Pick your benefits

The Thrift Savings Plan open season began Wednesday and ends Jan. 31, giving employees an opportunity to start contributing to their TSP accounts or change the way they have been investing their funds.

Employees under the Federal Employees Retirement System can invest up to 10 percent of their salary, up to the annual IRS limit ($10,500 for 2000), while those under the Civil Service Retirement System can invest up to 5 percent. All federal employees can choose from three investment funds-the Government Securities (G) Fund, the Fixed Income Index Investment (F) Fund and the Common Stock Index Investment (C) Fund.

For more information on TSP open season, go to the TSP Web site.

Meanwhile, open season for the Federal Employee Employee Health Benefits Program began on Monday. During this open season, which runs from Nov. 13 to Dec. 11, employees can enroll in a health insurance plan if eligible, change plans or options or change their insurance from covering just themselves to covering other family members as well.

If you need help comparing plans, see OPM's plan comparison Web site at: www2.opm.gov/insure/01/index.html. Another site, www.plansmartchoice.com allows users to compares health plans.

Also see GovExec.com's Open Season Guide at www.govexec.com/health

Moving Man's Best Friend

Uncle Sam is helping defray the cost of moving pets overseas for military service members and Defense Department civilians.

Pets are routinely quarantined before they are allowed to enter certain areas, including Iceland, Great Britain, Guam and Hawaii. Quarantines can last anywhere from 30 days to six months.

The government will pay $275 of the cost of quarantineing cats and dogs, but only when DoD employees have a permanent-change-of-station move.