If you are a postal employee nearing retirement you should use eRetire to properly prepare

Title: If you are a postal employee nearing retirement you should use eRetire to properly prepare

Are you contemplating a retirement from the United States Postal Service (USPS)? Retirement is one of the most important decisions most of us will face in life. There are so many questions we must ask ourselves prior to making this move ...or deciding we are not ready to do so yet. The USPS makes the decision easier for us by providing a great site with links and applications to assist you with the entire process. Once you are eligible for retirement, eRetire found on liteblue, you will be able to do one or all of the following:

• View and print your annuity estimate.
• Select a specific retirement date to start the retirement process.
• Request retirement application forms through the mail or download and print locally.
• Schedule a retirement counseling session.

Reference: Federal Retirement News
Postal Retirement, USPS Retirement, liteblue.usps.gov, eRetire,

50 States, 5,000 Ideas: Where to Go, When to Go, What to See, What to Do

Title: 50 States, 5,000 Ideas: Where to Go, When to Go, What to See, What to Do

Retirement Travel

Article Snip: "This richly illustrated book from the travel experts at National Geographic showcases the best travel experiences in every state, from the obvious to the unexpected. Sites include national parks, beaches, hotels, Civil War battlefields, dude ranches, out-of-the-way museums, and more. You'll discover the world's longest yard sale in Tennessee, swamp tours in Louisiana, dinosaur trails in Colorado, America's oldest street in NYC, and the best spot to watch for sea otters on the central California coast. Each entry provides detailed travel information as well as fascinating facts about each state that will help fuel your wanderlust and ensure the best vacation possible. In addition to 50 states in the U.S., the book includes a section on the Canadian provinces and territories"
Reference: National Geographic
Retirement Travel

Secrets Of A Successful Retiree: From A Retirement Professional

Title: Secrets Of A Successful Retiree: From A Retirement Professional

Article Snip: "...What are the retirement planning strategies that an internationally recognized retirement expert successfully has used to plan her own retirement? There’s plenty you can learn from Anna Rappaport, a researcher, consultant, author, and speaker on a variety of retirement planning topics..."

Reference: www.forbes.com
Anna Rappaport, Retirement Planning Tips,

The Social Security Expansion Act Pays For Itself; Requires Wealthy to Pay Same Percentage as Working Class

Title:

Article Snip: "...The Social Security Expansion Act is profoundly wise legislation that increases Social Security benefits for all current and future beneficiaries, as well as providing additional targeted benefit increases. These include ensuring that those who work a lifetime at low wages are not forced to retire into poverty...The benefit increases in the Social Security Expansion Act are paid for entirely by requiring the wealthiest to pay their fair share into Social Security. It provides that they contribute the same percentage of their incomes to Social Security that minimum wage workers pay..."

Reference: www.commondreams.org

3 Things to Know About Social Security if You’re Divorced

Title: 3 Things to Know About Social Security if You’re Divorced

Article Snip: "...Did you know Social Security spousal benefits extend to certain ex-spouses who have gotten divorced? Social Security benefits currently provide..."

Reference: www.fool.com
social security, Divorce,

Connolly reintroduces Equal COLA Act

Title: Equal COLA Act

Article Snip: "...Equal COLA Act. The legislation aims to bring equity to the way the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) is determined under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS)..."

Reference: augustafreepress.com
Equal COLA Act

The jobs with the best retirement benefits

Title: The jobs with the best retirement benefits

Article Snip: "...GOBankingRates analyzed data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2017 Employer Costs for Employee Compensation data and determined the best occupations for retirement benefits based on the field with the largest employer contribution per hour. The worst jobs for retirement benefits had the lowest employer contribution per hour..."

Reference: www.msn.com

Getting Started on the Retirement Process

Title: Getting Started on the Retirement Process

Article Snip: "...You should begin planning for retirement at least a year ahead of the day you expect to retire. However, an early retirement offer, a “buyout,” or a RIF can motivate you to make a quick retirement decision..."

