Retirement
Selecting a Survivor Annuity: What Should You Do?
Married employees considering retirement have choices regarding the survivor annuity. Do they want/need it? If they do opt for the survivor annuity, how much do they want it…
Retirement
Stay informed with the latest federal employee retirement news, including updates on FERS and CSRS, retirement eligibility rules, OPM retirement processing, and TSP performance as it relates to long‑term retirement planning. This category covers annual COLA updates, TSP news, survivor benefits, military service credit, retirement application guidance, and major OPM policy changes or federal legislation that could affect federal retirement benefits. Find clear, timely information to help current and former federal employees navigate retirement planning, benefit calculations, and post‑retirement considerations.
Retirement
The Best Day to Retire From Now Until 2020
What is the best day for a federal employee to retire? Here are suggested retirement dates through 2020 from a federal retirement expert.
Retirement
The Looting of Social Security: The Code of Silence
The author says that he was surprised to find that members of Congress and the media have been mostly silent on sharing information about what he refers to…
Federal Workforce News
Understanding the Social Security Earnings Test
Not everyone understands how the Social Security earnings test works and how it may impact your retirement income. Here is an explanation.
Retirement
Thirteen Years of Increases for Employees vs. FERS and CSRS
Employees and retirees live in the same environments and are subject to the same increases in the cost of living, but the general, annual raise they get is…
Federal Workforce News
How to Calculate Your 2012 COLA Payment
The COLA percentage amount for both FERS and CSRS was announced on October 19. OPM has issued official guidelines on how to calculate your COLA increase.
Federal Workforce News
Social Security Changes for 2012
Lost in the interest over the 3.6% COLA announced by Social Security (and reported in FedSmith) on Wednesday, October 19th, are several other Social Security changes for 2012.
Retirement
3.6 Percent COLA for 2012
After two years without any increase in the cost of living adjustment (COLA), there will be an increase of 3.6% for those who receive the full amount of…
Retirement
The Looting of Social Security: The So-Called Trust Fund “Bonds”
The Social Security Amendments of 1983 included a hefty payroll tax hike that was designed to generate large Social Security surpluses for about 30 years. These surpluses were…
Retirement
Annuity Retirement Processing Time will get Worse
Many FedSmith readers have commented on the excessive time it takes OPM to process the paperwork for full annuity payments. It is likely to get worse instead of…