Title: Federal Ballpark E$timate®
Article Snip: "...The Federal Ballpark E$timate can be used by employees covered by the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), CSRS-Offset, or the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) who plan to retire under the voluntary age and service rules. The current version does not perform estimates for..."
Reference: www.opm.govTitle: House Republicans Attack Postal and Federal Retirement Benefits
Article Snip: "...The House of Representatives voted 243-193 on Dec. 13 to pass the so-called “Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2011,” which would cut take-home pay for postal and federal workers by increasing their contributions to the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). The bill also would slash unemployment benefits, place unreasonable burdens on unemployed workers, and cut vital healthcare programs...."
Reference: www.apwu.orgTitle: New House Republican bill takes aim at fed pensions, pay
Article Snip: "...increasing the contribution federal employees pay toward their retirement, and reducing pensions for new employees...."
Reference: www.federaltimes.comTitle: Postmaster general: Retirement benefits bankrupting agency
Article Snip: "...requirement isn't sustainable. He's also seeking to move retirees to Medicare...."
Reference: Postal Early RetirementTitle: Lawmakers seek Social Security check protections
Article Snip: "...Fourteen Republicans on the House Ways and Means Committee want more scrutiny of how the Social Security Administration oversees benefit checks..."
Reference: Social Security NewsgroupArticle Snip: "...With an efficiency renting for under $75 in 1964, Nalcrest [Florida] was nirvana for postal retirees. It remains a bargain: A one-bedroom rents for only $305, and dinners at Jay Bee's II, the town's only restaurant, average $6. ..."
Reference: nationalgeographic.comTitle: How the supercommittee’s failure will impact federal employees
Article Snip: "...Newly hired employees after the transition point would get only the defined contribution plan. That would be a very major change in federal retirement policy …..."
Reference: www.washingtonpost.comTitle: 11 tips for landing one of the more than 200 federal jobs advertised in Michigan
Article Snip: "...Even with the U.S. government laying off thousands nationally every week, the federal jobs website is still advertising 204 federal jobs in Michigan. ..."
Reference: www.mlive.comTitle: OPM: Problem of late pension payments getting worse
Article Snip: "...The Office of Personnel Management's backlog of pending retirement cases has grown 58 percent since Director John Berry first pledged to solve the problem more than a year ago...."
Reference: www.federaltimes.comTitle: Bishop signs letter saying post office faces big pension burden
Article Snip: "..."No other public or private business in America" except for the U.S. Postal Service must fund 100 percent of employee retirement and retirement health costs in advance. ..."
Reference: www.politifact.comTitle: U.S. Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Aug. Summary
Article Snip: "...the federal employee retirement thrift investment plan summary for Aug., according to the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board. ..."
Reference: www.bloomberg.comTitle: Federal government says its employees are 25 percent UNDERPAID compared to private sector workers
Article Snip: "...federal employees 26.3 percent underpaid compared to private sector workers in similar jobs. The gap has grown 2 percentage points since last year..."
Reference: www.dailymail.co.ukArticle Snip: "...If that CPI were already in use, military retirees, disabled veterans and social security recipients would be getting a 3.4 percent COLA in January rather than the planned 3.6 percent hike, government price data show...."
Reference: www.thenewstribune.comTitle: The Best Day to Retire From Now Until 2020
Article Snip: "...One of the biggest reasons that employees choose to retire around the end of the year is to cash in a large amount of use or lose leave. Assume we have an employee..."
Reference: www.fedsmith.comTitle: Everybody's got a price. What's yours?
Article Snip: "...Currently buyouts are available at Agriculture, Air Force, ATF, U.S. Courts, Education, FTC, GAO, GPO, Housing and Urban Development, Justice, Library of Congress, the USPS, SBA, Smithsonian and the TSA. ..."
Reference: www.federalnewsradio.comTitle: The Worst Pension Gap
Article Snip: "...The Federal Employees Retirement System was created in 1986 to take the place of the old Civil Service Retirement System. Civilian federal employees hired prior to 1984 remained in the old system, while..."
Reference: www.governing.comTitle: Playing Russian roulette with your health plan
Article Snip: "...If you are a federal or postal worker who is close to retirement, thinking about taking a buyout, likely to be laid off or are involved in a shaky marriage, listen up: Your lifetime health insurance benefits may be in danger. ..."
Reference: www.federalnewsradio.comTitle: Federal retirees to get COLA increase
Article Snip: "...an increase of 3.6 percent for most, following the announcement Wednesday of Consumer Price Index figures through September...."