Reference: www.fedweek.com

Five Considerations for Federal Employee Disability Retirement Cases

Title: Five Considerations for Federal Employee Disability Retirement Cases

Article Snip: "...Federal employees thinking about filing for disability retirement should consider the following five issues as they debate whether or not to proceed..."

Reference: www.arlnow.com
Disability Retirement

Is Working after Retirement Worth the Costs?

Title: Is Working after Retirement Worth the Costs?

Article Snip: "...because the SRS (in this case) is treated the same as a Social Security benefit, it can be reduced or eliminated if you exceed the earnings limit. The limit for earnings before impacting either SSA or SRS payments is $17,040 in 2018..."

Reference: www.fedsmith.com
Social Security Earnings Limit, Social Security special retirement supplement (SRS), CSRS vs FERS,

COLA's: Another FERS Disadvantage (Lower COLA's and Age Delayed)

Title: Federal Annuity and Benefits

Article Snip: "...FERS and FERS Specials Cost-of-Living Adjustments are not provided until age 62, except for disability, survivor benefits, and other special provision retirements. FERS disability retirees get the adjustment, except when they are receiving a disability annuity based on 60 percent of their high-3 average salary. Also, under FERS, if you have a CSRS component, the component is subject to the CSRS COLA calculation. FERS survivors receive the FERS increase on their entire annuity, even where component service is involved..."

Reference: www.opm.gov
CSRS vs FERS, COLA,

For American Workers, 4 Key Retirement Issues to Watch in 2019

Title: For American Workers, 4 Key Retirement Issues to Watch in 2019

Article Snip: "...It’s going to be a busy year in Washington and state capitals for policymakers working to improve the retirement security of millions of Americans. Savings Plans, Saving One Million Pensions, Protecting Investors From Conflicted Advice, Expanding Social Security ..."

Reference: www.nytimes.com
Social Security, Pensions, Investing, Savings,

The Middle Class Retirement Nightmare

Title: The Middle Class Retirement Nightmare

Article Snip: "...Like a squirrel that hasn’t saved against approaching winter… 80% of American workers have under one year’s salary salted away for retirement. This we learn from a recent report issuing from the National Institute on Retirement Security..."

Reference: dailyreckoning.com
Middle Class Retirement

For first time ever, military's Tricare will have open enrollment similiar to civilian health insurance

Title: For first time ever, military's Tricare will have open enrollment similiar to civilian health insurance

Article Snip: "...For the first time, those using Tricare can take part in an open enrollment season akin to civilian healthcare, allowing users to change or keep their current plan. In addition, military retirees will no longer receive dental benefits through Tricare, but will be able to obtain..."

Reference: www.tampabay.com
Tricare, dental benefits through Tricare, Tricare Prime, dental and vision policy,

The Social Security Retirement Age Increases to 66.5 in 2019

Title: The Social Security Retirement Age Increases to 66.5 in 2019

Article Snip: "...Here's a look at how the retirement age is changing, and what this means for your retirement payments. An older Social Security full retirement age. The full retirement age used to be 65 for those born in 1937 or earlier. Those born between..."

Reference: usnews.com

More Reading: How the federal government makes sure you wont get much in Social Security. For example, the U.S. life expectancy for a white male in Alabama is 73.36 and the new Social Security age is 66.5. So if you are lucky enough to live until your are 73.36 you will collect Social Security for approximately 7 years. Now that's a real ponzi scheme!

What is 'Provisional Income'

Title: What is 'Provisional Income'

Article Snip: "...Provisional income is an IRS threshold above which social security income is taxable. The base, from §86 of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC), triggers taxability social security benefits requiring its inclusion in gross income tax payment on excess amounts..."

Reference: www.investopedia.com
Provisional Income,

What is considered "earned income" relative to social security benefits?

