Medicare and FEHB: What are my choices?

Title: Medicare Choices

Article Snip: "...Little is more confusing for employees and retirees than the decisions that must be made when you become eligible for Medicare. Let's look at two scenarios to see how Medicare and Federal Employees Health Benefits Program can fit into one picture. ..."

Reference: www.govexec.com

Retirement options when faced with a RIF

Title: Retirement-eligible? Know your RIF options

Article Snip: "...options available to employees who are eligible to retire when facing a RIF..."

Reference: federaltimes.com
Retirement options when faced with a RIF

Social Security Q & A

Title: The High Cost to Your Family of Filing for Social Security at 62, Even If You Need the Money

Article Snip: "...Even if you really need the money, consider picking up another job or downsizing before starting your Social Security benefits early...."

Reference: www.pbs.org

FEHBP, Medicare and Postal Workers would be harmed by Issa / Postmaster General healthcare plan

Title: GAO: USPS Healthcare Plan Would Hurt Medicare, Postal Workers

Article Snip: "...“The FEHBP, which includes many non-profit plans, is one of the best health insurance programs in the country,” Guffey added. “Removing postal employees would jeopardize the FEHBP, and would result in less coverage and higher healthcare costs for postal workers. ..."

Reference: www.apwu.org
Postal Service Healthcare plan,

Postal Service wants to pull retirees out of Federal Employees Health Benefits program - loss of a large worker benefit

Title: USPS Plan to Pull Out of Fed Health Benefits Could Cost Postal Workers

Article Snip: "...“The differences in deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums under the USPS plan -- on their own, or in combination with lower coverage levels for some services -- could lead to higher total costs for some postal employees and non-Medicare-eligible retirees, including those who would have lower premiums under the USPS plan,” GAO wrote in its report...."

Reference: www.govexec.com
Postal Service, Medicare, Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), FEHB and Retirees,

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