Numbers Could Change
There is no official count of how many employees have been put on unpaid furlough but 800,000 is common estimate—the …More
Fedweek
Sign up Now! Free eNewslettersMix of Policies Reflects Funding Differences
The grab-bag of policies regarding which agency functions and in some cases which entire agencies remain open reflects the variation …More
No Shutdown of TSP Gains
The three stock-oriented TSP funds posted gains in September, led by the international stock I fund, up 7.41 percent, with …More
Obama Sends Open Letter on Shutdown
President Obama has sent a rare open letter from the White House to federal employees regarding the shutdown. For a …More
Expert’s View: The Cost of Avoiding Catch-62
To avoid the "Catch-62" annuity reduction CSRS employees may have to pay a deposit whose amount has increased substantially over …More
Down to the Wire Again on Funding to Prevent Another Shutdown
In what has become a familiar pattern, political leaders are continuing to haggle over agency funding for the new fiscal …More
FEHB Premiums, Number of Plans Rise
The average enrollee premium in the FEHB will rise 4.4 percent in 2014, about the same as the last two …More
Affordable Care Act Reminder
With the initial Affordable Care Act health insurance enrollment period set to begin October 1, there still seems to be …More
Look Before You Leap Out of FEHB
Anyone considering dropping their FEHB coverage and enrolling in an exchange plan instead should note that by doing so they …More
Per Diem Rates Reminder
New per diem rates for federal travel take effect October 1 with the start of the new fiscal year. For …More
Expert’s View: Don’t Make These Mistakes When Retiring
When it comes to retiring, there are a few stupid things you can do that will mess everything up, writes …More
FECA, Disability Retirement Compared
GAO recently compared benefits under the FECA injury compensation program versus disability retirement, and found that in general, being on …More
DoD Sets Policy for the Over-Furloughed
A new Pentagon memo allows DoD employees who took more than the six furlough days required there to retroactively substitute …More
Budgetary Uncertainty Continues
The House plans to try again to pass and send to the Senate a bill to provide funding to keep …More
More Furloughs May Be Ahead, Maybe Not
The House measure would allow agencies to spend on personnel costs at a higher than an annualized rate in order …More
On Raise, No News is Good News…
The House measure is silent on the issue of a 2014 federal pay raise, as have been almost all of …More
…but Renewed Fight over Pay May Lie Ahead
The annual meeting of the Federal Salary Council, which receives data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics used in calculating …More
TSP Catch-up Contributions Reminder
Employees who are age 50 or above, or will be before the end of the year, and who have already …More
OMB Issues Guidance for Possible Funding Lapse
OMB has issued guidance for agencies to use in preparing for a possible funding lapse, including instructions on deciding which …More
Expert’s View: Voluntary Separation Incentive Payments
Like early retirement offers, voluntary separation incentive payments, more commonly called buyouts, are designed to avoid layoffs when agencies are …More
Temporary Funding Bill Begins to Move
A temporary spending measure to take effect with the October 1 start of the new fiscal year, called a "continuing …More
FEHB Announcement Pending
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" OPM told carriers to continue emphasizing generic drugs and other lower-cost alternatives …More
GAO Examines Postal Health Plan Idea
Proposals to allow the Postal Service to split off and create its own plan remain under active consideration in Congress …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
Roth Participation Figures Continue to Grow
In the first year since the TSP offered its Roth option, some 133,000 employees have opened such balances and they …More
3Rs Rules Revisions Ready
Effective Friday (September 13), several revisions to recruitment, retention and relocation incentive payment policies take effect, the final step in …More
Expert’s View: Postponed Annuities
If you retire under the so-called MRA+10 provision, your annuity will be reduced by 5 percent for every year (5/12 …More
Familiar Issues Face Returning Congress
Congress returns to work next week after a five-week recess, facing familiar budgetary challenges that in the past have brought …More
Pay Order Issued
President Obama has issued an order that in effect provides for a 1 percent federal employee pay raise in January …More
