Pay & Benefits
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.
Pay & Benefits
A closer look at 2025 FEHBP premiums
Open Season is just a few weeks away, and costs are increasing this year. What does that mean for federal employees?
Pay & Benefits
New bill eyes uniformed services benefits for public health corps reservists
The proposed legislation would provide reservists in a Health and Human Services component with health, education and leave benefits that are similar to other service members.
Pay & Benefits
Why do employees want to be feds? Benefits are a big reason
In a 2023 OPM survey, 90% or more of federal employees said that the availability of health and retirement benefits are important to them.
Pay & Benefits
Employees at Latin American aid agency vote to unionize
Workers at the Inter-American Foundation almost unanimously voted to join the American Federation of Government Employees last week amid claims of no in-house human resources and an undermanned staff.
Pay & Benefits
Lack of guidelines scuttled VA’s goal to expand access for substance use disorder treatment
The department’s inspector general found that despite budgeting to hire more than 1,000 substance use disorder treatment staff at its medical centers, it only netted 310 new employees in the first year.
Pay & Benefits
The sunsetting of the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act: What federal employees need to know
COMMENTARY | Learn about the potential changes and start planning now to mitigate any adverse effects on your financial situation.
Pay & Benefits
House subcommittee wants VA to put more of a spotlight on its veteran employment program
In a field hearing of the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, House members pressed for more insights and potential exposure of the Veteran Readiness and Employment program.
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
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
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
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 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
OPM wants agencies to tally their senior executive needs
The federal government’s HR agency has requested biennial projections for the number of SES and scientific professionals that agencies will likely need through 2027.
Pay & Benefits
The importance of a federal employee 'love letter'
COMMENTARY | This gesture of love and care for your beneficiaries can be a great resource after you are gone.
Pay & Benefits
How to use the ‘Bucket Strategy’ to optimize your retirement savings
COMMENTARY | There are ways to strategically withdraw money in retirement to make your funds last longer.
Workforce
Put the telework debate to rest by focusing on productivity
COMMENTARY | Civil servants say telework improves productivity, but Congress wants data to prove it. Here’s one way OMB can reconcile the differences.
Pay & Benefits
OPM’s unfulfilled recommendations include health insurance benefits changes, IG says
The agency is making progress on implementing IG recommendations, but three of its top yet-to-be-completed recommendations included changes that would prevent improper and inaccurate payments within the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program.
Pay & Benefits
L Funds: A Love Affair
COMMENTARY | For these “set it and forget it” funds, “setting it” may require a bit more work than matching your birth year to the “right” fund.
Pay & Benefits