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• 31878
  

  while DOD civilians in the US get to count their locality pay in their high-three calculations for retirement, those over seas only count their base pay. Is there any movement to reduce this penalty for working overseas for DOD? The State Department treats its overseas employees as if they were being paid at the "all other areas" rate, for calculation of high-three purposes.

  Tom Perham Posted August 30, 2007 12:43 AM
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  I agree with William Ashley's comments. The government is going to pay an employee for taking "sick leave" anyway, so why not pay the employee for all the accrued sick leave in one lump sum when he retires and get him out of the federal system as quickly as possible. An employee who drags out his employment just to "use up" all his sick leave unfairly burdens other employees to do his work in his absence.

  P. M. Correa Posted August 28, 2007 1:20 AM
• 31655
  

  I agree with Female Fed. I have even a worse scenario. I don't qualify for any of my husband's social security because of my retirement benefits under the CSRS retirement. It took many years to finally move up and I had 15 years in before TSP came out. Still, my retirement is not close to what people who do not work for the Federal government get under social security. I don't see why I should not be entitled to my husband's social security if he should die before me, when, he is entitled to mine. I had the numbers run, and while both of us are alive I don't get a dime of social security, but if I die before him, the 40 quarters I earned that are not under civil service, enable him to collect over $600.00 a month in social security benefits after I am gone. This does not make sense, especially when I also receive 50% or less of his military retirement if he dies before me. Yet, if I die before him, he is not penalized and receives his social security, his military retirement in full and social security from me, to include survivors benefits under my CSRS retirement plan. Wondering.

  Donna Ching Posted August 27, 2007 10:05 AM
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  Though not related to these proposed bills, I hope there's a movement to give FERS retirees some credit for their unused sick leave. Because FERS retirees lose their accumulated sick leave balances (which they earned) upon retirement, many of them "call in sick" whether they are sick or not. This huts the agencies they work for. Some consideration should be given to those who don't "abuse" their sick leave, so that we do not have to lose all of our earned sick leave upon retirement. Thank you.

  William Ashley Posted August 27, 2007 8:20 AM
• 31562
  

  Does anyone know if Bills H.R. 1974 and S. 1166 will be retroactive if passed? If not those of us serving in a combat zone prior to the bill's passage will not be afforded the same benefit.

  Cashman Posted August 25, 2007 10:00 AM
• 31528
  

  My husband is on SS disability, and if he dies, my 50% widow benefit would then be further reduced by 2/3 because I worked for the goverment. Legislators keep trying to introduce legislation to get the GPO and WEP changed, but it never seems to go anywhere. Civil servants should be treated the same as everyone else.

  Female Fed Posted August 24, 2007 1:54 PM
• 31465
  

  Here's another disparity of premiums within the same provider, in that, since the beginning w/the first pay-period in January, 2007, medical insurance premiums went up 49 percent for all federal employees in Eastern Washington who are enrolled with Group Health Cooperative. Group Health Cooperative also services federal employees in Western Washington where they have one-stop facilities through out Western Washington, yet, those federal employees who must rely on facilities contracted out to Group Health in Eastern Washington were hit with a 49 percent increase. Inspite of calls to OPM in Washington DC, nothing was done. Similarly, calls to Representative Doc Hastings, resulted in no action. Any solutions?

  Federal Employee Posted August 23, 2007 12:49 PM
• 31448
  

  I believe the social security offset should be eliminated for all Federal Employees. There are many employees that feel they are being penalized for working for the U.S. government. Private company employees earn a pension and social security and I don't see where there should be a difference that constitutes disparit treatment. It creates a hardship for the retirees monetarily. I have earned and paid into my social security.....why can't I draw on it? Illegal immigrants and others that have not paid into social security can draw but I can't?

  Marta Hawotte Posted August 23, 2007 10:33 AM
• 31444
  

  Congress would rather keep the money to pay for all those illegal aliens. And any yo-yo who says that S.S. is not used for those people are sadly mistaken. It was used to make America an old age home for the Vietnamese; why not illegals?

  abbey Posted August 23, 2007 9:56 AM
• 31442
  

  I find it very interesting that the head of OPM is telling Congress that in her opinion, the Government contributes enough to our health insurance. Such support of workforce--not sure I can stand the applause the Bush administration is going to give this one!

  Linda Sullivan Posted August 23, 2007 9:32 AM
• 31441
  

  For S 1254, what personnel would this effect? Most government employees would receive greater than $1,200 per month in retirement benefits.

  Ray Devore Posted August 23, 2007 9:30 AM
• 31428
  

  I believe I should be able to draw Social Security, and my VA pension. I was a military wife for many years, and was late entering the federal work force. I also worked in the private sector. The offset should be done away with for employees like me, because I will need 30 yr's service in order to draw a decent retirement.

  Lori Simmons Posted August 23, 2007 7:28 AM