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.

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

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.

Pay & Benefits

Air traffic controller pay raise stalled by DHS shutdown

A House appropriations bill that previously authorized a 3.8% pay raise for air traffic controllers remains on hold as Senate Democrats continue to call for immigration policy reforms. 

Pay & Benefits

Roth in-plan conversions arrive for TSP, but consider tax implications first

Thrift Savings Plan participants need to carefully weigh the advantages and potential tax pratfalls of moving their balances to an after-tax investment strategy.

Pay & Benefits

OPM expands job roles receiving 3.8% law enforcement pay raise

OPM Director Scott Kupor designated more job roles eligible for the special pay rate created for federal law enforcement. 

Updated Pay & Benefits

How federal employees can protect a spouse in retirement

To better understand their potential benefits and financial risks in retirement, both spouses should be aware of some benefits planning realities.

Pay & Benefits

Defense Department set to issue new civilian employee awards by end of the month

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in December directed department components to designate awards of up to $25,000 in an effort to “retain, reward, and recognize” the top 15% of civilian employees in each agency.

Pay & Benefits

Signals of a slowdown: What federal employees should do with their TSP right now

If the U.S. is headed for a recession, federal employees need not panic about their investments, but instead strategically assess what their financial goals are.

Pay & Benefits

FEHB and Medicare Part B: Do FEHB plans reduce coverage if you don't sign up for Medicare?

Making decisions on whether to enroll in Medicare for many federal retirees could depend on how it interacts with existing health insurance coverage.

Pay & Benefits

OPM finalizes rule simplifying recruitment and relocation incentive waivers

The final regulation allows the federal government’s HR agency to delegate its authority to offer recruitment and relocation incentive payments to other agencies. 

Pay & Benefits

More Border Patrol supervisors could become eligible for overtime pay

Under the Border Patrol Supervisors Retention Act, managers and senior agents up to GS-15 could receive a 50% overtime payment currently limited to GS-12s.

Pay & Benefits

Finding purpose in retirement: A guide for government employees

Retirement planning is not only about financials, but also about redefining one's identity outside of their career.

Pay & Benefits

Open Season advice for annuitants

Federal annuitants often don't have the same flexibility as federal employees when it comes to offsetting their health insurance costs, making it important to keep certain strategies in mind when weighing Open Season enrollment.

Pay & Benefits

Delaying Medicare Part B: Why the penalty isn’t always as bad as it sounds

For federal employees with FEHB coverage, the timing of Medicare Part B enrollment can make a bigger difference than the penalty itself.

Pay & Benefits

How long will OPM keep paying for feds’ health insurance during the shutdown, a senator asks

Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., requested details on how the federal HR agency’s plans to fund its health insurance trust funds with federal employees still not being paid during the shutdown.

Pay & Benefits

When 500 companies don't equal diversification: A TSP reality check

Investing your TSP funds in the top 500 U.S. companies may seem safe and straightforward, but that depends on how those investments are weighted.

Pay & Benefits

How part-time work affects your FERS pension

Federal employees considering a shift to part-time hours have several factors to consider when it comes to their retirement benefits.

Pay & Benefits

Reintroduced bill would shield federal employees from shutdown-related foreclosures and evictions

Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, has reintroduced a bill that would let federal employees and contractors defer financial problems caused by a government shutdown, a proposal he has introduced multiple times since 2019.

Pay & Benefits

Revived bill aims to ease financial strain on federal employees during shutdown

Rep. Suhas Subramanyam, D-Va., has reintroduced legislation by former Rep. Jennifer Wexton, D-Va., that would require regulators to issue new guidance to help prevent financial hardship for federal employees and contractors caused by budget impasse.