Benefits
Tricare walk-in customer service ends
Tricare issued a reminder to beneficiaries that walk-in service at its customer service centers will cease April 1.
Benefits
Veteran employment rises in 2013
The unemployment rate among veterans who have served on active duty since September 2001 decreased last year to an annual average of 9 percent, according to new figures released by the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Employee Policy
VA discontinues yearly income reporting requirement
The Department of Veterans Affairs has dropped its annual requirement for most veterans enrolled in its health care system to report income information.
Benefits
OPM chief says law has reined in FEHB rate increases
The Affordable Care Act is improving care and lowering costs for the millions of beneficiaries enrolled in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, Office of Personnel Management Director Katherine Archuleta told attendees of an annual conference of health insurance carriers.
Pay
Senate panel cool on trimming military compensation
Senate legislators appear reluctant to let the Defense Department target military pay and benefits as part of the budget cuts imposed by Congress.
Benefits
Air Force opens applications for training
Air Force appropriated fund civilian employees this month can begin applying for intermediate and senior developmental educational opportunities, the Air Force Personnel Center announced.
Benefits
More vets employed in 2013
The unemployment rate among military veterans who have served on active duty since September 2001 dropped last year to an annual average of 9 percent.
Benefits
Telework: Snowstorms boost participation
Federal employees are teleworking more this year than last, with inclement weather—together with existing laws and initiatives—driving participation rates to new highs.
Employee Policy
Vets to get new health ID card
The Department of Veterans Affairs last week said it would begin the phased rollout this month of a new secure health identification card.
Benefits
SSA to use VA disability rating to expedite claims
The Social Security Administration this week debuted a new initiative to speed up Social Security disability claims for veterans who have a 100 percent permanent and total (P&T) disability compensation rating from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Benefits
Tricare for Life pharmacy pilot begins in March
Beneficiaries of Tricare for Life soon will be getting letters notifying them of a new pharmacy pilot program.
Benefits
Labor leader says fight will continue against proposed FECA change
The head of the National Treasury Employees Union said her group would keep on fighting legislative efforts that would result in cuts to federal workers’ compensation insurance payments for some beneficiaries.
Benefits
New tool helps vets sort through GI Bill educational benefits
The Department of Veterans Affairs this week launched an online tool to help service members, veterans and eligible family members calculate and learn about Post-9/11 GI Bill educational benefits.
Pay
Bill would impose five-year ban on VA executive bonuses
The House unanimously approved a bill that would ban performance bonuses for five years for Senior Executive Service employees at the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Benefits
Bill seeks to improve veterans benefits
The chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs last month laid out details on comprehensive legislation he has introduced that would reform and improve the nation's veterans benefits programs.
Benefits
Postal unions pan revised reform bill
The unions that represent rank-and-file postal employees urged members of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee to reject an amended version of a postal reform bill when it comes up for consideration by the committee this week.
Financial Planning
Special Feature: Informed Investor celebrates 500th column
This week, FEND published the 500th installment of Edward A. Zurndorfer's Informed Investor column. Since 2004, Informed Investor has been educating FEND readers on a wide range of subjects related to federal employee benefits and financial planning. On this anniversary, we took the opportunity to ask Ed some questions about himself and about the changes he's observed in the federal workplace over the past 10 years.
Employee Policy
Bill would improve wide range of veterans benefits
The chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs this week offered details on sweeping legislation he has introduced that would reform and improve the nation's veterans benefits programs.
Pay & Benefits
No Christmas Eve Off for Federal Employees
Obama administration decides to keep government open on Tuesday.
Pay & Benefits