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Benefits News 
Top News
- SES bonuses under fire at GSA, other agencies
- VA's Gould moves the needle on VA challenges
- Obama appoints Danny Werfel acting IRS head
- Photo Gallery: Meet the 2013 Service to America Medal Finalists
- Next-gen Apple devices cleared to join Defense IT networks
- In fight over intelligence IT system, Army prioritizes access to data
- White House wants to root out copycat programs - starting with STEM
- Pentagon furloughs to begin July 8
- Causey: Don't work or we'll fire you!
- House bill protects homeland security budget
- Intelligence Community free from furloughs
- DoD aims to speed approval process for mobile devices
- OMB fuels the passion, synergy between mobile, open data
- GAO, OMB spar over whether to measure data center cost savings
- Agencies craving STEMM talent should bolster skills of persuasion
- DoD wants to know real costs of IT business systems
When a "COLA" is not a "COLA"
Federal benefits specialist Bob Braunstein and host Bob Leins discuss in detail the pay adjustment system for feds and retirees.
August 27, 2012
Legislative roundup: What feds should expect when Congress returns to work
Jenny Mattingley hosts of roundtable discussion of legislation pending in Congress that affect federal workers.
August 24, 2012
The "best of" your questions, part 3
Bob Leins and Tammy Flanagan discuss the "best of" subjects brought up during recent seminars.
August 20, 2012
Bill would expand fertility coverage for veterans
A bill being considered in the Senate would expand the VA's medical benefits package to cover veterans, and their spouses or surrogates.
The Perfect Score: Supporting Small Businesses to Achieve 100% Adoption of Direct Deposit via ACH
Studies have shown that Direct Deposit via ACH use in the U.S. is approximately 75 percent. Direct Deposit is simple, safe, smart, and environmentally friendly, so why are a quarter of Americans still receiving paper checks? In many cases, the answer is surprising - it's because the employer doesn't offer it. Two-thirds of small businesses in the United States don't offer Direct Deposit to their employees. Small businesses in the United States are growing - paying 43 percent of total U.S. private payroll - and these employers have customized needs. More work is needed to help them better understand the role Direct Deposit can play in simplifying their business practices and creating an employee benefit. Panel representatives will discuss this "last mile" in Direct Deposit adoption, efforts to engage small business owners and employees, and what opportunities exist for them in participating in Direct Deposit via ACH.
Federal Pay: Misteakes Wuz Made
Are the experts doing all those federal pay studies working from the same database and on the same page? Or are they even on the same planet, which would explain why you are either overpaid 50 percent in one study or underpaid at least 20 percent in another, says Senior Correspondent Mike Causey.
Answers to your long-term care insurance questions
Mary Lou McGuinness, director of care coordination for Long Term Care Partners, discusses who needs long-term care insurance and the policy options that are available.
August 6, 2012
Calm Before The Storm
August is hot in DC, Atlanta, Houston, St. Louis and Cincinnati and lots of other places too. But those of us inside the Beltway get a break you don't...that's because for the next month...until after Labor Day, tens of thousands of the people who at times make this such a toxic town are away — back with the folks who sent them here in the first place.
Enforcement of SCRA results in expansive settlement with national lender
A recently announced consent decree between Capitol One and the Justice Department is the most sweeping settlement as the Justice Department ramps up enforcement of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act.
TSP faces challenges in adopting socially responsible investment fund, report says
The Government Accountability Office compared an existing socially responsible investment stock index to the stock portfolio of the federal Thift Savings Plan and discovered several barriers existed for feds hoping to adopt a more socially conscious approach to their retirement planning.
Less take-home for feds, retirees
Thanks to the 800-pound gorilla in the room, both federal workers and retirees may suffer a cut in take-home pay next year, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.
OPM unveils proposed, final rules expanding benefits for same-sex partners
The Office of Personnel Management is planning changes to the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, by proposing to allow children up to age 26 to stay covered by their parents' FEHBP plans. The rule would also apply to children of same-sex domestic partners enrolled in the program. In a separate final rule published in the Federal Register, OPM announced child-care subsidies provided by agencies would also be expanded to include the children of same-sex domestic partners. That rule goes into effect Friday.
The FEW list
Janet Kopenhaver, Washington representative for
Federally Employed Women, will talk about the
impact of some bills pending in Congress that
affect federal employees.
July 18, 2012
Planning for your future
Certified financial planner Karen Schaeffer answers the best financial planning questions from recent NITP seminars.
July 16, 2012
Navy says 'no' to lawmaker's layoff request
Rep. Scott Rigell's (R-Va.) asked the Navy to postpone its layoff dates for a year. The Navy is laying off 3,000 sailors to help balance its force profile.
VA tackles claims backlog with new priority approach
The agency will organize incoming claims into one of three categories based on the difficulty in solving them as part of an effort to increase efficiency. The Veterans Benefits Administration also is seeking other ways to reduce the number of backlogged cases such as new training for employees, said VA's Allison Hickey, the undersecretary for benefits.
Fortunate feds: Job stability, retirement and health benefits
Senior Correspondent Mike Causey once again turns over to longtime reader, Dennis S., who spent a long time with Uncle Sam and a lot of time in the private sector. He says both the government and the private sector have their upsides and downsides. But he thinks its important to appreciate what you've got and live in the moment.
Long, hot summer for feds
Democrats control the White House and the Senate, while Republicans call the shots in the House. So what impact has divided government had on federal workers? Some people think things could be a whole lot worse if one party ran all three operations at the same time, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.
Financial planning & long term care
Host Mike Causey will talk estate planning with attorney Tom O'Rourke, and long term care with Paul Forte and Mary Lou McGuiness of Long Term Care Partners.
June 27, 2012(Encore presentation July 4, 2012)
USPS overpays pension obligations by $13.1B, report says
A new inspector general audit revealed that the Postal Service has overfunded its pension benefit obligations by nearly 105 percent. While this might seem to be good news for the cash- strapped agency, legislative action will be required for USPS to get back the $13.1 billion surplus it paid into its employees' pensions.
