Expert’s View: Deferred Annuity
If you have fewer than five years of creditable service, you won’t have been vested in the retirement system, writes …More
Fedweek
Sign up Now! Free eNewslettersGuidance Issued on FEHB and Insurance Exchanges
OPM has issued guidance reiterating that the start of the Affordable Care Act insurance exchange program—also known as Obamacare—in January …More
Furloughs Fade but More Cuts Loom
Several more agencies have cut back on their planned numbers of furlough days, continuing a trend that has existed through …More
No Pay Raise Order Yet
So far President Obama has not issued an order regarding a federal employee pay raise for January, an action that …More
Expert’s View: Early Retirement
As the sequestration has tightened its hold on federal agencies, increasing numbers of employees have been asking about their retirement …More
Management Resistance Still Hampers Telework
Management resistance continues to be the major barrier to allowing more federal employees to telework, GAO said in a recent …More
‘Old-School’ Attitude Partly to Blame
GAO conducted focus groups as part of a recent assessment of OPM’s methods of reporting on telework, which have changed …More
Data on Telework Is Variable
The most recent OPM report on telework, issued in June 2012, found that 8 percent of federal employees (excluding the …More
Ethical Restrictions Expanded
The Office of Government Ethics has put out new guidance expanding the reach of ethical restrictions in light of the …More
Special Benefits Enrollment Chance Nearing End
A special benefits enrollment opportunity triggered by the Supreme Court decision overturning the Defense of Marriage Act generally ends August …More
Some Benefit Differences Between Active, Retired
For purposes of the special benefits enrollment period, there are some distinctions between active and retired employees, which reflect general …More
Expert’s View: Deciding Whether to Make a Deposit
You’ll have to run some calculations to decide whether to make a deposit to capture military service toward your federal …More
Benefits Survey Coming to Some
OPM soon will be sending out a survey asking employees to rate their satisfaction with – and their understanding of …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 contributions will shut off …More
DoD Sets Restrictions on Employee Awards
The Pentagon has issued guidance on new restrictions on various types of employee award and incentive payments. For a closer …More
Pay Order Is a Possibility
With no federal employee raise amount for 2014 being set by legislation yet, President Obama later this month may use …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
Worst of Furloughs Is Ending—For Now
The worst of the unpaid furloughs for federal employees for this fiscal year appears to be ending, with the expiration …More
TSP Loans, Withdrawals Increase
Data from the TSP show increasing rates of loans and financial hardship withdrawals since early this year, coinciding with furloughs …More
Health Care for Legislative Employees Addressed
OPM has issued rules and other information regarding the status of legislative branch employee health insurance coverage once the exchange …More
Much Work Lies Ahead for OPM Nominee
OPM’s release of the policy regarding legislative branch health care coverage resulted in Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., lifting the hold …More
Expert’s View: What Catch-62 Is All About
For some federal employees there’s a catch to getting credit for military service time toward their federal retirement benefits—called Catch …More
Army Data Reflect Aging Workforce
The Army has released data on its civilian workforce that puts details into many aspects of the overall aging of …More
Raise Gets Backing as Congress Takes Break
In one of its last actions before Congress took its annual summer recess, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved a measure …More
DoD Cuts Furloughs, but Cites Future Threats
DoDhas reduced the number of furlough days for some 650,000 of its federal employees from 11 to six, meaning that …More
Don’t Expect Quick Decisions on Furlough Appeals
MSPB has said that because it has been receiving a flood of appeals from furloughed DoD employees—several unions there are …More
Postal Reform Plans Could Affect Benefits
Congress has taken steps recently toward Postal Service reform that could impact several benefit programs. A bipartisan bill has been …More
Key Distinctions Apply in Benefit Opportunity
There seems to be some confusion regarding the current limited benefits election opportunity arising from the Supreme Court decision in …More
OPM Clarifies Survivor Election Opportunity
OPM has issued guidance on the opportunity for federal retirees in same-sex marriages to elect to provide a survivor benefit …More
