CRS Looks at Federal Pay Setting
The Congressional Research Service recently issued a report on federal pay-setting, including a look at the process the government uses …More
Fedweek
Sign up Now! Free eNewslettersExpert’s View: Information for New Retirees
Those who are enjoying your first few days as retirees will soon be receiving a pamphlet from the government, writes …More
Other Bills of Interest
Other pending bills of interest to employees and retirees include HR-1765 and S-1255, to make student loan reimbursement payments for …More
Some Attention Still Coming
Although those provisions were enacted only late in 2005, the contracting issue likely will get at least some attention in …More
Contracting Issues May Settle Down
One area where there might be less controversy this year than in years past involves the contracting out program, which …More
Premium Conversion Seems Stuck
One retirement-related measure that made some progress in 2005 but that quickly bogged down is the effort to allow retirees …More
GPO, WEP Bills Remain Pending
As in past Congresses, various bills are pending to entirely repeal or to soften two Social Security provisions that often …More
Pay Issue a Perennial
President Bush will release his annual budget proposals in about four weeks and if he follows recent practice will not …More
Congress Faces Unfinished Work
The second session of the current Congress-the Senate returns to work on the 18th and the House on the 31st–will …More
Bill Contains ‘Soft Landing’ Provisions
The DoD authorization bill extends by four years, through fiscal 2010, DoD’s authority to offer “voluntary RIFs”—in which employees not …More
Some Planned Changes Softened
However, House-Senate conferees softened several other restrictions that had been written into earlier versions of the bill. The House had …More
DoD Authorization Bill Addresses Contracting Issues
Just before finishing work for the year, both the House and Senate passed a Defense Department authorization bill (HR-1815) that …More
Higher Contributions Allowed for TSP Investors
Biweekly investments in the Thrift Savings Plan will no longer be limited according to percentage of salary, effective in calendar …More
Voluntary Contributions Rate Drops
The interest paid in the voluntary contribution retirement savings program available to CSRS (but not FERS) employees falls in 2006 …More
Medicare Costs Rise
The monthly premium paid by those receiving Medicare Part B (primarily physicians’ services) benefits are rising from $78.20 to $88.50. …More
Social Security Rates Changing
For FERS employees, the Social Security maximum wage base is rising from $90,000 to $94,200. That is the portion of …More
New FEHB Coverage Begins
Also beginning this month are the new premium rates paid by both employees and retirees under the Federal Employees Health …More
New Year Brings New Finances
In addition to the raise, the arrival of the new year brings several changes in the financial pictures of federal …More
Order Addresses Other Issues
The presidential pay raise order also addresses raise issues for various special categories of employees, including special rate employees, who …More
Order Finalizes 2006 Raises
President Bush has issued an executive order finalizing the January 2006 federal pay raises, splitting the 3.1 percent average general …More
Leave Year End Coming Up
The current federal annual leave year ends January 7 for most employees. Generally, federal employees may carry over to the …More
Expert’s View: Filling the Medigap
Federal retirees often ask if they should buy Medigap insurance, writes benefits expert Reg Jones. “If you are a federal …More
Half of Teleworkers are ‘Situational’
The data also show that half of federal teleworkers are considered to be “core” teleworkers-that is, their telework occurs on …More
Eligibility Criteria Vary
Of the agencies that specify occupations that are eligible for telework, support staff, temporary employees, and executives as most commonly …More
More Teleworking Reported
The numbers of federal employees eligible to telework and those actually doing so grew in 2004, according to the latest …More
Pretty Good for Government Work, By John Grobe
You’ve probably heard the phrase “pretty good for government work” used in a derogatory fashion. You’ve probably also heard many …More
Locality Pay is Not Based on Cost of Living
In the notice, OPM noted that some who commented on the draft rules suggested that separate locality pay areas be …More
Locality Policies Finalized
Meanwhile, the Office of Personnel Management has published, in the December 19 Federal Register, final rules carrying out certain changes …More
A Little More Patience Needed on Raise
Although many employees are naturally eager to see the new pay tables reflecting the January 2006 federal raise, President Bush …More
Health Insurance Provision a New Twist
The DoD appropriations bill-but not the measure covering other agencies-also contains language that is new for this year, in reaction …More
