Analysts give a projection of the 2027 cost-of-living adjustment for retirees. While now estimated to be higher than this year’s COLA, experts say it still falls behind the actual cost of living for most seniors more…
FERS (Federal Employees Retirement System)
Divorce After Federal Retirement: What Happens to Your Benefits?
There are life events occurring during a federal retiree’s retirement that can affect their retirement benefits. Ed Zurndorfer discusses the effect of divorce after retirement, and how it affects a survivor annuity, health benefits enrollment, and beneficiaries for for Thrift Savings Plan, and life insurance concerns. Includes both CSRS and FERS scenarios, practical examples, and the necessary forms more…
2027 CSRS / FERS COLA Watch for Federal Retirees
Follow the trend for the 2027 cost-of-living adjustment for those under the Civil Service Retirement System, the Federal Employees Retirement System and Social Security more…
Marriage During Federal Retirement
There are life events occurring during a federal retiree’s retirement that can affect their retirement benefits. Ed Zurndorfer discusses the effect of marriage when a federal retiree gets married after retiring from federal service including providing a survivor annuity, changes to health benefits enrollment, beneficiary changes for Thrift Savings Plan, and life insurance concerns. Includes both CSRS and FERS scenarios, practical examples, and the necessary forms more…
Federal Employees & Retirees: Are You Getting Shortchanged on COLA?
Federal employees may hear “COLA increase” and assume their retirement income keeps full pace with inflation, but under FERS, the cost-of-living adjustment can work differently than many expect. Before you retire, it is important to understand how the FERS COLA, CSRS COLA, Social Security COLA, and your overall federal retirement income may interact over time more…
FERS Disability Retirement Annuity Calculation and Other Benefits
Ed Zurndorfer outlines the three ways a FERS disability retirement annuity is calculated (3 stages based on age), and the other benefits received in this type of retirement (including spousal survivor annuity, military service deposits, health and life insurance, and Thrift Savings Plan withdrawals). A practical example is included. more…
Understanding the Difference Between FERS Regular (Immediate) Retirement and FERS Disability Retirement
Disability retirement should be used only when attempts have been made to preserve an employee’s federal employment, and those attempts have failed. Ed Zurndorfer outlines the differences between a FERS immediate (and unreduced) retirement and a FERS disability retirement — including the minimum retirement age requirements, the FERS basic annuity, the FERS retirement annuity supplement and concerns regarding the Federal Employees Health Benefits and other benefits. more…
The Choice of FERS Disability Retirement or Workers’ Compensation
Ed Zurndorfer discusses a FERS-covered employee’s decision to either get disability retirement or receivie workers’ compensation benefits. In some situations, the employee may be eligible to receive both. more…
FERS Disability Retirement: Eligibility Requirements & Application Process / Review
Ed Zurndorfer outlines the requirements that a FERS-covered employee must fulfill in order to qualify for a disability retirement — and the criteria the Office of Personnel Management considers in determining whether to approve it. Included are a list of necessary forms and how to appeal if OPM denies the application. more…
How to Calculate a Retiring Federal Employee’s Starting FERS Gross Annuity
Ed Zurndorfer explains who the Office of Personnel Management makes the calculation of a retiring FERS employee’s starting FERS gross annuity at retirement. more…