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.
Mailbag Week: Retirement applications and processing
A look at common retirement-processing snags, what causes delays and where OPM’s newer systems fit into the picture.
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.
IRS hastens backpay timeline after union outcry
Contrary to a timeline offered by administration officials on Thursday, the Internal Revenue Service initially told employees on Friday not to expect any backpay until Nov. 24.
Trump admin says feds should get at least most backpay by Nov. 19
GSA and OPM workers will be the first to see the first month’s work of pay—belayed by the 43-day government shutdown—with what the White House is calling a “super check” that should be delivered on Saturday.
How federal employees over 65 can navigate Medicare, FEHB and TRICARE
Understanding Medicare enrollment, FEHB coverage, and TRICARE can help retirees avoid penalties, save money and coordinate benefits effectively.
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.
OPM’s retirement backlog skyrockets as deferred resignees begin offboarding
The federal government’s dedicated HR agency is sitting on the most pending retirement applications since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Use this checklist to make the most of 2026 FEHB Open Season
From rising premiums to fewer plan choices, this guide walks you through reviewing benefits, checking provider networks and using tax-advantaged accounts to keep your healthcare costs in check next year.
OPM’s new blog touts modernization while retirees wait for answers during the shutdown
In his “Secrets of OPM” posts, Director Scott Kupor outlines efforts to digitize retirement processing and improve efficiency, but offers little guidance for those caught in the shutdown backlog.
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.
Featured eBooks
FEHB costs are climbing in 2026. Here’s what that means for feds
From higher premiums to new IVF coverage, many plans are shifting next year. Here’s how to find out what’s different in your plan and what it will cost you.
Growth slowed in most TSP funds in October
Despite a slowing rate of return, last month still marked the third consecutive month in which all portfolios in the Thrift Savings Plan all increased in value.
Employees are receiving renewed furlough notices as shutdown enters second month, this time without back pay guarantees
The shutdown is heading into November, sparking new, altered furlough notices to 650,000 employees.
What federal employees need to know about Medicare enrollment
An updated guide to timing, parts, costs and coordination so you don’t get stuck with penalties or surprises at 65.
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 for Trump and Congress continues in shutdown, unless they ask it be held
Some congressional members of both parties have asked that their paychecks be withheld until the current government shutdown can be resolved.
Cost-of-living adjustments will stay relatively static in 2026
Civil Service Retirement System retirees will see a 2.8% increase to their defined-benefit annuities next year, compared to just a 2% bump for Federal Employees Retirement System annuitants.
Dueling plans to pay feds on-time fail in Senate, though a bipartisan path forward appears
Sens. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., and Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., appeared to agree to negotiations Thursday afternoon on a plan to pay federal employees and potentially contractors amid the ongoing government shutdown.
Shutdown or not, there are things to do
The government shutdown has raised lots of questions about the retirement process, and retirement benefits, for federal employees while agencies remain closed. Here are some of the most pressing answers.
