Pay & Benefits

VA's failure to use its new authority to boost pay for doctors draws bipartisan criticism

Department officials, including those in the Trump administration, have long complained that legal pay caps are hurting retention and veteran care.

Pay & Benefits

How to ensure your federal retirement benefit is correct

OPM processed more than 33,000 retirement claims in early 2026. Learn how your FERS benefit is calculated and how to verify your creditable service.

Pay & Benefits

OPM to FEHB carriers: Cut costs, MAHA style

In the federal HR agency’s annual letter to insurers, officials called for the end to cash incentives for childhood vaccine adoption and urged insurers to require therapy before prescribing GLP-1 drugs to combat obesity.

Pay & Benefits

DHS employees to begin receiving paychecks this week

The Homeland Security Department is still shut down but Trump has ordered immediate back pay anyway.

Pay & Benefits

OPM leans into 'well care' as it reshapes federal health plans for 2027

OPM’s annual guidance to federal health plans outlines a shift toward preventive, whole-person care in 2027, along with changes to coverage, obesity treatment and gender-affirming care.

Updated Pay & Benefits

Trump’s budget calls for 2027 pay freeze

Though the president’s fiscal 2027 budget proposal calls for a 7% pay raise for military service members, it fails to mention civilian federal employee compensation.

Pay & Benefits

Trump says he’ll pay all DHS workers after House again fails to end 48-day shutdown

The House was expected to pass the Senate’s measure funding most of the Homeland Security Department through September on Thursday morning, but didn’t take action.

Pay & Benefits

Traveling soon? What federal health plans actually cover

Peak travel season is here, but most federal workers don't know what happens if they need care abroad. From upfront costs to medical evacuations, here is what your FEHB plan does and doesn't cover when you are out of the country.

Pay & Benefits

Most TSP funds tumbled in March

The federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program was not immune to the economic headwinds brought on by President Trump’s war with Iran.

Pay & Benefits

TSA workers receive back pay after 4-week delay as DHS shutdown continues

The Homeland Security Department has been shuttered for 45 days as Congress remains at an impasse, making it the longest government shutdown in history.

Pay & Benefits

The Social Security clock is ticking faster than expected

The Social Security problem isn’t new, but the timeline just got shorter, and the fixes are still the same.

Pay & Benefits

How federal retirement benefits have changed over the years

From FERS to TSP to recent legislation, decades of policy shifts have reshaped how federal employees earn, save for and receive retirement benefits.

Pay & Benefits

Women in federal service still face retirement gaps

Lifetime earnings, career interruptions and caregiving responsibilities continue to shape retirement outcomes for women in federal service.

Pay & Benefits

The No. 1 thing to know entering retirement: How much are you really spending?

Many new retirees may overestimate how far their savings will go towards their budget. Having an idea of your cost of living can make them go further.

Pay & Benefits

A year after the Social Security Fairness Act, some retirees are still waiting for full benefits

The repeal of the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset should have restored benefits for everyone. For some retirees, the checks are still coming late or not at all.

Updated Pay & Benefits

House Dems want to know why retirees aren’t getting physical tax documents from OPM

Nine House members inquired about reports that constituents have not received physical copies of their 1099-R forms and have had difficulty contacting the federal HR agency to request them.

Pay & Benefits

Most TSP funds were flat in February

Only the Thrift Savings Plan’s international fund saw growth in excess of 2% last month.

Pay & Benefits

How to make the most of FERS, Social Security and your TSP

Understanding each part of your federal retirement can help you plan when and how to retire and avoid surprises.

Pay & Benefits

Why your federal benefits may not protect your family the way you think

While federal employee benefits can assist beneficiaries in the event of a loved one's death, it's important to understand the rules of those plans and how to best seamlessly apply them to your survivors.