Pay & Benefits

Retirement decisions that can't be reversed

Here are the retirement decisions that require careful consideration since they cannot be changed.

Pay & Benefits

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.

Pay & Benefits

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.

Pay & Benefits

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.

Pay & 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.

Pay & Benefits

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.

Pay & Benefits

Your Open Season Q&A

Open Season begins on Nov. 11 for active and retired federal and postal employees. Let's get you ready.

Pay & Benefits

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.

Pay & Benefits

10 important facts about Medicare

Some things you need to know when approaching Medicare eligibility.

Pay & Benefits

Time for the fall deadlines

A checklist to help you prioritize as you sort through your federal retirement and insurance benefits.

Pay & Benefits

Cost-of-living adjustments will decline for federal retirees again in 2025

For the second straight year, former federal workers will see a smaller increase to their defined-benefit annuities in January, with FERS retirees set for a 2% increase and CSRS annuitants a 2.5% bump.

Pay & Benefits

End-of-year retirement planning for federal couples 

Spouses who both work for the federal government can have some unique quandaries when it comes to planning for their retirement and health care benefits.

Pay & Benefits

TSP continues upward trek for third straight month

Each portfolio within the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program saw modest gains in September.

Pay & Benefits

The best dates to retire in 2025

Your annual guide to choosing an optimal day to start the next phase of your life.

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

Lawmakers force a vote on eliminating the windfall elimination provision

Reps. Abigail Spanberger, D-Va., and Garrett Graves, R-La., have secured the 218 signatures needed to force a vote on legislation that would kill two controversial tax provisions affecting some feds’ retirement benefits.

Pay & Benefits

Medicare quiz for federal retirees

Wondering why you need Medicare if you have lifetime health insurance coverage under the Federal Employees Health Benefits program? This quiz may help.