Title: What is considered income relative to social security benefits?

Article Snip: "...In general, the Social Security Administration defines “earned income” as “income from wages or net earnings from self-employment.” For example, earnings may include bonuses, commissions, and severance pay. Investment income, pensions, capital gains, and inheritances are not considered wages. Other types of payment made by an employer may be considered earnings under certain conditions..."

Reference: www.aarp.org
Social Security Earnings Limit, earned income,

Are Social Security Benefits Taxed?

Title: Are Social Security Benefits Taxed?

Article Snip: "...Some of you have to pay federal income taxes on your Social Security benefits. This usually happens only if you..."

Reference: www.ssa.gov
Taxes on Social Security,

New legislation would improve retiree cost-of-living adjustments

Title: New legislation would improve retiree cost-of-living adjustments

Article Snip: "...Retired federal employees under the Federal Employees Retirement System currently can end up receiving a lower cost-of-living adjustment than retirees under the older Civil Service Retirement System, due to the legislation that created the FERS in 1986. Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., introduced legislation Nov. 20 that would amend Title 5 of U.S. Code to ensure that COLAs for all retirees are equal..."

Reference: www.federaltimes.com
cost-of-living adjustments, Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS),

It Might Be Worse To Take Social Security At 66, Here's Why

Title: It Might Be Worse To Take Social Security At 66, Here's Why

Article Snip: "...it's extremely unlikely that benefit cuts would be visited on those already collecting benefits or on those about to start collecting in, say, the next decade. Roughly one fifth of the elderly subsists on Social Security and it's the main source of financial support for roughly half..."

Reference: www.forbes.com

Will LWOP usage harm my retirment compensation?

Title: Retirement benefits and LWOP

Excerpt Quoted from OPM.GOV: "An aggregate nonpay status of 6 months in any calendar year is creditable service. Coverage continues at no cost to the employee while in a nonpay status. When employees are in a nonpay status for only a portion of a pay period, their retirement deductions are adjusted in proportion to their basic pay (5 U.S.C. 8332 and 8411).

High-3 average salary computations are based on periods of creditable service. Thus, periods of nonpay status of 6 months or less in a calendar year that fall within an employee’s average salary period are included in the calculation of the average salary using the rate of basic pay in effect during the period of nonpay status. For example, if a full-time employee whose annual rate of basic pay is $85,000 per year is placed in nonpay status for 3 months, that 3-month period would be credited in the average salary calculation using the $85,000 basic pay rate. (If the rate of basic pay changed to $86,500 per year after 2 months of the nonpay period, the first 2 months of the nonpay period would be credited in the average salary calculation using the $85,000 basic pay rate and the last month of the nonpay period would be credited in the average salary calculation using the $86,500 basic pay rate.)"

Reference: www.opm.gov

NOTE: This information is accurate as of the date of this post: 11-12-2018. Bolding added for emphasis.

What It's Like to Live in Key West

Title: What It's Like to Live in Key West

Article Snip: "...On the southernmost point of the U.S., discover what it's like living on island time..."

Reference: www.greatamericancountry.com
Places to live or visit in retirement, travel,

Now You Can Save More for Retirement

Title: Now You Can Save More for Retirement

Article Snip: "...Good news for retirement savers: Starting in 2019, the IRS just raised the annual contribution for IRAs, the first increase since 2013. Those who participate in 401(k), 403(b), most 457 plans and the Thrift Savings Plan for federal workers can now put aside more, too. It's also become easier to qualify for a Roth IRA, to have your contributions to a traditional IRA be tax-deductible and to claim the Saver's Credit. Here's a summary..."

Reference: www.investopedia.com
retirement savings,

Should I start drawing down my savings or claim Social Security early?

Title: Should I start drawing down my savings or claim Social Security early?

Article Snip: "...There are solid arguments to be made for both options. The argument in favor of claiming Social Security is that your retirement savings..."

Reference: www.usatoday.com