Recent Articles 2009 Federal Benefits (FEHB) Open Season The 2009 Federal Benefits Open Season is November 10 thruogh December 8, 2008. Federal employees may make four benefit choices during the upcoming open season . . . more TSP Funds Annual and Monthly Returns (August 1, 2008) Latest Thrift Savings Plan returns . . . more Survivors Could Keep Deceased Spouse's Thrift Savings, FRTIB Proposes Federal employees could keep their deceased spouse's Thrift Savings Plan accounts open under a new proposal offered by the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board . . . more 5 Suggestions for Using Your Stimulus Check Should you shop until you drop, or invest in your future? Consider these five suggestions from Ann Vanderslice, an expert in retirement planning strategies and federal employee benefits . . . more Potential Costs of a TSP Loan to Your Retirement Nest Egg is a TSP loan a good idea? What will it cost you in the long run? Will it jeopardize your future retirement income? And, if so, by how much? Get pointers plus access to a free online calculator to help you make a decision . . . more More federal retirement articles

News & Commentary Medicare & FEHBP: Do you need both? When you retire from the federal government you will have the option to keep your Federal Employee Health Benefits Plan and to sign up for Medicare, and pay premiums to both. Keeping the FEHBP plan is a no-brainer, unless you have a spare $300,000 laying around to pay medical bills for yourself and a spouse. But the Medicare question is more complicated. . . . . more Less Federal Employees Retiring After years of seeing retirements regularly outpace official projections, 2006 and 2007 witnessed a shift: Fewer federal employees retired than expected. And for the first time in at least five years, the Office of Personnel Management this year revised its future retirement projections downward. The reason: the souring economy. . . . . more Retirement Planning To-Do List If you are close to the point of setting a date for your retirement and wondering what needs to get done before you go, here's a simple to-do list (includes the forms you will need, too). . . . more Sick-Leave Abuse Prompts Calls to Compensate for Unused Time A recent report from the Inspector General for Tax Administration states "the lack of compensation for unused sick leave at retirement has contributed to the higher amount of sick leave used by FERS employees" and that a change to the use-it-or-lose-it rule might be warranted if the change is less expensive than the current policy. . . . . more OPM Halts Work on Retirement Calculator OPM officials discuss why the agency has ceased work on the retirement calculator and what it plans to do while attempting to move ahead . . . . more

Federal Retirement Resources Retirement Job Search Resources for Federal Employees A directory of retirement job search sites and best companies to work for as a retiree . . . more CHECKLIST: Your Survivor's "Peace of Mind" Have you provided your survivors with the critical details they will need when you pass away? Use this checklist to make sure your survivors have peace of mind. . . . more VIDEO: Retirement Planning Tips and Trends for Baby Boomers View online videos (free): a two-part documentary from PBS that explores the many challenges and opportunities faced by the 78 million Baby Boomers who are now heading into retirement . . . more FEHB and Medicare: How They Work Together for Federal Employees A brief overview of how the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Plan and Medicare work together. Includes a handy FEHB and Medicare primary payer reference chart. . . . more Retirement Relocation Tools: Taxes, Community Comparisons and More Several useful websites that will help you examine the "best fit" location for your desired retirement lifestyle. . . . more 2008 Federal Pay Tables General Schedule and Locality Charts 2008 federal employee pay raise tables and locality charts are now available . . . more 2009 Federal Pay Raise More federal retirement resources