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.
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.
House Dems urge utilities to keep lights on for feds amid shutdown
With the prospect of their first full missed paycheck just days away, federal workers already are seeking outside support, whether via food banks or side jobs.
Featured eBooks
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.
What FEHB changes mean for your 2026 health coverage
Premiums are shifting, and the government contribution varies. Here’s what to know to avoid surprises and save where you can.
What to know when your child ages out of federal health coverage
Children can stay on a parent’s FEHB or PSHB plan until 26, but understanding the 31-day extension, conversion options and Temporary Continuation of Coverage is key to avoiding gaps.
Dems, Murkowski demand White House guarantee backpay for furloughed feds
The White House continues to insist that the 2019 Government Employees Fair Treatment Act does not guarantee backpay to furloughed federal workers after every shutdown.
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.
Democrats float immediately paying feds working through shutdown as Congress again rejects bill to reopen government
In addition to the military, some senators say air traffic controllers and other civil servants should get their paychecks on time even as shutdown drags on.
Federal and postal workers to see double-digit health care premium increases again next year
Federal employee groups decried the second consecutive year of premium increases eclipsing 10 percent amid a government shutdown and a proposed 1% pay raise for non-law enforcement personnel.
IRS walks back retroactive pay guarantee for furloughed feds one day after making it
The agency has deleted the original email from employees' inboxes.
What to expect while you’re expecting (your retirement benefit, that is)
The OPM director uses his weekly updates to detail efforts to replace paper applications, guide employees through the Online Retirement Application system, and address delays and data issues in retirement processing.
