5 to 56 …More
Expert’s View: Social Security and CSRS
If you are a CSRS employee who has (or will have) enough Social Security credits to be eligible for a …More
Federal Workplace Issues for Women Assessed
An EEOC working group recently examined barriers that remain in the federal workplace hampering the careers of women, including lack …More
Budget Near Finish Line, but More to Be Done
The Senate is expected to give final congressional approval as soon as later today to a budget deal that the …More
Pay Raise on Way, Although Not for All
The overall budget measure further allows for a 1 percent GS pay raise by default, effective with the first pay …More
Pay Gap Widens a Bit
Meanwhile, the Federal Salary Council has concluded that federal employees on average earn 35.4 percent less than their private sector …More
Budget Accounts to Remain Tight
Agencies are starting to assess their budgetary situations in light of the deal, in particular whether they might need to …More
Unusable Leave Can Be Donated
OPM has suggested that employees who will be unable to use all their “use or lose” annual leave by the …More
Reminder about FSA Grace Period
Toward the end of the year, many federal employees become concerned about losing money in a health care flexible spending …More
Cost Savings of Alternate Workplaces Unproven
GAO recently examined the impact of alternative working arrangements including telework and “hoteling” and found that in general, the programs …More
Budget Deal Hits Future Employees
The agreement between House and Senate budget leaders would spare current federal employees from an increase in their required contributions …More
Pay Raise Allowed, Sequestration Pressure Relieved
The deal also allows a 1 percent federal employee pay raise to take effect in 2014, which will be payable …More
FEHB Change Also Included
Among the many provisions of the budget deal would be to allow creation of a self-plus-one option in the FEHB …More
Mileage Rate Announcement Pending
Around the turn of the year, GSA typically announces mileage reimbursement for federal employees who use their personal vehicles on …More
Weather Policy Revised
OPM has released its annual update of agency operating procedures in severe weather conditions in the nation’s capital area, guidance …More
Unfinished Business Remains on Several Fronts
With a deadline of next Friday (December 13) for House-Senate budget conferees to produce a spending outline for the remainder …More
FEHB ‘Underserved’ Areas Changing
The list of “medically underserved” areas for FEHB program purposes is changing slightly in 2014, potentially affecting enrollment decisions for …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
GAO Examines Building Safety Compliance
GAO recently examined security of buildings owned or leased by GSA, finding that building managers largely are complying with the …More
Holiday Speculation Begins
As commonly happens at this time of year, federal employees are raising questions about the prospects of additional time off …More
Time Running Short for Budget Action
Congress plans to work only two more weeks after returning to work from its recess this week, likely leaving much …More
Benefit Issues Remain on the Table
Congressional budget negotiations continue with a goal of producing an agreement for the remainder of the current fiscal yearby December …More
Administration Again Seeks Base Closings
The White House has again called on Congress to authorize a new round of DoD base closings, which like prior …More
Many Health Proposals Still on Back Burner
The ongoing benefits open season serves as a reminder that several proposed changes in the FEHB program that would require …More
Expert’s View: Open Season Elections
Making elections in FEHB, FEDVIP and FSAs in the open season requires using specific forms to carry out those decisions, …More
Confusion Continues on Health Eligibility
There seems to be some continued confusion regarding the impact of the Supreme Court’s decision in the Defense of Marriage …More
