Pay & Benefits

OPM expands job roles receiving 3.8% law enforcement pay raise

OPM Director Scott Kupor designated more job roles eligible for the special pay rate created for federal law enforcement. 

Updated Pay & Benefits

How federal employees can protect a spouse in retirement

To better understand their potential benefits and financial risks in retirement, both spouses should be aware of some benefits planning realities.

Pay & Benefits

Defense Department set to issue new civilian employee awards by end of the month

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in December directed department components to designate awards of up to $25,000 in an effort to “retain, reward, and recognize” the top 15% of civilian employees in each agency.

Pay & Benefits

Signals of a slowdown: What federal employees should do with their TSP right now

If the U.S. is headed for a recession, federal employees need not panic about their investments, but instead strategically assess what their financial goals are.

Pay & Benefits

FEHB and Medicare Part B: Do FEHB plans reduce coverage if you don't sign up for Medicare?

Making decisions on whether to enroll in Medicare for many federal retirees could depend on how it interacts with existing health insurance coverage.

Pay & Benefits

OPM finalizes rule simplifying recruitment and relocation incentive waivers

The final regulation allows the federal government’s HR agency to delegate its authority to offer recruitment and relocation incentive payments to other agencies. 

Pay & Benefits

More Border Patrol supervisors could become eligible for overtime pay

Under the Border Patrol Supervisors Retention Act, managers and senior agents up to GS-15 could receive a 50% overtime payment currently limited to GS-12s.

Pay & Benefits

Finding purpose in retirement: A guide for government employees

Retirement planning is not only about financials, but also about redefining one's identity outside of their career.

Pay & Benefits

Open Season advice for annuitants

Federal annuitants often don't have the same flexibility as federal employees when it comes to offsetting their health insurance costs, making it important to keep certain strategies in mind when weighing Open Season enrollment.

Pay & Benefits

Delaying Medicare Part B: Why the penalty isn’t always as bad as it sounds

For federal employees with FEHB coverage, the timing of Medicare Part B enrollment can make a bigger difference than the penalty itself.

Pay & Benefits

How long will OPM keep paying for feds’ health insurance during the shutdown, a senator asks

Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., requested details on how the federal HR agency’s plans to fund its health insurance trust funds with federal employees still not being paid during the shutdown.

Pay & Benefits

When 500 companies don't equal diversification: A TSP reality check

Investing your TSP funds in the top 500 U.S. companies may seem safe and straightforward, but that depends on how those investments are weighted.

Pay & Benefits

How part-time work affects your FERS pension

Federal employees considering a shift to part-time hours have several factors to consider when it comes to their retirement benefits.

Pay & Benefits

Reintroduced bill would shield federal employees from shutdown-related foreclosures and evictions

Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, has reintroduced a bill that would let federal employees and contractors defer financial problems caused by a government shutdown, a proposal he has introduced multiple times since 2019.

Pay & Benefits

Revived bill aims to ease financial strain on federal employees during shutdown

Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, D-Va., has reintroduced legislation by former Rep. Jennifer Wexton, D-Va., that would require regulators to issue new guidance to help prevent financial hardship for federal employees and contractors caused by budget impasse.

Pay & Benefits

Maryland Dems float unemployment insurance for federal workers during shutdown

Congressional Democrats aim to provide benefits to federal employees forced to work during the shutdown, and other pay and benefits news you may have missed this week.

Pay & Benefits

Lawmakers propose elevating POW benefit eligibility and offering a citizenship path for immigrant service members

One House bill aims to change the veterans’ health care benefits priority for former prisoners of war, while another tries again to offer an immigration path to noncitizens in the Armed Forces.

Pay & Benefits

Plan to expand PACT Act eligibility for 9/11 Pentagon personnel introduced

Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, D-Va., wants to provide Defense Department personnel present at the Pentagon following the 9/11 attacks access to benefits provided by the landmark veteran health care bill.

Pay & Benefits

Legislation to end government shutdowns returns to Capitol Hill

Rep. Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, and Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., have brought back a bill aimed at ending the costly budget impasses, a proposal that’s historically had little success in Congress.

Pay & Benefits

Is FEGLI Option B really the best life insurance choice?

FEGLI plans remain a solid life insurance option for federal employees, but, depending on the coverage, it may also be wise to look to the private market.