If passed, the Equal COLA Act would end the disparity between the two federal retirement systems (CSRS and FERS) and ensure all federal retirees receive full cost-of-living adjustments on their annuities more…
FERS (Federal Employees Retirement System)
Guide to Federal Retiree COLAs: What Are They and How Are They Calculated?
Ed Zurndorfer gives an overview of an often confusing topic: Understanding what the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) is, how it is computed, and how it affects CSRS and FERS annuities, survivor annuities, and other federal employee death benefits. Several practical examples are included more…
How Part-Time Service Can Affect a FERS Employee’s Benefits – Part II
Ed Zurndorfer discusses the effect of FERS part-time employment on annual leave and sick leave accrual rates, the Thrift Savings Plan, and insurance benefits (health, life, dental and vision, and long-term care insurance). more…
How Part-Time Service Can Affect a FERS Employee’s Benefits – Part I
Ed Zurndorfer discusses the effect of part-time FERS employment on the FERS annuity and the FERS survivor annuity more…
How to Report Excess Earnings for FERS Annuity Supplement Recipients
Ed Zurndorfer discusses the earned income – salary/wages/net self-employment income – reporting requirements for FERS Special Retirement Supplement (SRS) annuity recipients including a review of eligibility requirements, how the annuity is calculated, possible reductions due to excess earnings, the reporting deadline (June 30), and how to report earnings to OPM. Several practical examples are included. more…
Using OPM’s ‘Federal Ballpark E$timate’ Calculator for FERS / CSRS
The Office of Personnel Management has updated it’s online calculator that projects annuity for FERS, CSRS and Thrift Savings Plan benefits to help federal employees more…
OPM Reminds Federal Employees, Retirees to Use Updated Beneficiary Designation Form
The form allows the named beneficiary to receive any lump-sum benefit which may become payable under CSRS or FERS more…
Lawmaker Reintroduces Equal COLA Act for Federal Retirees
If passed, the legislation would guarantee that federal retirees in the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) and the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) both receive the same annual percentage cost of living adjustment each year more…
2023 COLA Estimated to be 8.7%
A nonpartisan seniors group predicted last week that the 2023 cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security retirement benefits could be as much as 8.7% — the largest increase in nearly 40 years more…
Lump Sum Employee Benefits Paid to Eligible Beneficiaries of Deceased CSRS and FERS Employees
Ed Zurndorder explains what the lump sum credit is, the rules that apply in paying the lump-sum credit to eligible surviving family members, and the procedures the eligible surviving family must follow to apply for the lump-sum credit more…