Reference: www.washingtonpost.comTitle: Social Security benefits to rise 3.6 percent
Article Snip: "...Social Security retirement benefits for about 55 million people will go up by 3.6 percent next year, the first cost-of-living increase since 2009, the U.S. Social Security Administration said on Wednesday...."
Reference: www.reuters.comTitle: Social Security: seniors to see COLA increase in 2012
Article Snip: "...The exact size of the COLA is yet to be determined, but it should be somewhere between ..."
Reference: www.csmonitor.comTitle: Lawmaker urges end to early federal retirement
Article Snip: "...Federal workers, including members of Congress and congressional employees, would not be able to receive their pensions until age 62 under Duncan's proposal...."
Reference: www.govexec.comTitle: Supplement eligibility
Article Snip: "...Q: I am 57 with four years of military buyback and 18 years of uninterrupted federal service. I am confused about eligibility for the special retirement supplement...."
Reference: Federal TimesTitle: Lawmaker urges end to early federal retirement
Article Snip: "..."There are many thousands of federal employees who are retiring in their 50s and even in their late 40s," Rep. John Duncan Jr., R-Tenn., said in a letter last week to members of the congressional super committee...."
Reference: www.govexec.comTitle: Federal retirees could receive COLA boost for first time since 2008
Article Snip: "...The COLA for federal retirees and Social Security and Supplemental Security Income recipients could be nearly 4 percent as of Dec. 1, based on the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics...."
Reference: www.govexec.comTitle: Top federal watchdog faces budget cuts
Article Snip: "...agency is offering buyouts and early retirement offers to long-serving employees; 37 have accepted the offers, a spokesman said. The buyouts and early retirement were first offered before the budget debate began...."
Reference: www.washingtonpost.comArticle Snip: "...illustrate how the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) works in providing disability benefits, and why the benefits provided may be inadequate...."
Reference: www.digitaljournal.comTitle: Postal Bill Would Authorize Layoffs, Force Out Senior Employees First
Article Snip: "...employees who are eligible for retirement must be laid off before employees who are ineligible, and dictates that retirement-eligible employees with the longest service must be separated first. The new language also forbids the payment of severance pay to retirement-eligible employees. ..."
Reference: www.apwu.orgTitle: 5 Questions to Ask Yourself About When You Can Retire
Article Snip: "...The "traditional" retirement age is 65. This has gone by the wayside to some extent in that the age to receive full Social Security benefits continues to increase...."
Reference: usnews.comTitle: Deficit reduction pain for federal employees could be worse, some say
Article Snip: "...the version of the fiscal 2012 budget resolution the House passed included a recommendation that would require federal employees to pay for half the defined benefit they receive with their pensions at retirement...."
Reference: GovernmentExecutive.comTitle: Obama's proposal to trim back military benefits draws fire
Article Snip: "..."The real issue is, in writing his book, Gov. Perry pointed out that in his view that Social Security is unconstitutional, that this is not something the federal government ought to be involved in, that instead it should be given back to the states."..."
Reference: hamptonroads.comTitle: Planning for Retirement
Article Snip: "...It’s never too early to start planning for retirement in order to ensure it goes smoothly. Here you will find information to help ensure your retirement starts well. ..."
Reference: www.opm.govTitle: Retirement menu: Filet & cabernet or dog food & Dr. Pepper?
Article Snip: "...a 3-plus percent COLA for retired feds is likely in 2012. Also, a growing number of agencies are offering buyouts...."
Reference: www.federalnewsradio.comTitle: Proposal Would Cut Raises For Retirees
Article Snip: "...result in lower cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for Social Security beneficiaries,” says the report, which adds: “Moving to a chained index should be viewed as a cut in benefits.”..."
Reference: smartmoney.comTitle: Buyouts beginning at Army
Article Snip: "...The Army Materiel Command today said it is offering $25,000 buyouts to 33 civilian employees in its headquarters to help it meet its mandated cuts of at least 1,223 civilian positions. ..."
Reference: federaltimes.comArticle Snip: "...Summary of Summary of FERS Disability Benefits for Physicians:
When a government physician suffers a total disability and meets the eligibility requirements set forth by FERS, that individual may be eligible to receive a taxable benefit equal to 60% income replacement during the first 12-months of disability and 40% for all subsequent years (until early retirement age)...."
