Mike Causey's Federal Report is the best way to stay up to date on the latest issues affecting federal pay, benefits, and retirement. Plus, Mike's funny. New Federal Report columns can be found each weekday morning right here on FederalNewsRadio.com. Bookmark Mike's homepage or have his columns delivered directly to your email.

Which is better: Too much or not enough?

For millions of current and future federal retirees Medicare Part B is the 800-pound gorilla in the room ... should you pay the money to keep it, or run away, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey wonders.

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Is there life after work?

Once you take the oath of office to Uncle Sam there are only three ways out ... and if you take the smart one, you could be in for some big surprises, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.

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Retiring? Think canned food and cash

So how long could you hold your breath underwater? If your income was cut 40 to 50 percent what would that do to your standard of living, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey wonders.

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Washington knows how to shovel it!

When it comes to shoveling it, official Washington is years ahead of anybody else. Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says this applies to snow-day policy matters too.

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Snow shutdown: What could possibly go wrong?

What's the toughest decision the government's chief people person has to make? Here's a hint: It's usually triggered by a winter storm in the nation's capital, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.

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Kim Kardashian's impact on teleworking

Washington's been hit with a series of shockers this year ranging from an earthquake followed by a hurricane and a heat wave followed a freak cold snap. Now we learn that Kim Kardashian's idyllic marriage has crumbled. Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says this could be the news that kickstarts the government's telework program.

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High-priced health plans ailing

After years of being asleep at the health-insurance switch, it appears that many federal workers and retirees are actually doing more than complaining about higher premiums, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.

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Buyout bait: Tart or tasty?

Would you quit your job for a relatively small cash payment and a 0.3 percent raise?That's the choice facing thousands of federal workers this month, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.

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Midlife crisis: Life or death?

Is it more important to provide insurance for your family after you've gone, or while you are still around but pretty much helpless? It's a dollars-and-sense option people should check out, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.

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Does it pay to work?

Are you better off financially slogging it to work or sleeping in five days a week. Some people say that all things considered they would be better off as a retiree than as an office serf. So do the math, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.

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Good time to watch your back

A picture is starting to form about what federal and postal workers can expect from Congressional budget-cutters. And as you probably suspected, it isn't pretty, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey.

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Long-term care: Your clock is ticking!

Saving money on long-term care insurance premiums is easy: All you need is to sign up a couple of weeks before a stroke or accident makes it impossible for you to dress, bathe, eat or get in and out of bed. If you don't know that horrible, magic moment, check out Senior Correspondent Mike Causey's column today.

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Everybody's got a price. What's yours?

Would you take a buyout if the boss offered you one? You might want to decide now because if and when an offer comes, it won't be on the table very long, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.

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Playing Russian roulette with your health plan

Are you one of those federal workers that is unwittingly playing Russian roulette with your lifetime health coverage? Mike Causey says you should be aware of the so-called 5-rule to protect your health insurance coverage when you retire or take a buyout.

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The perfect storm for buyouts

Congress, the economy and the White House are all moving in a direction that is likely to create the perfect storm for widespread buyouts within the federal service, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.

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It's official: COLAs back in style

The 3.6 percent cost-of-living adjustment due most federal retirees in January could jump-start retirements in many federal agencies — especially if Congress decides to extend the current two-year freeze on federal salaries, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.

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Jumpstarting a brain drain

Since the 1990s some experts have predicted a retirement tsunami, a brain drain that would take out some of Uncle Sam's best and brightest, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says. So far they have been dead wrong, but is this the year? We'll know in a couple of months.

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Who's that turkey in the mirror?

What do current federal workers and turkeys have in common with royal prisoners held after the French revolution. Key phrase: Impending cuts, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.

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Finding feds' G-spot

For many federal workers there is one place you don't go, don't touch. It's their G-spot which, in this case, refers to the giant Group Plan, the FEHBP, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says. So does the G-spot bring you pleasure or pain?

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Seniors carrying sex-crazed colleagues?

Is it fair that a healthy young couple must pay the same health premiums as an older family with lots of kids and major medical issues, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey wonders. For that matter, should a healthy elderly couple have to subsidize two sex-crazed younger workers?

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