Pay & Benefits

Court sides with Biden administration in dismissing federal employee union’s effort to eradicate debt default threat

Federal workers do not have standing after Congress narrowly avoided forcing them to work without immediate pay, judge rules.

Pay & Benefits

Pay Agent: Locality pay increases, when implemented, need to be calculated specifically to job skills

But annual pay adjustments by profession is a long-running organizational idea that has been too difficult to actually implement, one expert says.

Pay & Benefits

Survivor Benefit confusion: part one

Choosing a survivor benefit should be a very simple decision, but often it can be complicated.

Pay & Benefits

COLA adjustments will slim for federal retirees in 2024

The annual announcement that some retired federal workers will receive a 3.2% increase in their annuity payments, while others will get only a 2.2% boost, has revived calls to standardize annual adjustments across retirement systems.

Pay & Benefits

President’s Pay Agent OKs another tweak to locality pay areas

The counties of Clallam and Jefferson in Washington state could be included in the Seattle-Tacoma locality pay area as early as 2025.

Pay & Benefits

The federal retirement backlog just hit another recent record low

The Office of Personnel Management’s inventory of pending retirement claims from former federal workers reached its lowest level since 2017 for the second time this year.

Pay & Benefits

World Investor Week: Learn more and protect yourself

The global campaign promoted by the International Organization of Securities Commissions aims to raise awareness about the importance of investor education and protection.

Pay & Benefits

A closer look at 2024 Federal Employee Health Benefits premiums

Wondering how the increase might impact your FEHB plan choice? We’ll walk you through it.

Pay & Benefits

The federal firefighter ‘pay cliff’ has been averted, for now

The 45-day continuing resolution preventing a government shutdown also includes language ensuring federal firefighters don’t lose access to recent pay increases whose funding was expected to run out this month.

Pay & Benefits

Report reveals differing federal employee insurance withholding information between USDA, OPM 

An OIG audit found differences of federal employee withholding reporting between the two agencies, leading to several employees being charged incorrect life insurance amounts and another wrongly waived from coverage.

Pay & Benefits

TSP funds continued to fall in September

For the second straight month, the vast majority of the portfolios in the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program declined in value.

Pay & Benefits

Federal payroll processor: Oct. 11 is deadline to avert feds’ getting incomplete paychecks

If Congress fails to restore funding to federal agencies, most federal workers will only receive a partial paycheck on Oct. 13.

Pay & Benefits

Federal workers will pay 7.7% more towards health insurance premiums in 2024

Next year, the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program will feature new coverage of anti-obesity medication, as well as expanded access to mental health, assistive reproductive technology and gender-affirming care.

Pay & Benefits

Long term care insurance: Sharp hike in premiums for feds means enrollees face tough choices

Experts say although long term care is in the cards for most older Americans, an upcoming spike in LTC insurance premiums for feds who are enrolled is just part of a pattern that will remain unbroken until Congress and policymakers act on the neglected—but vital—broader issue of long term care and accompanying costs that will affect a majority of federal families. The program remains closed to new applicants.

Pay & Benefits

Odds of a fix for impending wildland firefighter ‘pay cliff’ improve, but complications remain

Union officials say they’ve received assurances from leadership in both the House and Senate that Congress will work to avert massive pay cuts that could kick in next month.

Pay & Benefits

Best Dates to Retire 2024

Looking forward to moving on next year? Here’s a calendar showing optimal dates.

Pay & Benefits

Process and payment questions are always paramount in shutdowns

How and when contractors get paid if the government shuts down are among many questions contractors have. Here is a glimpse at some answers.