Title: Federal Government's Premier Fellows Program Accepting Applications
Article Snip: "...The Presidential Management Fellows Program (PMF), run by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), attracts and selects the best candidates to develop a cadre of new government leaders, and can lead to a career in government...."
Reference: www.opm.govTitle: Feds plan their exits: Interest surges in retirement seminars
Article Snip: "...Many federal employees nearing retirement view the high-five reform as a double whammy. First, it would reduce their pensions by factoring two lower salaries into their pension calculation. Second, a high-five average salary would be further tamped down by pay freezes in effect this year and next..."
Reference: www.federaltimes.comTitle: Obama Plan Won't Include Changes to Social Security
Article Snip: "...President Barack Obama's new deficit-reduction proposal will leave out changes to Social Security, and may exclude any increase in the Medicare eligibility age, people familiar with the discussions said Wednesday...."
Reference: wsj.comTitle: A Bipartisan Move to Tackle Benefits Programs
Article Snip: "...would support slowly increasing the eligibility age for Medicare to 67 from 65 and changing the formula for cost-of-living increases in Social Security to a less generous one that some economists consider more accurate. ..."
Reference:Title: Retiree COLA Roller Coaster: Going Up
Article Snip: "...government retirees are cautiously looking forward to a cost of living adjustment of around 3.3 percent in their January checks. That COLA, if it holds up, would be the first inflation-catchup federal, ..."
Reference: www.federalnewsradio.comTitle: Changes To Inflation Formula Will Clip Social Security Benefits, Study Says
Article Snip: "...the new inflation measure may not deliver to seniors the income protection they need in retirement, especially on the costs of health care...."
Reference: bnet.comTitle: Federal default would hurt county
Article Snip: "...roughly 14,000 federal retirees the National Federation of Federal Employees said live in the county. In all, active federal workers and retirees bring..."
Reference: www.hometownannapolis.com
Title: Administration ducks employees’ default questions
Article Snip: "...How will the assets of the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund and the G-Fund of the Federal Employees’ Retirement System be impacted..."
Reference: www.washingtonpost.com
Title: Crowley reports on Medicare plan cuts
Article Snip: "...According to Crowley’s report, costs for an average Medicare beneficiary would increase by $520 in the 2012 federal fiscal year (from October 1, 2011 to September 30, 2012)...."
Reference: www.queenscourier.com
Title: For AARP, A 'Monumental' Shift On Social Security?
Article Snip: "...AARP recognizes benefit cuts in Social Security may be unavoidable in the future. But it wasn't something the organization wanted to see highlighted on the front page of a major newspaper...."
Reference:
Title: Bachmann formally announces presidential bid in Waterloo, Iowa
Article Snip: "...hypocrisy and shameless self-promotion. Her support for ending Medicare and 'weaning' people off Social Security is proof enough that Michele Bachmann would be a terrible President,” said Martin..."
Reference: hometownsource.com
Title: Retirees Eye 3.5 Percent Raise!
Article Snip: "...federal, military and Social Security retirees are looking at a possible January cost of living adjustment of 3.5 percent..."
Reference: www.federalnewsradio.com
Title: Federal Workers Facing More Cuts
Article Snip: "...In March, Senate Republicans Richard Burr and Tom Coburn introduced legislation that would entirely eliminate pensions for government employees. They would still collect Social Security and hold 401k-style accounts.
The White House is unlikely to back such an aggressive plan..."
Reference: www.kctv5.com
Title: About That OPM Retirement Processing Backlog
Article Snip: "...The Office of Personnel Management is making progress on reducing the backlog in finalizing retirement applications. The time it takes to process a retirement action has improved by roughly..."
Reference: www.fedsmith.com
Title: House G.O.P. Members Face Voter Anger Over Budget
Article Snip: "...In central Florida, a Congressional town meeting erupted into near chaos on Tuesday as attendees accused a Republican lawmaker of trying to dismantle Medicare while providing tax cuts to corporations and affluent Americans. ..."
Reference: www.nytimes.com
Title: Marco Rubio kicks off media blitz with talk of raising the retirement age for Social Security
Article Snip: "...Indeed many of the reforms are controversial, particularly Social Security. Rubio raised that possibility on the campaign trail last year and then-Gov. Charlie Crist tried to make it an issue but did not get traction...."
Reference: www.tampabay.com
Title: 2011 Special Incentive Offer FAQs
Article Snip: "...What are the basic details of the 2011 Special Incentive Offer?
