Workforce
Social Security is directing employees who normally process benefits to answer phones instead
After shedding thousands of employees, SSA is reassigning workers amid fears the moves will cause backlogs to grow.
Pay & Benefits
TSP investments begin 2026 in the black
Each of the portfolios in the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program gained value in January.
Pay & Benefits
Federal retirees face new COLAs, premiums and earnings limits in 2026
Annual adjustments to retirement benefits, FEHB costs, Social Security rules and TSP limits are now taking effect.
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
Could this be true?
An influx of federal retirees due to the Deferred Resignation Program and other separation programs has led to a litany of new questions on how to receive retirement benefits.
Pay & Benefits
How federal retirement benefits are calculated and where estimates go wrong
High-three pay, length of service and overlooked reductions can significantly change retirement payouts.
Pay & Benefits
OPM inspector general flags top management challenges for fiscal 2026
The latest report highlights staffing reductions, rising retirement claims and ongoing customer service and improper payment concerns.
Pay & Benefits
Domestic TSP funds falter to close out 2025
Most portfolios within the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program were flat last month.
Pay & Benefits
Retiring soon? Key decisions every federal employee must make
From survivor benefits and health coverage to leave payouts and TSP choices, federal employees nearing retirement face deadlines that can permanently shape their finances.
Pay & Benefits
OPM’s retirement application pile remains large as the year draws to a close
New retirees awaiting full benefits may face holiday heartache as the backlog swelled to nearly 50,000 by the end of November.
Pay & Benefits
Just days remain to lock in 2026 health and benefit choices
Open Season closes Dec. 8. Review FEHB and PSHB plans, savings opportunities, HDHP and FSA options and enrollment rules before the deadline.
Pay & Benefits
TSP funds mostly flat in November
Though only one of the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program’s portfolios lost value last month, none exceeded 1% in returns.
Updated
Pay & Benefits
Marjorie Taylor Greene retirement launches speculation about congressional pensions
For former members of Congress, pension and health care benefits can depend on your tenure.
Pay & Benefits
Mailbag Week: Retirement applications and processing
A look at common retirement-processing snags, what causes delays and where OPM’s newer systems fit into the picture.
Pay & Benefits
How federal employees over 65 can navigate Medicare, FEHB and TRICARE
Understanding Medicare enrollment, FEHB coverage, and TRICARE can help retirees avoid penalties, save money and coordinate benefits effectively.
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
OPM’s retirement backlog skyrockets as deferred resignees begin offboarding
The federal government’s dedicated HR agency is sitting on the most pending retirement applications since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pay & Benefits
Growth slowed in most TSP funds in October
Despite a slowing rate of return, last month still marked the third consecutive month in which all portfolios in the Thrift Savings Plan all increased in value.
Pay & Benefits
Cost-of-living adjustments will stay relatively static in 2026
Civil Service Retirement System retirees will see a 2.8% increase to their defined-benefit annuities next year, compared to just a 2% bump for Federal Employees Retirement System annuitants.
Pay & Benefits