My Social Security Account: get online Social Security Statement, review lifetime earnings history, see estimates of your future benefits

Title: Sign up for a my Social Security Account

Article Snip: "...One of the best tools for planning a secure retirement is waiting for you at www.socialsecurity.gov: a my Social Security account. When you create your personal my Social Security online account, you will be able to get your online Social Security Statement, review your lifetime earnings history (and catch any errors while it is easier to fix them), see estimates of your future benefits, and more—important information that can help you plan and save for greater peace of mind. Opening a my Social Security account online is quick, safe, free, and easy. It takes only minutes. Go to the Social Security website at www.socialsecurity.gov and click on my Social Security...."

Reference: blog.usa.gov

Federal retirees are currently due a January 2015 cost-of-living adjustment of about 1.35 percent

Title: Guess who's going up 1.35 percent?

2015 Retiree COLA Update

Article Snip: "...Each year when the retiree COLA exceeds the federal pay raise, many working stiffs figure they will retire at the end of the year to get the higher COLA. Doesn't work that way. The COLA is pro-rated (on a monthly basis) based on how long you've been retired. So you can't retire a month or two before the COLA kicks in and qualify for it. +..."
Reference: www.federalnewsradio.com

Best and worst states for military retirees

Title: 10 Best and Worst States for Military Retirees

Article Snip: "...when searching for the best place to retire from the Armed Forces, there are several economic, social, and health care factors for a veteran to take into account. WalletHub, a personal-finance network, this week released a survey ranking the states and the District of Columbia as places for military retirement..."
Reference: military-retirement.blogspot.com

FERS Annuity Supplement

Title: How Much is the Maximum Annuity Supplement?

Article Snip: "...The procedure for calculating the supplement is clearly spelled out in Chapter 51 of the CSRS & FERS Handbook. However, the explanation and instructions are 40+ pages in length. Summarized, you must..."

Reference: www.fedsmith.com
FERS Annuity Supplement,

CSRS vs FERS: some better off than others

Title: You May Be Better Off Than You Think

Article Snip: "...Under FERS, 40 years of service (I know, no one has this much service under FERS yet), would provide either 40 percent or 44 percent (if you’re 62 or older with more than 20 years of service) of your high-three. In addition, you’ll be entitled to Social Security or the FERS Supplement...."

Reference: www.govexec.com
FERS Special Retirement Supplement, Social Security, CSRS vs FERS,

Chuck Hagel Proposes Military Retirees Pay More

Hagel wants you to pay more

Title: DoD proposes deepest compensation cuts in all-volunteer era

Article Snip: "...Changes are also coming to Tricare. “We will ask retirees and some active-duty family members to pay a little more in their deductibles and co-pays,” Hagel said...."
Reference: militaryvetnews.blogspot.com
military retirees, Tricare,

Save us from Social Security cut! Send a quick message please

Title: No Chained CPI

Article Snip: "...We cannot break our promise to our seniors. These are benefits they earned over a lifetime. Our parents and grandparents put their faith in us, and we will not let them down. Please use this link to send a message to the president...."
Reference: ourfuture.org
Chained CPI

Military retirees slammed in bipartisan budget, thank you for your service

Title: Military Retirement Cuts: Prelude To Coming Social Security Changes

Article Snip: "...bipartisan budget that scales back cost of living adjustments for working age military retirees starting in 2015. Several sources including Military.com suggests that qualified participants could lose between..."

Reference: www.forbes.com

Kaiser recognized for FEHB federal employee health plans

Title: Kaiser recognized for federal employee health plans

Article Snip: "...Kaiser Permanente Hawaii’s health care plan for federal employees has been recognized as “Exemplary,” the highest possible rating, by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, administrator of the Federal Employee Health Benefit Program...."

Reference: westhawaiitoday.com
Kaiser Permanente

Corporate lobbies using deficit fear-mongering to sell Social Security benefit cuts

Title: CEOs with Massive Retirement Fortunes Push Social Security Cuts

Article Snip: "...largely behind the scenes: Business Roundtable and Fix the Debt, corporate lobbies that use deficit fear-mongering to sell benefit cuts. These groups are made up of CEOs of America’s largest corporations—people with retirement accounts that are more than 1,000 times as large as those of the average Social Security beneficiary...."

Reference: www.thenation.com
attacks on Social Security

American voters put politicians on notice: Don’t cut Social Security and Medicare benefits

Title: Labor puts Dems on notice: Don’t touch Medicare and Social Security benefits

Article Snip: "...“We are opposed to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid benefits cuts. Period,” Silvers told me. “There will be no cover for members of either party who vote for such a thing.”..."

Reference: www.washingtonpost.com
attacks on Social Security, Altering Social Security, social security,

2014 Social Security COLA

Title: Seniors to get small Social Security increase in 2014

2014 Social Security COLA

Article Snip: "...the fourth year in the last five that recipients receive little or no increase in benefits. Social Security benefits are expected to rise between ..."
Reference: cnn.com
2014 Social Security COLA

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