On March 23, 2011, the Postal Service announced a Special Incentive offer for the following targeted groups:
Career non-bargaining employees assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Field Units, including PCES and attorneys
Career non-bargaining employees assigned to Area Offices, including PCES
Career non-bargaining employees assigned to District Customer Service Offices (the offer includes PCES in closing districts only)..."
Reference: usps.gov
Title: Will I be eligible for Social Security special retirement supplement?
Article Snip: "...I am a federal employee with 31 years of service. Civil Service Offset, with 10 years CSRS and 21 years in FERS. ..."
Reference: federaltimes.com
Title: Golden years losing luster
Article Snip: "...Social Security benefits will replace just 28 percent of a recipient's preretirement income in 2030, on average, down from 39 percent in 2002, according to the Center on Retirement Research. The drop will result largely from the increased Medicare payments and higher income taxes Social Security recipients will have to pay...."
Reference: www.bendbulletin.com
Title: Postal Service to cut 7,500 positions this month, 30,000 by end of year
Article Snip: "...Postal Service will use attrition and early retirement offers to reach that number and is weighing whether to use buyouts ..."
Reference: Federal Times via postalearlyretirement.blogspot.com
Title: Postal Service aid plans would jeopardize federal retirement funds, watchdog says
Article Snip: "...the financial soundness and integrity of the trust funds would be severely compromised," McFarland said in a 56-page report on the issue.
Lawmakers are likely to highlight the conclusions during a House oversight subcommittee hearing scheduled for Wednesday on the Postal Service's finances. ..."
Reference: www.washingtonpost.com
Title: How a Typo Could Delay Your Retirement from Federal Service
Article Snip: "...The SF 50, or Standard Form 50, is the official form the government uses to calculate your retirement. Your SF 50s determine your retirement eligibility and your federal pension...."
Reference: FedSmith.com
Title: Watch federal policy as retirement looms
Article Snip: "...that is why everyone who anticipates a pension should be concerned...."
Reference: www.desmoinesregister.com
Title: Social Security Prepares For Possible Government Shutdown
Article Snip: "...Democrats and Republicans continue to disagree on budget cuts, and without a compromise, many government agencies will be forced to close their doors...."
Reference: newsone.com
Title: Reid wants no cuts to Social Security
Article Snip: "..."Social Security has contributed not a single penny to the deficit. So we can talk about entitlements as long as you eliminate Social Security," said Reid, D-Nev. "Because Social Security is not part of the problem we have in America with the deficit." ..."
Reference: www.washingtonpost.com
Title: Higher federal withholding is taking a bite out of retirees' annuity checks
Article Snip: "...The suddenly shrinking checks have hit retirees generally, not just those who were employed by the federal government. On Thursday, the IRS posted information on "Why Employees and Retirees May See Changes in 2011 Payments and Withholding." ..."
Reference: www.washingtonpost.com
Title: USPS RIF and VER Informational Website Announced
Article Snip: "...In the event of RIF and/or VER, all relevant information – including timelines and guidance - will be posted on the Organizational Changes Website as soon as details are finalized. Watch for internal communications such as LINK articles and stay tuned to this website for any and all HR-related updates...."
Reference: Postal Early Retirement 2011
Title: Retired federal employee sentenced to 23 months in prison for health care fraud
Article Snip: "...also ordered him to pay $253,727 in restitution to Blue Cross & Blue Shield which provided coverage to the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program...."
Reference: www.nj.com
Title: VFW vows to defeat Bachmann plan to slash veterans benefits
Article Snip: "...would cap increases to VA healthcare spending, and reduce disability compensation to account for Social Security Disability Insurance payments — in other words, an offset...."
Reference: www.dailykos.com
Title: Will Obama Back Social Security Changes in State of the Union?
Article Snip: "..."When Lindsey Graham supports raising the retirement age for people across South Carolina, including those whose jobs take a physical toll on their bodies, that shows that he's a fundamentally out-of-touch politician," PCCC co-founder Stephanie Taylor said in a statement. "We hope President Obama will strongly pressure Republicans on this issue during his State of the Union address." ..."
Reference: www.cbsnews.com
Title: Medicare To Gain 7,000 New Baby Boomers Per Day In 2011
Article Snip: "...According to AARP (American Association for Retired Person's), 70 million individuals are estimated to be Medicare beneficiaries over the next 20 years, compared to 45.2 million in 2008...."
Reference: www.medicalnewstoday.com