Real Estate Contracting Officer FAA Fri Jun 26, 2009 8:40 AM
I am unhappy with the way our annual raises are being added. Our salary increases minimally, and a check is sent to us for the rest of the raise of course after taxes are deducted. That makes it difficult to improve your retirement income because the high 3 years is dramatically reduced. I am a FERS employee and approaching retirement age and my pension will be one third of my present salary including Social Security. That will not enable me to live a decent life unless I cut down on some necessities. Why can't that policy be changed? I have written my representatives and it seems they turn a deaf ear.
The politicians enjoy a great life after retirement and they pulled this trick on the government workers. Did they forget that they work for US, and we don't work for them?
Re: our government raises
Attorney DOD Fri Jun 26, 2009 10:19 AM
Real Estate Contracting Officer
FAA
Did I read your post incorrectly? It appears you are basing your high three on your net pay and not your gross? You also get a SS supplement until you reach 62 at which time you may start to draw ss and the supplement stops. If you retire at 62 your percentage is 1.1% times your creditable service and not 1%. Also for a FERS retiree you do not get a COLA until you reach 62. So if you are 57 y.o. and retire your COLA will not kick in for several years. So depending on the COLA's given you may be 15-20% behind when you reach 62. Last, you do not have to withdraw/"cash in" your TSP until about 70 y.o.a. In this current market you may want to wait or consider seeing a financial adviser to pull out your TSP and privately invest it.
Re: our government raises
worker Fed Tue Jun 30, 2009 9:20 AM
Did you contribute 5% per year to TSP? Did you get the 5% match? This should have made up much of the difference between CSRS and FERS. Of course the problem is that the stock market drop may have hurt your TSP. If that is the case, you may have to work longer for the market to recover and maximize your pension to about 40% of your top 3 salaries minus survivor benefit.
They have finally seen the light!
Supervisor DLA Fri Jun 26, 2009 8:44 AM
It's about time! Federal employees under FERS have been abusing their sick leave. Can you really blame them? Seriously, you offer sick leave, yet you don't reward those that don't use it, and work hard for the govt. I'm glad somebody finally had some common sense, and is doing the right thing. How some of these idiotic rules get put into place is beyond me, but then again, I wonder how the people who created the idiotic rules got their jobs. It's too early in the day to have a headache thinking about it. LOL
Re: They have finally seen the light!
worker Fed Tue Jun 30, 2009 9:22 AM
It was done by Ronald Reagan and his cronies. Unfortunately, it was passed by Congress.
Sick Leave
HR Anon Fri Jun 26, 2009 8:53 AM
Federal Employees and retirees to be need to lead by example. Selfless over Selfish, rather than say give me, give me, give me isn't time to say enough is enough
Re: Sick Leave
Clerk DOI Fri Jun 26, 2009 9:40 AM
You want "selfless over selfish?" Let those employees with their hands out for more birth/adoption pay lead the way!
Re: Sick Leave
Fed Peasant DOD Fri Jun 26, 2009 10:49 AM
NO!!!!
Re: Sick Leave
it speclst nps Fri Jun 26, 2009 12:17 PM
tsk. and you're in HR. Apparently you don't live in the affected areas or don't care. That fed employees that live and work in particular areas should be treated differently than the rest of us is ridiculous. Especially when it can affect your entire life after retirement. The senate needs to step up and pass it so Alaska and the Islands employees are treated the same regarding locality pay.
Re: Sick Leave
ANALYSIS USMC Mon Jun 29, 2009 9:17 AM
WELL - WE know that this HR person is a CSRS person, and
NOT a FERS person.
Let us be honest.
Otherwise this HR personnel would NOT be saying anything.
This HRO person is saying loud and clear:
YA - it is okay -- not to pay (give credit towards retirement) to FERS employees for sick leave,
BUT
YES - COntinue to give pay(Give credit towards retirement) to CSRS employees for sick leave.
No one is stupid.
IF a FERS person in the past did not use their sick leave they lost it at there retirement (OH they say the retirement stays in the goverment for when you come back in to work for the goverment, BUT - I know thousands of FERS personnel with over 1000 hours on the books that have retired and they NEVER come back into the governement - so it is called highway robber -- when the government keeps FERS sick leave) HR should get with the program and stop support the problem.
Re: Sick Leave
worker Fed Tue Jun 30, 2009 10:13 AM
I agree with the others and not with HR. By allowing sick leave credit we can reduce the FERS flu. It also increases morale. Stop with the name calling HR. You have not case.
I am a CSRS person and will not benefit from this action.
