Free Email Newsletter
| Close | Change | YTD | |
| G | $13.2114 | +0.0012 | +0.70% |
| F | $13.6201 | -0.0062 | +2.14% |
| C | $13.8116 | -0.0706 | +4.49% |
| S | $17.9282 | -0.1903 | +8.91% |
| I | $18.5079 | -0.0782 | -0.16% |
| Close | Change | YTD | |
| L 2040 | $16.1968 | -0.0789 | +3.59% |
| L 2030 | $15.9593 | -0.0673 | +3.23% |
| L 2020 | $15.7365 | -0.0532 | +2.72% |
| L 2010 | $15.4595 | -0.0197 | +1.57% |
| L Income | $14.0856 | -0.0155 | +1.48% |
FERS Sick Leave Credit and Locality Pay for Some Federal Employees Passes in House
Home | About Us | FAQ's |
Site Map | Terms of Use |
Privacy Policy |
RSS 
|
Twitter 
| Mobile
© 2010 FedSmith Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Locality Pay for Alaska/Hawaii
BLM
Sun Jun 28, 2009 11:41 PM
Post Reply
The locality/COLA article by Ralph Smith left out an important point - especially for those near retirement and seeking a federal job in Alaska or Hawaii. COLA is not factored into the retirement calculation. For example, a GS-11, Step 5 in D.C. has about the same annual salary as a GS-11, Step five WITH COLA in Anchorage. Because COLA (currently 23 pecent) is excluded from the retirement calculation, the D.C. retiree will receive an extra $77,000 over twenty years of retirement, assuming they both have 30 years of credible service toward retirement. The sad part is that Alaska and Hawaii federal job announcements do not inform the prospective employee of this fact. Look before you leap!
Overseas Workers in Foreign Countries
USAF
Mon Jun 29, 2009 8:01 AM
Post Reply
I work for an USAF agency (AFETS) that requires employees to agree to permanent change of station (PCS) moves to foreign overseas locations. Going overseas loses you your locality pay although you get a cost of living allowance (COLA) (pretty generous too!). The bad thing is the locality pay counts towards retirement and the COLA doesn't. This skews your social security earning for retirement and, if you're close to retirement age, skews your high three for retirement. These drops in accountable income can cost significant decreases in retired pay over the life of the employee. Congress needs to address these pay inequities too.
Re: Overseas Workers in Foreign Countries
AFETS
Thu Jul 23, 2009 5:15 PM
Being AFETS, you are most likely managed out of Langley and lump into Civilian Personnal. They deal with many civilians (other than AFETS) but they are disgusted with AFETS leadership the most.
Some thing to know..
Overseas AFETS are entitled to 15 days of Home Leave (they get 5).
Overseas AFETS do not have to pay federal tax unless you return to the states one time within that year. The individual is required to submit his/her own tax exempt status.
AFETS people do not get fired (Malone, Samples, Lutz and them can't do it) they will just make your life as difficult as possible and hope you "Move on".
All this said.. "you can't fight city hall"
There are lots of problems with AFETS, sometimes it just better to shut up and color; you sign a mobility agreement.
Locality pay/overseas workers
DOD
Mon Jun 29, 2009 11:41 AM
Post Reply
Geologist
BLM
Sun Jun 28, 2009 11:41 PM
AFETS
USAF
Mon Jun 29, 2009 8:01 AM
Maybe part of the problem is the misuse of terms. Retirees get a COLA; active civilians perhaps get locality pay or local market supplement. Overseas you do not get a COLA or lms or locality pay; you got an overseas housing allowance; perhaps a post supplement; perhaps a supplemental post allowance. So if someone were to ask what the COLA was I would look up what retirees got.
Re: Locality pay/overseas workers
USDA
Tue Jun 30, 2009 9:20 AM
The original COLA was designed so that people living in remote areas that have very high shipping or living costs could afford to live there. (This was long before locality pay was implemented)
Since Locality pay DOES apply to retirement calculations, the current system has the net affect of lowering the retirement of an employee in Alaska and Hawaii in comparison to someone doing the SAME job elsewhere.
It is time to make the system the same no matter where in the United States you live.
buy back temp time?
SBA
Mon Jun 29, 2009 10:17 PM
Post Reply
I was reading the Bill and it looks like we can buy back temp time if this thing ever passes? That would be nice, I have 2 years I would LOVE to buy back and I just started my fed career.
FERS RETIREMENT
HOSPITAL
Tue Jun 30, 2009 8:08 AM
Post Reply
it's not fair to be penalized when you need to retire as "disabled".
why is it that you pay for your pension, pay social security, but when you need to leave they pay you social security and "dock/fine" you 60% of your pension? why are we fined for getting ill? the amount i'd receive would not be enough to even meet my mortgage payment let alone meds, car payment and survival needs. yes, i was a normal working person till now. we do not ask or wish to be ill. why do you take our monies but make rules not to give it back even though we paid into both accounts.
Just Pay Us For It
USAF
Thu Jul 16, 2009 5:46 AM
Post Reply
I say just pay us for the sick leave we save.
That last bill that got thrown out was ridiculous.
1% added to your retirement pay for FERS would give you about $12 to $20 a month. I have over 1400 hours with 22 years of service. At that rate it would take somewhere around 56.5 years to get paid back for being at work all time and not burning it up.
As I said, just pay me for it or partially pay me for it or something. This includes CSRS people also if they want it.
Show us that you appreciate a little of what the workforce does for you. I mean I do hear all the time that I should be thankful that I have a job. Shouldn't the government be thankful that I come in all the time and do the job they need done? That is why I have so much sick leave built up.
FERS Credit for Unused Sick Leave
IRS
Thu Jul 16, 2009 11:57 AM
Post Reply
Concerning FERS unused sick leave; Why would this be combined with a tobacco bill? I hope someone will be persistent in bringing this to the table. It's one area that needs revision.
Thanks for the infomation.
Carol Bergen