...providing retirement news snippets from various sources for federal employees, postal employees, seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities who receive Social Security . Your resource for retirement living, investment, employment, health care, and retirement leisure. - Stay Informed!
Title: Social Security Benefits & Taxes
Article Snip: "...paying income taxes on your “contributions” you are ready to retire and collect the benefits—only to find out that they may be taxable! It doesn’t seem fair, does it? Well, here’s how..."
Reference: socialsecuritynewsgroup.blogspot.comTitle: Postal Service drops plans to close thousands of post offices, proposes reduced hours
Article Snip: "...“If the House bill came to the floor, there would have been an uprising in both parties,” said Rep. Peter Welch (D-Vt.), who has joined forces with Rep. Michael G. Grimm (R-N.Y.) in fighting the closures...."
Reference: www.washingtonpost.comTitle: GOP lawmaker calls Senate postal bill a '$33 billion bailout'
Article Snip: "...Senate bill would return some of the money that the USPS overpaid into its retirement fund, and require some of that money to be used to pay for the early retirement of thousands of USPS workers. It also delays for two years plans by the USPS to start closing offices...."
Reference:Title: Congress to make key vote on post office closures Tuesday
Article Snip: "...Postal Service to recoup $11 billion in retirement benefits already paid for future retirees and direct that money toward incentives for about 100,000 employees to retire in the near future. ..."
Reference: www.mitchellrepublic.comTitle: Senate, letter carriers consider Postal Service pension reform
Article Snip: "...the Senate began considering the 21st Century Postal Service Act, which would allow for cash buyouts up to $25,000 among incentives to get as many as 100,000 postal employees to retire early. The previous pension overpayment is because of a federal law requiring it to prefund ..."
Reference: www.pionline.comTitle: The Government's Retirement Plan Has Appeal, and a Few Holes, Too
Article Snip: "...In a recent survey, 86% of the government workers who participate in the Thrift Savings Plan--essentially, the 401(k) plan for federal government workers--said they were satisfied or very satisfied with the plan. ..."
Reference: morningstar.comArticle Snip: "...For example, very few knew the number of years of highest earnings that are used to calculate benefits...."
Reference: www.aarp.orgTitle: 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.comTitle: 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.comTitle: 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: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 CityTitle: 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.comTitle: 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.comTitle: 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.comTitle: 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.comTitle: 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 ..."
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.comTitle: 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.comTitle: 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.orgeverify Social Security Lock | Protect Yourself From The Foreign Invasion Snippet of Article: "...Self Lock is the unique feature...