Re: Sick Leave
HR Army Tue Jul 7, 2009 9:25 AM
I am an HR Specialist also, and I have worked in the Benefits arena for over 25 years. I think that it is high time that the FERS employees received the same benefit as the CSRS employees when it comes to their sick leave. I have instructed many Leave courses and tell employees constantly that their sick leave is an insurance, but when you have been able to save it up so that you have hours when retirement eligible, why should you not get credit for it? In the long run it will cost the government less if they use it in the retirement computation as opposed to the FERS employee being out sick for most of their final days with the agency. And I do not believe that is selfish, they have worked hard for many years and have the leave accumulated because they were dedicated to the agency.
Re: Sick Leave
IT NOAA Thu Jul 23, 2009 2:53 AM
I didn't hear you complaining when you received credit for your sick leave and start receiving locality pay. But in case I was paying attention and you don't want locality pay nor receive credit for you sick leave, just make you checks payable to the US Treasury and mail them in. And you can deduct the cost of the envelope and stamp.
FERS Sick Leave Credit and Locality
Purchasing Agent USDA Fri Jun 26, 2009 9:43 AM
I wonder how this change will effect the Washington Gang. I am sure they benefit no matter what.
Locality Pay for Alaska and Hawaii
Contracting Officer USDA Fri Jun 26, 2009 9:47 AM
COLA in Alaska and Hawaii for federal employees is not taxable; but it also isn't part of your retirement pay. This means that someone in, for instance, Iowa getting 'rest of the US' pay can retire with a larger retirement than someone of an equal grade doing the same work in Alaska or Hawaii.
We lose people for the 'high three' so that they can increase their retirement pay. This is a drain on qualified people who SHOULD be able to work out their remaining years where they WANT to live, where family and friends are.
I congratulate the House for working to correct this inequity and look forward to the Senate doing the same.
Re: Locality Pay for Alaska and Hawaii
Engineer DOD Thu Jul 2, 2009 11:45 AM
We lose folks all the time going down south to get their "high three", after that they usually come back. It is the only way for us to receive the same retirement benefits as those in the lower 48 states. How much does this cost the gov in relocation costs I wonder....same goes for Hawaii. The COLA here in Ak is based on Alaska being OCONUS....is it?
locality pay alaska
land law examiner BLM Fri Jun 26, 2009 11:15 AM
How long will it be before the Senate votes on locality pay for Alaska?
I want disability insurance not banked sick days.
IT Guy DoD Fri Jun 26, 2009 12:01 PM
I tried getting disability insurance and couldn’t because I worked for the government. Give me short term disability insurance and you can cap my sick days and give me fewer. I keep them because they are my disability insurance.
Locality Pay for Alaska/Hawaii
Geologist BLM Sun Jun 28, 2009 11:41 PM
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
AFETS USAF Mon Jun 29, 2009 8:01 AM
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
Dwych AFETS Thu Jul 23, 2009 5:15 PM
AFETS follow its own rules. If someone tries to question them and raise a fuss; they use the mobility agreement to justify their decisions.... Then they will send you where you don't want to go and hope you resign..
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
Attorney DOD Mon Jun 29, 2009 11:41 AM
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
Contracting Officer USDA Tue Jun 30, 2009 9:20 AM
Alaska and Hawaii employees do get a COLA. They do not get locality pay or a 'market supplement. The COLA is not taxable but it doesn't count for retirement purposes.
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?
Loan Specialist SBA Mon Jun 29, 2009 10:17 PM
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
SECRETARY HOSPITAL Tue Jun 30, 2009 8:08 AM
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
transportation specialist USAF Thu Jul 16, 2009 5:46 AM
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
Manager IRS Thu Jul 16, 2009 11:57 AM
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
FERS SICK LEAVE BUY OUT
ANALYST DEPT OF THE NAVY Fri Jul 17, 2009 1:06 PM
why is it that csrs federal employees can get credit for un used sick leave and we fers employees are not being considered for this. really this is very un just and we all work for the same federal agency......really unfair plus..
will this ever happen for fers employees.....
r
FERS Sick Leave and Locality Pay
Lieutenant BOP Sat Jul 18, 2009 6:44 AM
I've built up over 1800 hours of sick leave. If the feds won't give me locality pay (Hawaii is too expensive to retire here), then I'll take my pay by using 100% of my sick leave.
our government raises
FAA
Fri Jun 26, 2009 8:40 AM
I am unhappy with the way our annual raises are being added. Our salary increases minimally, and a check is sent to us for the rest of the raise of course after taxes are deducted. That makes it difficult to improve your retirement income because the high 3 years is dramatically reduced. I am a FERS employee and approaching retirement age and my pension will be one third of my present salary including Social Security. That will not enable me to live a decent life unless I cut down on some necessities. Why can't that policy be changed? I have written my representatives and it seems they turn a deaf ear.
The politicians enjoy a great life after retirement and they pulled this trick on the government workers. Did they forget that they work for US, and we don't work for them?
