Benefits News 
Top News
- DoD to pursue commercial alternative to VA's VistA
- FedRAMP achieves another cloud security milestone
- OMB reworking financial systems to focus on outcomes, not inputs
- PHOTOS: Meet the 2013 Service to America Medal Finalists
- Causey: Today, everybody's a Sooner
- House GOP panel moves on deep budget cuts
- Star witness to stay mum for House hearing on IRS
- OMB director taps VanRoekel to lead management team
- Lew taps government retiree pension fund
- SBA starting new lending program for veterans
- New Apple devices cleared to join DoD IT networks
- Army prioritizes access to data in fight over intelligence IT system
- DoD upends slow approval process for mobile devices
- Senior execs' bonuses under fire at agencies
- Wednesday federal headlines - May 22, 2013
It could have been worse. Really?
Federal workers who have been paying attention to the various plans to have them finance unemployment benefits, highways and tax cuts must be confused, if not in a state of shock, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says. Could it be that the only people who are happy are those who haven't been paying attention?
GOP senators unveil new Medicare overhaul plan
Two Republican senators unveiled a Medicare overhaul Thursday that features an accelerated transition to private health insurance for many seniors, a gradual increase in the eligibility age, and higher premiums for middle-class and upper-income retirees.
New feds' pension contributions increase under payroll tax cut deal
Federal pension contributions would increase under a compromise deal to extend a payroll tax cut and pay for jobless benefits through 2012.
OPM defends yo-yo effect of pay, benefits proposals
Director John Berry said the proposition in the 2013 budget request to increase pay by 0.5 percent and increase the contributions employees pay to their retirement by 0.4 percent is "responsible" and "protects the benefit." OPM also would have to figure out how best to meet its mission with a flat budget next year. Berry said his top priority is reducing the backlog of retirement claims.
Congress to feds: We feel your pain
Over 20 bills affecting federal employees' pay, benefits, and pensions have been introduced by members of Congress in the past year. Federal employees tell Federal News Radio those are the kinds of things directly affecting their morale and motivation. What does Congress think about that? Federal News Radio asks both Republicans and Democrats as part of our series, "Managing Morale."
Congress plays tug-of-war over federal benefits
Federal Times Editor Steve Watkins, Senior Writer Sean Reilly,and NARFE Legislative Director Julie Tagen will discuss how government employees will be affected by proposed cuts to the federal budget.
February 15, 2012
Federal unions claim sneak attack in unemployment insurance deal
Two federal unions, the American Federation of Government Employees and the National Treasury Employees Union, say lawmakers removed the increase in federal employee contributions from the payroll tax extension, but added it to the unemployment insurance extension, which is part of the overall deal. The unions say if the provision becomes law, feds would see a pay decrease while everyone else would see an increase.
Feds as reluctant swingers
When you think of federal workers, the term "swinger' isn't the first thing that pops into your head. But after some of the changes politicians want to make, anything could happen.
Option to put unused leave toward TSP part of House bill
The provision — part of a larger transportation bill — would allow retiring federal employees to put their unused annual leave toward their TSP.
A look ahead at estate planning
Estate planner Marc Levine discusses possible changes to tax laws that could affect estate plans.
February 13, 2012(Encore presentation April 9, 2012)
Updated: DoD to quadruple TRICARE fees for higher-earning retirees
The personnel proposals included in the 2013 Defense Department budget include hikes to healthcare fees, cutbacks in both uniformed and civilian personnel. DoD also plans to save money through continued efficiencies and plans to increase the acquisition workforce.
Pay raise, increased retirement contributions in President's FY2013 budget request
President Obama's fiscal 2013 budget request released today ends the two-year federal pay freeze but increases contributions feds will have to make toward their retirement benefits.
Bill to cut federal retirement benefits saves $44B, CBO says
The House bill — H.R.3813 — would require federal workers to contribute 1.5 percent more of their salaries toward retirement over three years and end a supplemental payment for early retirees under the Federal Employee Retirement System.
Closing the 'gap' gap
White-collar federal workers on average are either overpaid by about 16 percent or paid an average of 26.3 percent less compared to their private-sector counterparts. Those numbers confirm that there is a pay gap. But that's about it, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says. Could they both be right? Or wrong?
Feds on the road to nowhere
Congress is taking a new road, literally, in its drive to trim federal retirement benefits and force civil servants to kick in more to their pension plan, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says. This time its the so-called highway bill ...
Will fed's benefits change in 2012?
American Federation of Government Employees President Jacque Simon will discuss whether your federal pay and benefits will be cut this year.
February 8, 2012
Congress and you — what could possibly go wrong?
A federal worker, who boxed in college and the Army, says in the last two years he's gone from a happy-go-lucky fed to feeling like he's fighting two opponents and the referee, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey say. So can this get any worse? Short answer, maybe.
Roth TSP launch closer with new draft regulations
The rollout of the Roth option for the Thrift Savings Plan, which would allow federal employees to invest already-taxed income, has long been discussed in the federal pay-and-benefits world. That launch moved another step closer, with the planned publication Wednesday of draft regulations in the Federal Register. And TSP participants will soon have more information about what the plan will look like.
Off with your wigs!
No matter what condition your hair is in, the vast majority of federal workers get a new wig every one, two or three years. But that may be about to change, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.
'Outstanding' January TSP returns lead to record $302B account balance
The Thrift Savings Plan has hit an eye-popping milestone. The Thrift Savings Fund balance — the total invested across the TSP's 4.5 million accounts — climbed to $302.1 billion by the end of January, Tom Trabucco, the director of External Affairs at the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, told In Depth with Francis Rose.
