Listen: Do not cut Social Security or Medicare

Title: Bernie Sanders, Progressive Senators Pressure Obama Not To Cut Social Security

Article Snip: "...A group of progressive lawmakers led by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Thursday called for protecting Social Security and Medicare benefits in any deficit reduction deal. ..."

Reference: www.huffingtonpost.com

Federal Employees not represented in White House talks?

Title: White House talks don’t include federal labor leaders

Article Snip: "...No one whose prime responsibility is to look out for the federal workforce was there, even though it is only federal workers who so far have been targeted in deficit reduction. And they could be called on to sacrifice more. ..."

Reference: www.washingtonpost.com

Opinion: Post drive to cut Medicare and Social Security

Title: Post in Hyper Drive on Effort to Cut Social Security and Medicare

Article Snip: "...The Washington Post is throwing all journalistic norms aside in its drive to cut Social Security and Medicare...."

Reference: www.businessinsider.com

Federal retiree TSP and pension information you should consider

Title: Federal retirees with pensions should keep some liquid assets

Article Snip: "...Your Thrift Savings Plan assets are what many call “the third leg” of retirement security: liquid financial assets that supplement your Social Security and pension income. You are entirely correct in your concern about converting your TSP assets..."

Reference: www.dallasnews.com

2013 COLA lowest since the 1970s

Title: Staying Educated on Social Security’s COLA Increase

Article Snip: "...known as COLA. This increase of 1.7 percent is the lowest increase since the 1970s, and will take effect in January of 2013..."

Reference: tellmenews.com
2013 COLA increase, 2013 Social Security COLA,

Federal Retirement Buyout Trending

Title: $hrinking buyouts: An offer you can't refuse?

Article Snip: "...Since $25,000 buyouts were introduced in the 1990s, many feds hoped and assumed Uncle Sam would sweeten the kitty. Some have delayed retirement anticipating more generous buyouts. ..."

Reference: www.federalnewsradio.com
Federal retirement, Buyout, early retirement, buyout incentive,

TSP Roth investments skyrocket

Title: Investments swell in TSP Roth funds

Article Snip: "...The number of Thrift Savings Plan participants with Roth accounts swelled to 51,354 in September, the board governing the plan said Monday...."

Reference: www.marinecorpstimes.com
Roth, TSP

2013 Retirement COLA released for 2013

Title: Federal retirement COLA of 1.7 percent announced

Article Snip: "...The increase, based on an inflation measure announced Tuesday, mirrors the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to be paid to Social Security beneficiaries. There are two main federal retirement systems: the Civil Service Retirement System, which..."

Reference: www.washingtonpost.com
2013 Federal Retiree COLA

Medicare open enrollment begins today

Title: Medicare Open Enrollment Starts Today

Article Snip: "...The Medicare open enrollment period begins today. Learn more about the health and drug plans available...."

Reference: usa.gov
Medicare, Medicare open enrollment

Growing influx of new retirement claims increases backlog

Title: Federal Worker Retirement Claims Surge in September

Article Snip: "...OPM completed 12,563 retirement claims in September -- the most claims processed in a single month so far this year and 1,063 more than it expected to complete last month. The agency received 11,952 new claims in September, 4,952 more than it anticipated, and 2,979 more than it received in August. The backlog now stands at..."

Reference: www.nationaljournal.com
retirement processing backlog, how long before i get my retirement check?, Federal retirement,

APWU Postal Retirement Buyout Incentive

Title: APWU, USPS Negotiate Retirement Incentive

Article Snip: "...The APWU has negotiated a retirement incentive agreement that awards eligible full-time career employees a $15,000 payment in two installments, President Cliff Guffey has announced. The first installment will be $10,000; the second will be $5,000...."

Reference: www.apwu.org
APWU Postal Retirement Buyout Incentive

Employment after federal retirement: Contractors want you

Title: Contracting world offers plenty of job opportunities

Article Snip: "...Do you have an itch to switch to the private sector — either because government does not suit you or because you want to keep working during your federal retirement? If so, check out the federal contracting world...."

Reference: federaltimes.com
Employment

2013 Federal Retiree COLA Projection

Title: Budget office makes 2013 COLA prediction

Article Snip: "...civilian retired pay and Social Security. There had been discussion earlier this year that the annual COLA could be as high as 1.9 percent. However, a Sept. 12 statement from the nonpartisan budget office “assumes that the COLA effective on Dec., 1, 2012 would be..."

Reference: www.marinecorpstimes.com

FEHBP up 7.2% in two years, did your pay go up that much?

Title: Federal workers' healthcare premiums to rise 3.4 percent

Article Snip: "...The average premium for federal employees will rise 3.4 percent next year, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) announced Thursday. The increase translates to an extra $2.75 per paycheck for individuals, or $6.39 for families. Federal workers' premiums went up 3.8 percent this year..."

Reference: thehill.com

Best Postal Retirement Date

Title: Best time to retire from USPS

Article Snip: "...Do the same dates hold true for postal workers as federal employees? To maximize my benefits, I believe ..."

Reference: federaltimes.com

Federal employee pre-retirement information

Title: Federal employee pre-retirement information

Article Snip: "...Retirement benefits are among the important benefits of Federal employment. It’s never too early to start planning for your retirement. In this section of the OPM website, prospective Federal employees, current Federal employees, and HR specialists can find information about Federal retirement benefits. ..."

Reference: OPM
pre-retirement planning,

Retirees to take hit

Title: The 0% Solution: Fed Strands Bank Savers, Retirees

Article Snip: "...Left out of the party once again are bank savers and U.S. retirees who live on fixed incomes, who once again lose out in the game of monetary musical chairs as low rates eat into their income -- just as they're paying more for critical commodities such as oil, gas, and groceries...."

Reference: www.thestreet.com

Federal retirement benefits and taxes

Title: Tax Issues You Could Face in Retirement

Article Snip: "...If you owe taxes on your federal retirement benefits, you can either make estimated tax payments or have the tax withheld from your regular benefit checks. You can choose to have 7%, 10%, 15% or 25% withheld. To authorize the withholding, file Form W-4V, Voluntary Withholding Request, with the Social Security Administration...."

Reference: www.foxbusiness.com
Federal retirement benefits and taxes

Windfall Elimination Provision

Title: Windfall Elimination Provision

Article Snip: "...The Windfall Elimination Provision affects how the amount of your retirement or disability benefit is calculated if you receive a pension from work where Social Security taxes were not taken out of your pay. A modified formula is used to calculate your benefit amount, resulting in a lower Social Security ­benefit than you otherwise would receive. ..."

Reference: www.ssa.gov

Retirement Planning Tips

Title: 10 Ways to Maximize Your Federal Benefits In The Middle of Your Career

Article Snip: "...it’s never too early to start thinking about how to prepare. It is even more important to make sure you’re doing the right things now, since there is still time to make a meaningful impact. You may even find that your eventual retirement does not have to be as far away as you thought...."

Reference: www.fedsmith.com