Article Snip: "...For example, very few knew the number of years of highest earnings that are used to calculate benefits...."
Reference: www.aarp.orgSunday, April 1, 2012
Maximize your Social Security Benefits
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Would Postal plan destroy the FEHBP for all federal employees?
Title: Democrats skeptical of USPS push to sponsor own healthcare program
Article Snip: "...“In destroying the FEHBP, the USPS would disrupt the health insurance of 8 million Americans..."
Reference: thehill.comFriday, March 16, 2012
Interior Department is developing a plan to cut almost 5,000 jobs
Title: Interior Department planning for 7% staffing cut
Article Snip: "...The Interior Department is developing a plan to cut almost 5,000 jobs by September 2013, according to a memo this week from a top agency official, but a spokeswoman for the Office of Management and Budget downplayed the likelihood that the plan will take effect...."
Reference: www.federaltimes.comSaturday, March 3, 2012
Federal agency plans to grant buyouts and early-outs
Title: IRS offers targeted buyouts to employees in enforcement divisions
Article Snip: "...The early retirements and buyout offers will be offered to employees in three enforcement areas..."
Reference:Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Possible Postal Buyout Incentives and Early Retirements as USPS Announces Mail Processing Plant Closures
Title: Huntsville Mail Processing Facility located on Wall Triana to Close
Article Snip: "...Postal officials also stated that the U. S. Postal Service is also considering early retirement programs and possible buyout incentives to reduce the number of postal employees...."
Reference: Rocket CityTuesday, February 14, 2012
Early Retirements and Buyouts may be offered to few in Justice
Title: The 2013 budget request: agency by agency
Article Snip: "...employees will have to leave Justice if they cannot find jobs elsewhere in the department, and they will be offered buyouts and early retirements. ..."
Reference: www.federaltimes.comFriday, February 10, 2012
Federal Retirement Cuts Bill Passes House Panel
Title: Lawmakers insert federal pension provisions in highway bill
Article Snip: "...a high-five average salary calculation for annuities rather than the current high-three average pay calculation. The current Federal Employees Retirement System-defined benefit pension is calculated by taking the retiree's three highest salaries and dividing it by years of service and a variable pension accrual rate. ..."
Reference: www.govexec.comSaturday, January 21, 2012
Federal agencies offering buyouts or early outs continues to grow
Title: A new wave of federal workers is poised to emerge
Article Snip: "...Meanwhile, the roster of federal agencies offering buyouts or early outs continues to grow. In fiscal 2010, OPM gave 14 agencies permission to offer buyouts. Twelve were allowed to offer early retirements. In fiscal 2011, OPM gave 12 agencies permission to offer buyouts and twelve were allowed to offer early retirements...."
Reference: www.bizjournals.comFriday, January 20, 2012
Retirement services backlog being addressed
Title: OPM tackles retirement backlog with more staff, better technology
Article Snip: "...The Office of Personnel Management is trying to tackle its retirement services backlog with more staff and upgraded technology. ..."
Reference: www.federalnewsradio.comState Department warns that "concrete steps" must be taken...
Title: US mulls closing embassy in Syria as security worsens
Article Snip: "...
State Department warns that "concrete steps" must be taken, expresses concern about "deteriorating security situation in Damascus"; US official: Syrian gov't doesn't ..."
Monday, January 9, 2012
Federal Employee COLA Update
Title: 2012 outlook eases slightly with COLA’s return
Article Snip: "...After two years of no increases, COLAs are back. The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) increased 3.6 percent...."
Reference: federaltimes.comMonday, January 2, 2012
Federal retirement question
Title: Four retirement options
Article Snip: "...Q. I am a 58-year-old letter carrier covered under the Federal Employees Retirement System with 27½ years of s..."
Reference: federaltimes.comWednesday, December 28, 2011
Federal Retirement Estimate
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.govFriday, December 16, 2011
Attack on Federal Retirement Benefits: H.R. 3630
Title: 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.orgFriday, December 9, 2011
Reducing Federal Pensions
Title: 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.comWednesday, November 30, 2011
Postmaster General seeks to move retirees to Medicare
Title: Postmaster general: Retirement benefits bankrupting agency
Article Snip: "...requirement isn't sustainable. He's also seeking to move retirees to Medicare...."
Reference: Postal Early RetirementSaturday, November 26, 2011
Lawmakers seek more oversight over Social Security Disability Checks
Title: 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 NewsgroupPostal Employee Retirement Community
Article 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.comFriday, November 25, 2011
Federal retirement Policy changes on the way?
Title: 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.comSaturday, November 19, 2011
Federal Employment Opportunities in Michigan
Title: 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.com