SPECIAL REPORT

Federal Benefits Under Attack

With an increased focus on reducing federal spending, lawmakers have introduced a string of bills targeting federal pay and benefits. They have suggested prolonged salary freezes and increased retirement contributions, among other measures that would affect civilians. Military members would not be immune. The TRICARE health insurance program for active duty service members is under scrutiny, for instance. Many of the changes are at the proposal stage, but some have been enacted. Most recently, President Obama signed into law as part of the payroll tax holiday extension a requirement that new hires contribute more to their pensions.
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SPECIAL REPORT

Defense Extends Benefits to Same-Sex Domestic Partners of Service Members

February 11 Memo from Defense Secretary Leon Panetta makes anticipated change official.

U.S. soldiers from the 4th Brigade, 82nd Airborne arrive to a yard where they will turn in their vehicles and equipment as part of drawdown of 23,000 U.S. troops at the Kandahar Air Field south of Kabul, Afghanistan.

Vets face delays in receiving benefits due to lack of records

November 12, 2012 Report finds units in Iraq and Afghanistan have not been managing their daily field reporting.

Poll: Will the prolonged pay freeze change your vote?

August 22, 2012 President is withholding a raise until Congress passes a budget.

Government extends some benefits to feds’ same-sex partners

July 20, 2012 Rules build on President Obama’s 2010 executive order.

Retired -- and Working

July 20, 2012 A new law makes it possible for feds to stay employed while easing into retirement.

House Democrats push health benefits for feds’ same-sex spouses

July 13, 2012 Lawmakers file friend-of-the-court brief in DOMA case.

Mistakes sharing death data could cost taxpayers

July 12, 2012 IG report finds Social Security recorded 1.2 million deaths improperly.

Firefighters win health care benefits

July 11, 2012 President Obama orders agencies to extend health insurance to part-time workers who battle wildfires.

Need Money? Rethink Life Insurance

June 22, 2012 The first in a series on making the most of your government benefits.

Long-Term Thinking

June 15, 2012 Three things to remember when considering long-term care insurance.

Benefits Roundup

June 8, 2012 A report from OPM’s spring conference in Dallas.

Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., co-sponsored the measure

Fed domestic partner benefits bill moves to full Senate

May 16, 2012 Committee reiterates the legislation is unrelated to same-sex marriage.

Union: Romney's Pay Claim 'Ridiculous'

April 26, 2012 AFGE chief rips presumptive GOP nominee for saying federal employees are paid too much.

Social Security can sustain benefits for only 20 more years, Geithner says

April 23, 2012 The estimate is three years earlier than the program trustees' last prediction.

Divorce Decrees

April 6, 2012 A look at the rules for how benefits for divorced feds and their spouses are handled.

Pay freeze extension on the table again

March 9, 2012 GOP Sen. Pat Roberts would use savings to offset the cost of tax relief, energy measures in transportation bill.

Feds aren’t alone in pension pain

March 6, 2012 State and local government employees are being asked to contribute more, too, and the reforms often apply to current and future employees.

Rep. Ross: I'm Not an Idiot

March 2, 2012 Do you get the feeling politicians aren't paying attention to what federal employees have to say about how things are being run in Washington? You may be wrong.

DOMA Still Dogs Domestic Partners of Feds

March 1, 2012 District court ruling isn’t enough to force the federal government to offer same-sex couples health benefits -- yet.

Union takes aim at bills cutting federal benefits, and at their sponsors

February 28, 2012 NTEU is paying particular attention to supporting fed-friendly candidates in Senate races, officials say.