Re: our government raises
DOD
Fri Jun 26, 2009 10:19 AM
FAA
Did I read your post incorrectly? It appears you are basing your high three on your net pay and not your gross? You also get a SS supplement until you reach 62 at which time you may start to draw ss and the supplement stops. If you retire at 62 your percentage is 1.1% times your creditable service and not 1%. Also for a FERS retiree you do not get a COLA until you reach 62. So if you are 57 y.o. and retire your COLA will not kick in for several years. So depending on the COLA's given you may be 15-20% behind when you reach 62. Last, you do not have to withdraw/"cash in" your TSP until about 70 y.o.a. In this current market you may want to wait or consider seeing a financial adviser to pull out your TSP and privately invest it.
Re: our government raises
Fed
Tue Jun 30, 2009 9:20 AM
They have finally seen the light!
DLA
Fri Jun 26, 2009 8:44 AM
It's about time! Federal employees under FERS have been abusing their sick leave. Can you really blame them? Seriously, you offer sick leave, yet you don't reward those that don't use it, and work hard for the govt. I'm glad somebody finally had some common sense, and is doing the right thing. How some of these idiotic rules get put into place is beyond me, but then again, I wonder how the people who created the idiotic rules got their jobs. It's too early in the day to have a headache thinking about it. LOL
Re: They have finally seen the light!
Fed
Tue Jun 30, 2009 9:22 AM
Sick Leave
Anon
Fri Jun 26, 2009 8:53 AM
Federal Employees and retirees to be need to lead by example. Selfless over Selfish, rather than say give me, give me, give me isn't time to say enough is enough
Re: Sick Leave
DOI
Fri Jun 26, 2009 9:40 AM
Re: Sick Leave
DOD
Fri Jun 26, 2009 10:49 AM
Re: Sick Leave
nps
Fri Jun 26, 2009 12:17 PM
Re: Sick Leave
USMC
Mon Jun 29, 2009 9:17 AM
NOT a FERS person.
Let us be honest.
Otherwise this HR personnel would NOT be saying anything.
This HRO person is saying loud and clear:
YA - it is okay -- not to pay (give credit towards retirement) to FERS employees for sick leave,
BUT
YES - COntinue to give pay(Give credit towards retirement) to CSRS employees for sick leave.
No one is stupid.
IF a FERS person in the past did not use their sick leave they lost it at there retirement (OH they say the retirement stays in the goverment for when you come back in to work for the goverment, BUT - I know thousands of FERS personnel with over 1000 hours on the books that have retired and they NEVER come back into the governement - so it is called highway robber -- when the government keeps FERS sick leave) HR should get with the program and stop support the problem.
Re: Sick Leave
Fed
Tue Jun 30, 2009 10:13 AM
I am a CSRS person and will not benefit from this action.
Re: Sick Leave
Army
Tue Jul 7, 2009 9:25 AM
Re: Sick Leave
NOAA
Thu Jul 23, 2009 2:53 AM
FERS Sick Leave Credit and Locality
USDA
Fri Jun 26, 2009 9:43 AM
I wonder how this change will effect the Washington Gang. I am sure they benefit no matter what.
Locality Pay for Alaska and Hawaii
USDA
Fri Jun 26, 2009 9:47 AM
COLA in Alaska and Hawaii for federal employees is not taxable; but it also isn't part of your retirement pay. This means that someone in, for instance, Iowa getting 'rest of the US' pay can retire with a larger retirement than someone of an equal grade doing the same work in Alaska or Hawaii.
We lose people for the 'high three' so that they can increase their retirement pay. This is a drain on qualified people who SHOULD be able to work out their remaining years where they WANT to live, where family and friends are.
I congratulate the House for working to correct this inequity and look forward to the Senate doing the same.
Re: Locality Pay for Alaska and Hawaii
DOD
Thu Jul 2, 2009 11:45 AM
locality pay alaska
BLM
Fri Jun 26, 2009 11:15 AM
How long will it be before the Senate votes on locality pay for Alaska?
I want disability insurance not banked sick days.
DoD
Fri Jun 26, 2009 12:01 PM
I tried getting disability insurance and couldn’t because I worked for the government. Give me short term disability insurance and you can cap my sick days and give me fewer. I keep them because they are my disability insurance.
Locality Pay for Alaska/Hawaii
BLM
Sun Jun 28, 2009 11:41 PM
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
FERS SICK LEAVE BUY OUT
DEPT OF THE NAVY
Fri Jul 17, 2009 1:06 PM
why is it that csrs federal employees can get credit for un used sick leave and we fers employees are not being considered for this. really this is very un just and we all work for the same federal agency......really unfair plus..
will this ever happen for fers employees.....
r
FERS Sick Leave and Locality Pay
BOP
Sat Jul 18, 2009 6:44 AM
I've built up over 1800 hours of sick leave. If the feds won't give me locality pay (Hawaii is too expensive to retire here), then I'll take my pay by using 100% of my sick leave.