The Social Security Administration (SSA) has issued updates on the progress of the implementation of the Social Security Fairness Act which repealed the Windfall Government Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). The updates answer questions of when beneficiaries will see their benefits increase, how many months of benefits they will receive, and issues regarding Medicare premiums more…
CSRS (Civil Service Retirement System)
Update to Proposed Federal Retirement Benefits Cuts
The changes affect several provisions in legislation approved by the House Budget Committee, including an increase in FERS employee pension contributions, elimination of the FERS annuity supplement, and changing the method of calculating federal retirement annuities for new retirees more…
OPM to Launch Digital Retirement Application Processing System in June 2025
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) announced Wednesday that a new digital retirement processing system… more…
Children Survivor Benefits Are Available to Federal Employees Who Retire Under Early Retirement or Discontinued Service Retirement
Ed Zurndorfer discusses the child monthly survivor annuity benefit including qualifications for a child monthly survivor annuity and when it starts, the amount of the child monthly survivor annuity benefit, and when the child monthly survivor annuity ceases more…
Electing FERS Spousal Survivor Benefits When Retiring
No matter which type of retirement a federal employee chooses and is eligible for, an employee has the option of offering a survivor annuity to one individual. Ed Zurndorfer discusses FERS spousal survivor benefits and their importance for married employees when retiring under immediate retirement, Voluntary Early Retirement Arrangement (VERA), Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment (VSIP), Discontinued Service Retirement (DSR) and deferred retirement more…
OPM ‘Retirement Quick Guide’ to Help Federal Employees
The guide is designed to help employees know what to expect as their retirement application is processed and benefits are determined — plus assist in estimating when they can expect to receive their interim and first annuity payments more…
Reduction in Force (RIF) Fact Sheets
As government agencies reduce their budgets through a Reduction in Force (RIF), federal employees are often left confused.. Chris Kowalik provides fact sheets focused on the Voluntary Early Retirement Authority (VERA), Voluntary Separation Incentive Pay (VSIP), Discontinued Service Retirement (DSR), and Severance Pay. By removing the ambiguity and answering very common questions on each topic, you can better navigate your decisions and understand the consequences of each program more…
4 Myths About Taxes in Retirement
Chris Kowalik explains why taxes can derail an otherwise great retirement plan, and how a little tax planning will help protect your retirement savings in the long run more…
What Happens to Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) in Early or Deferred Retirement?
Ed Zurndorfer discusses what happens to a federal employee’s health, dental and vision benefits when the employee leaves federal service before normal retirement age more…
What Happens to Life (FEGLI) and Long-Term Care Insurance (FLTCIP) in Early or Deferred Retirement?
Ed Zurndorfer discusses what happens to federal employee life insurance and federal long-term care insurance benefits when a employee retires or leaves federal service before normal retirement age more…