2014 Federal Retiree COLA

Title: COLA? Maybe. Pay raise? Maybe not!

Article Snip: "...With a couple of months left in the countdown, federal-military-Social Security retirees are looking at a potential cost-of-living adjustment of ..."

Reference: www.federalnewsradio.com
2014 Federal Retiree COLA

2014 COLA update

Title: The Senior Citizens League Warns 2014 Cost of Living Adjustment Flat

Article Snip: "... consumer price index (CPI) data through June, cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) will stay pretty flat. Based on inflation growth over the past twelve months, the 2014 COLA will be in the vicinity of..."

Reference: www.watchlistnews.com
2014 COLA,

U.S. government could soon be facing a shortage of workers

Title: Wave of federal retirees to hit government

Article Snip: "...In the first four months of 2013, some 60,000 employees filed for federal retirement benefits, a 43% increase..."

Reference: cnn.com

Great Social Security Questions and Answers

Title: Will Social Security Benefits Increase This Year? By How Much?

Article Snip: "...run through the particular problems of all 78 million Baby Boomers..."

Reference: www.pbs.org

Younger workers staying in safer G Fund

Title: TSP examining why so many young workers stay in 'super safe' G Fund

Article Snip: "...While automatic enrollment for new hires has increased participation in the Thrift Savings Plan over the last few years, a recent report suggests many of them are staying in the super-safe G Fund — instead of reallocating money into other funds. ..."

Reference: www.federalnewsradio.com

How to Avoid Taxes on Your Social Security

Title: How to Avoid Taxes on Your Social Security

Article Snip: "...Wouldn't it be nice to avoid paying tax on your Social Security benefits while in retirement? By planning ahead, you can avoid paying tax on your Social Security income and your effective tax rate will be very low...."

Reference: socialsecuritynewsgroup.blogspot.com

What is my retirement date?

Title: Retirement date calculation

Article Snip: "...What is my retirement date?..."

Reference: blogs.federaltimes.com
military buyback, military service, service computation date

federal retirement claims backlog spiked 37 percent

Title: Retirement Claims Backlog Spikes

Article Snip: "...The federal retirement claims backlog spiked 37 percent during the last month, due to an expected influx of new applications, according to the latest figures from the Office of Personnel Management...."

Reference: www.govexec.com

Planning an affordable retirement

Title: Planning for the lean and mean retirement

Article Snip: "...Americans have some significant challenges to overcome if we want to be able to afford and enjoy our retirement years. As a result..."

Reference: www.cbsnews.com

Social Security Annual Cost of Living Increase

Title: Just Explain It: Maximizing Your Social Security Retirement Benefits

Article Snip: "...According to the Social Security Administration, the average single beneficiary will get $21 more each month – $34 for couples. It’s not much to begin with, and some of that extra cash could end up going to things like higher Medicare premiums or just groceries...."

Reference: finance.yahoo.com

Taking Social Security Too Early Can Cause Poverty in Old Age

Title: One Recession Cost Is Lower Social Security Benefits

Article Snip: "...Catherine Rampell of The New York Times reported on the economic difficulties of those in their 50s and early 60s suffering from high unemployment and decimation of their retirement savings by the recession. Many will be forced to take Social Security benefits as soon as they turn age 62. Unfortunately, they may be risking unnecessary poverty in old age as a consequence...."

Reference: nytimes.com

First year rule: special retirement supplement

Title: First year rule

Article Snip: "...if you exceed the special retirement supplement earnings limit for the year you retire, you will not be eligible for the special retirement supplement for the rest of that year..."

Reference: federaltimes.com
First year rule, special retirement supplement,

How to calculate your Special retirement supplement

Title: Special retirement supplement calculation

Article Snip: "...how will you calculate the special retirement supplement?..."

Reference: federaltimes.com
Special retirement supplement calculation

What can retired federal employees expect in year ahead

Title: The Year Ahead: What Federal Employees and Retirees Can Expect

Article Snip: "...good news for 2013 (retirees received a COLA and current employee's future retirement benefits have remained largely unaffected) ..."

Reference: www.federalnewsradio.com

Social Security has, again placed on the chopping block

Title: Social Security: What Is At Stake? Why Now?

Article Snip: "...For the second time in little over a year, the Obama Administration has made a preemptive offer to change the formula for adjusting Social Security's Cost of Living Adjustment formula (COLAs) as part of a "Grand Bargain...."

Reference: www.huffingtonpost.com

Social Security and Medicare cuts being pushed

Title: Social Security and Medicare trim would squeeze retirees

Article Snip: "...Republican leaders have made clear that their price for swallowing higher tax rates for wealthy Americans is an agreement by President Barack Obama and fellow Democrats to scale back the growth of Medicare and Social Security, which serve more than 3.5 million recipients in Florida...."

Reference: sun-sentinel.com

Some standing strong against attacks on Social Security/Medicare

Title: Pelosi Takes Hardest Line Against Raising Medicare Eligibility Age

Article Snip: "...“As I have said, don’t even think about raising Medicare age,” Pelosi said. “We are not throwing America’s seniors over the cliff to give a tax cuts to the wealthiest people in America.”..."

Reference: talkingpointsmemo.com

Sequestration and Retirement Buyouts

Title: Federal worker Q&A guide to the fiscal cliff: Ten answers on jobs, cuts and more

Article Snip: "...Early retirement offers allow employees to retire at any age with 25 years of service, or with at least 20 years of service at age 50 or above. That’s earlier than under standard federal retirement eligibility combinations. In some circumstances, retirement benefits are reduced, which discourages employees from taking such offers...."

Reference: www.washingtonpost.com

Federal Employment Retirement Wave Expected in January

Title: OPM anticipates wave of federal retirement claims in January

Article Snip: "...an anticipated wave of applications — 21,000 — in January, typically a popular time for federal employees to retire...."

Reference: www.bizjournals.com

Medicare Part B vs federal retiree plan

Title: Which is better, a federal retiree plan or Medicare Part B?

Article Snip: "...I could sign up for Medicare Part B but I’m not sure I need it because my husband is a retired federal employee and we plan on maintaining his FEHB Blue Cross-Blue Shield coverage. On the other hand, our friends say that Part B helps with out-of -pocket expenses. Which is a better choice for us?..."

Reference: consumerreports.org
Medicare Part B