Recently, nearly 600 retired federal law enforcement officers received notification their Annuity Supplement was being reapportioned to provide a former spouse with extra income. So, why is that? Why did the Office of Personnel Management do this unexpectedly? Let’s...
Federal Employee Benefits
FERS Survivor Benefits: Should You Elect One?
A survivor benefit is designed to help a surviving spouse in the event you (the federal employee) passes away in retirement. The survivor benefits you elect determine how much your spouse will receive from your FERS pension if you pass away first in retirement. If...
Military Reserve Technicians and Federal Disability Retirement
What is dual status and how can it affect federal disability retirement benefits? We currently have a client filing for federal disability retirement benefits and he works as a military reserve technician. Because he is what’s considered “dual status”, the rules are a...
What is the FERS Special Retirement Supplement?
Proposed cuts to federal employee benefits and retirement are a common theme of late. One benefit that is in danger of being eliminated is the Special Retirement Supplement (SRS). What is the Special Retirement Supplement (SRS)? If you’re a FERS employee who plans to...
Sometimes the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Gets It Wrong
There are three chances to get an application approved for federal disability retirement. If it is denied at the initial stage at OPM, it moves to the Reconsideration stage at OPM, where you are assigned a different legal administrative assistant than before. Lastly,...
What New Federal Retirees Should Know
Entering retirement can be full of unknowns; how much is your monthly annuity? Are taxes withheld? Will insurance continue? This post looks to answer some of the questions that are common for federal retirees, and more. First Payments For Retirees OPM begins to...
A Chained CPI and What It Means for COLA’s
A new tax reform bill references a chained CPI and is bringing changes to most taxpayers. So, what is the chained CPI, what does it have to do with retirement income for a fed, and what does the new tax reform bill have to do with a chained CPI? Chained CPI A consumer...
Thrift Savings Plan–Effects of Non-Pay Status on Your Account
So far in this series, we have covered the basics of the Thrift Saving Plan, employee and agency contributions, the differences between Traditional and Roth TSP accounts, loans, in-service and post-separation withdrawals, and life annuities, and taxes of...
Federal Employees Dental and Vision Program (FEDVIP)
Dental and vision benefits are available to eligible federal and postal employees, retirees, and their eligible family members. Both dental and vision insurance can be purchased on a group basis which means competitive premiums and no pre-existing condition...
Thrift Savings Plan–Taxes and IRS Withdrawal Penatlies
So far in this series, we have covered the basics of the Thrift Saving Plan, employee and agency contributions, the differences between Traditional and Roth TSP accounts, loans, in-service and post-separation withdrawals, and life annuities. This post focuses on taxes...
Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance
FEGLI is a benefit available to federal employees and may seem confusing if you don’t know much about your options. In most cases, you are automatically covered by Basic Life insurance unless you decline it. In addition to Basic, there are 3 forms of FEGLI Optional...
Thrift Savings Plan–Life Annuities Purchased by TSP
So far in this series, we have covered the basics of the Thrift Saving Plan, employee and agency contributions, the differences between Traditional and Roth TSP accounts, loans, in-service and post-separation withdrawals. This post will look at another type of...
Federal Employee Resources
Our ever growing library of federal employee resources give you the knowledge you need to make smart choices about your future.
Frequently Asked Questions
Get the answers you need on-demand, from a team of federal employee benefits professionals.
Federal Benefit Webinars
Twice per month we host webinars to help federal employees better understand their benefits and answer their questions LIVE.
Benefit Guides
From guides to detailed charts, these educational resources will help clarify confusing federal employee benefits topics.
