Retirement Benefits

Bipartisan Senate bill would boost pay, alleviate grueling schedule for federal firefighters

New legislation would shorten federal firefighters’ work week from 72 hours to 60 and would ensure their overtime work is properly compensated via the Federal Employees Retirement System.

Why federal retirements are spiking this year

A sharp rise in retirement claims may be tied to fear instead of planning. If you're eyeing the exit, make sure you're not rushing into something you'll regret.

What’s really going on with Social Security? Here’s what the latest numbers say

Benefits won’t disappear in 2033, but the clock is ticking. Here’s what federal retirees need to know.

TSP funds continued their upward swing in June

Each of the portfolios in the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program gained value last month.

All provisions targeting federal worker benefits, unions stricken from Senate reconciliation package

The Senate parliamentarian previously ruled that most of the proposals aimed at cutting federal employees’ retirement benefits and civil service protections violated a rule to ensure reconciliation bills are budgetary in nature.

Retired and confused about Medicare Part B? You’re not alone

From late penalties to premium reimbursements, here’s what every retired fed should understand about enrolling in Medicare Part B—and how it works with your FEHB plan.

Tax-free…or not? Avoid these 4 Roth TSP mistakes

Not all money in a Roth Thrift Savings Plan account is automatically tax-free, and there are several things to consider before making a withdrawal to avoid tax and other penalties.

Most fed-targeting provisions in Senate reconciliation bill don’t pass Byrd muster

The Senate parliamentarian over the weekend found that many proposals targeting federal workers and their unions violate the Byrd rule and would require 60 votes to advance in the chamber.

Senate strips most retirement cuts from reconciliation, but anti-civil service provisions remain

Under language released by a Senate panel Thursday night, new federal workers who decline to serve as at-will employees will pay nearly 15% of their paycheck toward their pension benefit.

Think you're ready to tap your TSP? Here's what you might be missing

Before touching your Thrift Savings Plan funds, make sure you understand the rules—and the risks—you might not have planned for.

TSP funds rebound following months of losses

Only one portfolio in the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program finished May in the red.

The ‘new deal’ for federal retirement: What the latest FERS proposals really mean for your benefits

Federal retirement has been a hot topic on Capitol Hill lately, with proposed changes sparking plenty of questions. Here’s a look at what’s on the table now.

Answers to some of your frequently asked questions about federal retirement

If you're thinking about retiring from federal service, here's what you need to know first.

House passes reconciliation bill that cuts federal employee retirement benefits

Though Democrats were able to excise a plan to base federal retirees’ annuity payments on their highest five years of salary, rather than the current high-3, proposals to eliminate the FERS supplement and to charge employees for their civil service protections remain on the table.

Retirement cuts tweaked in House reconciliation package

The latest draft of the GOP’s plan to cut federal spending to pay for tax cuts and increased immigration enforcement no longer un-grandfathers federal workers hired before 2014 from increased retirement contribution rules passed in the 2010s and delays implementation of the FERS supplement.

House GOP’s law enforcement ‘exemption’ from retirement cuts is illusory, groups say

A pair of organizations representing federal law enforcement officers urged lawmakers to strengthen carveouts of an array of proposed cuts to federal workers’ retirement benefits but stopped short of calling for their withdrawal.

OPM touts ‘fully paperless’ retirement application, though concerns remain

Sources warn that the Trump administration has overstated both DOGE’s role in developing online retirement applications and its potential impact on the retirement process.