Retirement Benefits
Why your retirement experience may depend more on the agency than the benefit
Federal retirees interact with OPM, the Thrift Savings Plan and Social Security at different stages of retirement. Their latest performance data reveals starkly different customer service experiences and highlights where delays remain most likely.
OPM moves to implement long-awaited retirement fix for federal first responders
The First Responders Fair RETIRE Act, which ensures federal workers can stay on accelerated mandatory retirement schedules even if they transfer to another due to injury, was signed into law in 2022.
No more paper: Navigating OPM’s new digital retirement process
As the Office of Personnel Management completes its transition away from paper, federal employees and retirees must adapt to a streamlined — but strictly digital — process for securing their benefits.
Some TSP funds faltered in June
Following two straight months of gains, the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program posted a more muted performance last month.
The Medicare question federal retirees can’t ignore anymore
New projections for Medicare Part B costs are sharpening a familiar but increasingly expensive decision for federal retirees: whether Medicare enhances FEHB coverage enough to justify the added premium, or simply shifts where the costs show up.
Why Social Security’s funding gap matters to federal retirement
Most federal employees under FERS rely on Social Security as part of retirement. The latest trustees report suggests the choices to preserve full benefits are getting tougher.
A record number of feds are retiring. Will that slow your claim?
New OPM data offers clues about processing times, potential delays and why retiring employees may need a larger financial cushion than expected.
TSP funds kept climbing in May
Each of the portfolios in the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program gained value last month.
What retiring feds should do before asking for help
Clear timelines, complete records and focused questions can make retirement problems easier to resolve, especially as agencies face mounting workloads.
What federal employees get wrong about divorce and retirement
Errors involving survivor benefits, health coverage and court orders can create financial problems years after a marriage ends.
More GLP-1 options are coming for federal retirees, but they come with a catch
A new Medicare program launching July 1 broadens access to drugs like Zepbound and Foundayo, but federal annuitants need to know how the $50 copay will affect their catastrophic limits.
Waiting to retire could be worth thousands of dollars
Before you rush out the door, consider how a few more years of service can permanently boost your FERS annuity and Social Security benefits.
Featured eBooks
Weighing the costs and trade-offs of suspending FEHB for Medicare Advantage
COMMENTARY | An analysis of two markets shows some commercial plans provide the lowest estimated yearly costs, but federal annuitants must consider the required trade-offs like prior authorization and provider access.
TSP funds returned to growth in April
Each of the portfolios in the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program finished last month in the black.
They did everything right and still haven’t been paid
Months after retiring, some federal workers are stuck in a bureaucratic maze with no checks, no answers and no clear end in sight.
When retirement calculations don’t move on the same timeline
Retroactive pay changes and delayed annuity adjustments underscore how federal retirement processing often depends on timing, coordination, and most importantly, patience.
House Dems: OPM ‘omitted’ employee departures from retirement backlog investigation
In responding to a December 2025 congressional inquiry, the Office of Personnel Management noted the separation of around 35 customer service representatives last year, but failed to mention more than 100 departures from its Retirement Services division.
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.
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.
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.
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.
