Title: One Recession Cost Is Lower Social Security Benefits
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Taking Social Security Too Early Can Cause Poverty in Old Age
Sunday, January 13, 2013
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.comSaturday, January 12, 2013
How to calculate your Special retirement supplement
Title: Special retirement supplement calculation
Article Snip: "...how will you calculate the special retirement supplement?..."
Reference: federaltimes.comWednesday, January 2, 2013
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.comFriday, December 28, 2012
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.comMonday, December 17, 2012
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.comFriday, December 14, 2012
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.comThursday, December 13, 2012
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.comTuesday, December 11, 2012
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.comSunday, December 2, 2012
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.orgFriday, November 30, 2012
Erosion of federal employee pay and benefits causing retirement exodus
Title: Federal retirements spike as baby boomers retire, economy stabilizes
Article Snip: "...William R. Dougan, president of the National Federation of Federal Employees, blamed what he called the "exodus" in part on "legislative attacks" by Congress that he said threaten to erode pay and benefits. Dougan, whose union represents 110,000 federal employees, said many experienced workers would rather leave now than risk reductions to a retirement package they have banked on, he said...."
Reference: baltimoresun.comTuesday, November 27, 2012
Obama and several lawmakers support making feds pay more for defined retirement benefit
Title: Will Budget Deal Target Federal Pay and Benefits?
Article Snip: "...Simpson-Bowles recommended creating a task force to look at changing the pension system for feds and eligible retired service members. One possibility the commission suggests is increasing the amount feds contribute to their pensions. It’s worth noting that Obama and several lawmakers also support making feds pay more for their defined retirement benefit...."
Reference: www.govexec.comTuesday, November 20, 2012
Don't make these Social Security retirement mistakes
Title: Four Costly Mistakes that Retirees Make about Social Security
Article Snip: "...Claiming reduced benefits early is just one of the four biggest mistakes that many retirees make regarding Social Security benefits. The others include..."
Reference: www.investmentnews.comThursday, November 15, 2012
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.comWednesday, November 14, 2012
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.comMonday, November 12, 2012
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.comMonday, November 5, 2012
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.comThursday, November 1, 2012
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.comFriday, October 26, 2012
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.comTuesday, October 23, 2012
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.comTuesday, October 16, 2012
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.comMonday, October 15, 2012
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.govSunday, October 7, 2012
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.comMonday, October 1, 2012
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.orgMonday, September 24, 2012
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.comFriday, September 21, 2012
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.comFEHBP 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.comWednesday, September 19, 2012
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.comMonday, September 17, 2012
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: OPMFriday, September 14, 2012
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.comFriday, September 7, 2012
Federal retirement benefits and taxes
Title: Tax Issues You Could Face in Retirement
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
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.govFriday, August 31, 2012
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.comSaturday, August 25, 2012
Special Retirement Supplement (FERS Supplement) Fact Sheet
Title: Special Retirement Supplement (FERS Supplement) Fact Sheet
Article Snip: "...The special retirement supplement (also known as the FERS supplement) is unique to FERS. It substitutes for the Social Security part of your total FERS benefit until age 62, when most people become eligible for Social Security. The purpose of the supplement is to provide a level of income before age 62 similar to what you will receive at age 62 as part of a Social Security benefit... The eligibility requirements are..."
Reference: Federal RetireeThursday, August 23, 2012
Federal retirees learn student-debt can be docked from Social Security
Title: Feds Dock Social Security for Unpaid Student Loans
Article Snip: "...thousands of retirees are learning that defaulting on student-debt can threaten something that used to be untouchable: their Social Security benefits...
According to government data, compiled by the Treasury Department at the request of SmartMoney.com, the federal government is withholding money from a rapidly growing number of Social Security recipients..."
Friday, August 10, 2012
Medicare part B and FERS retiree
Title: FERS retiree and Medicare part B
Article Snip: "...I was 50. I elected survivor benefits for my spouse, who is 14½ years older than I am. She was 64 when I retired. I elected to remain in FEHB. Additionally, I did not stop working, as I took a job with a private firm before my retirement date and had medical benefits with that firm, in addition to my FEHB coverage. When my spouse was eligible to receive Medicare Part B ..."
Reference: federaltimes.comMonday, July 2, 2012
Boost Social Security Checks
Title: How to Boost Social Security Checks
Article Snip: "...certain complex strategies that can help pad a married couple's retirement savings with tens of thousands of dollars of additional income. Don't make your claiming decision lightly..."
Reference: socialsecuritynewsgroup.blogspot.comFriday, June 29, 2012
Special hiring authorities to deal with emergency situations
Title: Hurricane guidance issued to federal workers, agencies
Article Snip: "...Special hiring authorities to deal with emergency situations allow agencies to shortcut the often lengthy standard federal hiring process, to create temporary positions, and to rehire federal retirees without the usual reduction in pay to offset the value of their annuities...."
Reference: www.washingtonpost.comThursday, June 21, 2012
Applying for immediate retirement under the Federal Employees Retirement System
Title: Applying for immediate retirement under the Federal Employees Retirement System
Article Snip: "...Applying for immediate retirement under the Federal Employees Retirement System is a Paperback book from the U.S. Government. Get it now. Find out how to apply for retirement, when to apply for retirement, ..."
Reference: federalretiree.blogspot.comThursday, June 14, 2012
Unemployed Forced to Early Social Security
Title: Forced to Early Social Security, Unemployed Pay a Steep Price
Article Snip: "...Keany lives in a tiny mobile home, barely getting by on little more than $1,082 a month from Social Security..."
Reference: socialsecuritynewsgroup.blogspot.com