Pay & Benefits

Feds in Iraq will continue to receive special premium pay, OPM says

Due to an ongoing national emergency in the country dating back to the 2003 war, civilian employees in Iraq will be able to waive the premium pay cap through December, according to a recent memo from the HR agency. 

Pay & Benefits

GSA: Per diem rates for federal workers will increase this fall

The amount of money federal agencies will reimburse employees for traveling expenses will increase for both lodging and for meals and incidentals beginning in October.

Pay & Benefits

Retirement planning issues for women

There are five retirement challenges that many women face when planning for their future.

Pay & Benefits

Focusing on the pay gap undermines the commitment to equity

COMMENTARY | The pay gap, as the Office of Personnel Management has defined it, is an artificial number comparing the average pay of men and women. This comparison pits men and women against each other, argues one observer.

Pay & Benefits

How to decide if Medicare Part D is right for you

Although most federal annuitants might benefit from keeping Part D, there are three instances where you could benefit from opting out.

Pay & Benefits

Soon feds may be able to file health insurance claims online

A new Biden administration initiative to crack down on “unnecessary headaches” for consumers will include plans for employees on the Federal Employees Health Benefits and Postal Service Health Benefits plans to submit out-of-network claims online, alongside other updates.

Pay & Benefits

Managing your Social Security benefits

Wondering when you should start receiving your Social Security benefits, how much it might be and if the Social Security trust fund will run out of money? We answer those questions, and more.

Pay & Benefits

Federal government needs better oversight of TSP’s records system

A GAO report found that the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board did not ensure that acquisition management practices were fully enforced when it modernized the system that oversees its 401(k)-style retirement savings program.

Pay & Benefits

OPM’s retirement backlog continued to creep higher in July

The Office of Personnel Management processed nearly 500 fewer retirement requests than it received last month, causing its backlog to inch up for the second straight month.

Pay & Benefits

Cassidy ties proposed 30% pay and benefits cuts to federal telework

The Louisiana Republican has introduced bills to bar federal workers from receiving locality pay if they telework at least once per week and excising locality pay from all future feds’ pensions.

Pay & Benefits

Senate appropriators endorse 2% pay raise for feds next year

With neither chamber in Congress willing to override President Biden, his plan to increase federal workers’ pay by 2% on average appears headed for implementation later this year.

Pay & Benefits

TSP boasts strong performance in July

Each of the portfolios in the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program gained value last month.

Pay & Benefits

Retiree Annuity Supplement: The icing on your retirement cake

This extra money can provide an income bridge until federal retirees are eligible to start Social Security.

Pay & Benefits

OPM finalizes rule to ensure temporarily promoted feds are paid properly

A two-decades old Office of Personnel Management advisory opinion capping increased pay for federal workers temporarily performing duties of a higher-graded position at 120 days inadvertently penalized workers rather than their errant employer.

Pay & Benefits

Roadblocks to TSP participation

Federal employees need to have a basic understanding of their retirement benefits from day one on the job.

Pay & Benefits

OPM details emergency leave transfer for feds affected by Hurricane Beryl

The federal government’s HR agency is allowing federal employees to donate their paid leave to those impacted by the storm that has caused an estimated $28 billion-$32 billion in damages and economic effects in the U.S. alone. 

Pay & Benefits

Justice employee group provides testimonials on the need for better IVF coverage for feds

Three dozen members of the Department of Justice Gender Equality Network described their experiences trying to conceive in a letter to OPM.

Pay & Benefits

OPM directs agencies to conduct pay equity studies

The gender pay gap in the federal government was 5.6% in 2022, meaning women federal workers earned on average 94 cents for every dollar earned by their male counterparts.

Pay & Benefits

Preparing for a smooth transition

Remember, it's your responsibility to maintain an accurate history of your federal service.