Pay & Benefits
Feds in 2024 made almost a quarter less than their private sector peers
The Federal Salary Council, which reported the disparity, also recommended creating new locality pay areas in Kennewick-Richland-Walla Walla, Wash., and Syracuse-Auburn, N.Y.
Retirement decisions that can't be reversed
Here are the retirement decisions that require careful consideration since they cannot be changed.
House passes a bill eliminating tax provisions that harm some federal retirees
Despite solid bipartisan support, the Senate could run out of time to approve the legislation.
OPM’s retirement backlog ticked up slightly last month, though other metrics improved
Statistics measuring the federal government HR agency’s performance in processing departing federal workers’ retirement claims remained stable following the backlog’s removal from OPM’s list of top management challenges.
Feds find open season 'unpleasant'—but may miss thousands in savings
Federal enrollees have until Dec. 9 to make changes to their health coverage ahead of substantial premium increases.
The House finally appears set to repeal the WEP and GPO
Lawmakers in September successfully triggered a discharge petition to force a vote on legislation to get rid of the controversial tax provisions affecting some feds’ retirement benefits.
A primer on the FERS supplement
The Federal Employees Retirement System supplement can get complicated, so we answer some of your key questions about it.
Infertility benefit coverage from FEHB plans in 2025
Federal employees will have even more options for plans offering IVF coverage, including another national PPO plan.
GSA issues update to rules governing relocation expense reimbursement following real estate lawsuit
A recent deal to settle multiple lawsuits against the National Association of Realtors has changed how real estate agents are compensating, necessitating a tweak to how agencies reimburse federal workers who must relocate for work.
Most TSP funds took a tumble in October
Only two portfolios in the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program ended last month in the black, ending a three-month run of gains.
Your Open Season Q&A
Open Season begins on Nov. 11 for active and retired federal and postal employees. Let's get you ready.
An employee group is miffed by the new Postal Service insurance program’s Medicare Part D coverage
OPM said that they were restricted in how they provide prescription drug benefits to Medicare-eligible enrollees in the new Postal Service Health Benefits Program, but at least one employee association disagrees.
Updated
OPM doesn’t have documented customer experience plans for the Postal Service’s open season, OIG says
The HR agency has developed contingencies if there is a surge of customer experience requests during the Postal Service Health Benefits System’s first open season, but a new report claims that those plans aren’t either defined or comprehensive enough for the multi-agency operation.
Revisiting the WEP and GPO
How the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset cause substantial, and often, unfair reductions in Social Security benefits for CSRS retirees.
Why federal workers should consider an HSA
COMMENTARY | There is something exciting about having a health insurance plan that can reduce your taxes while also providing tax-free investment growth.
A Senate bill targeting teleworkers’ locality pay now has its companion in the House
Legislation introduced by Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., would bar federal workers from receiving locality pay if they telework at least once per week, a move that could amount to a 30% pay cut for many feds.
More than 200K postal employees are in line for a 5% raise spread over three years
The agreement took 20 months of negotiations but some workers think the raises are insufficient.
Biden administration forgives $4.5B in student debt for public service workers
The president said that more than 1 million public servants to date have had their federal student debt canceled.
10 important facts about Medicare
Some things you need to know when approaching Medicare eligibility.
New bills want to provide Gold Star survivors with better benefits, make it easier for former feds to return
The Gold Star Spouse Healthcare Enhancement Act aims to provide fallen service members’ partners with lower health care costs for longer, while the Return USA Act looks to create an on-ramp for former employees to return to federal service.
