How Your FERS, Social Security and TSP Payments Get Taxed

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How is your retirement income, specifically your FERS annuity, Social Security, and TSP withdrawals, taxed for federal income tax purposes?  The taxable portion of each of these sources of income are taxed as ordinary income; that is, they receive no special tax treatment are taxed based on the bracket in which they fall.

The vast majority of your FERS annuity will be federally taxable.  You will not be taxed on the portion of your FERS annuity that is due to your already taxed contributions but, because you recoup your contributions bit by bit over your life expectancy, most of your FERS annuity is taxed.  The form 1099-R you receive from OPM will tell you how much is taxable.

It is quite likely that 85% of your Social Security will be subject to federal income tax at your rate for ordinary income, though some retirees will find that a lesser portion is considered taxable; the higher your income the higher the percentage of your Social Security benefit that is subject to federal income tax.  You will determine how much of your Social Security is taxable when you are filling out your tax forms.

Distributions from your traditional TSP are fully taxable for federal income tax purposes.  Distributions from your Roth TSP will be tax free if the withdrawals are qualified.  For a Roth withdrawal to be considered qualified, you must have had the Roth account for at least 5 years and be at least 59 ½ years old.  If your Roth withdrawals are not qualified, you will pay taxes on the portion of your Roth distribution that is due to earnings; withdrawn contributions are never taxable, because your contributions were made out of already taxed dollars.  In the Roth TSP (unlike a Roth IRA) Roth withdrawals come proportionally from contributions and earnings.

The above paragraphs tell how your retirement income is taxed – not how taxes are withheld from said income.  We’ll look at withholding in the paragraphs below.

Regarding your FERS annuity, you likely filled out a W-4P with your retirement papers and now taxes are being withheld from your monthly payments.  You probably based this withholding on the last W-4 you filed while still an employee and it will most likely cover all taxes due from your annuity.

On the other hand, Social Security will not withhold one red cent from your benefits for taxes unless you ask them to!  In order to be sure enough is withheld for taxes, you can:

Ask Social Security to withhold from your monthly payments.  You can do this when you apply (if you’re applying online, you do it in the “remarks” section of the form) or you can file a form W-4V after you have applied.

Make quarterly estimated tax payments.  These payments which are due on April 15, June 15, September 15 and January 15 (or a few days later depending on the day of the week the 15th falls on) require you to remember to set aside the money for the payment and remember to actually send it in.  I don’t trust my memory (or my ability to keep my hands off money that I have set aside) so, when I filed for Social Security, I requested that they withhold a percentage of my benefit for federal income taxes.  If I don’t see it, I won’t miss it.

The Thrift Savings Plan withholds taxes at different rates for different types of payments.  They have a booklet available on their website, tspbk26.pdf that contains a detailed table describing the withholding on each different type of withdrawal.  According to TSP statistics, the most common withdrawal is installment payments and with that type of withdrawal (if the payments are likely to continue for 10 years or more) taxes are withheld as if you were married, filing jointly, and claiming 3 exemptions.  This will almost certainly result in not enough taxes being withheld and might even cause a tax penalty.  Just because you’re not having taxes withheld doesn’t mean that you don’t owe taxes.

Most other types of payment from the TSP withhold at a 20% rate, which may (or may not) be sufficient to cover your federal income taxes.

Those of you who live in states that tax retirement income and/or Social Security should be aware that neither Social Security nor the TSP withhold state income taxes.  You will want to either make estimated payments to your state taxing authority or have more withheld from other sources of income.

If you’re just retired, or planning on retiring in 2023, plan on having enough money withheld this year to cover your taxes and avoid any penalties.  Remember, tax avoidance is OK – it’s tax evasion that’ll get you into trouble.

Finally, to get the best idea of where you stand going into retirement, we do suggest you get a Full Retirement Consultation with a Federal Retirement Consultant.  Please visit the contact us page to start the process to schedule your Free Retirement Review.

Congressional Democrats Propose an 8.7% Pay Raise for Feds in 2024

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The annually introduced bill would provide a 4.7% across-the-board increase in basic pay and an average 4% increase to locality pay.

Democrats in both chambers of Congress on Thursday introduced legislation that would provide federal employees with an average 8.7% pay raise in 2024.

The Federal Adjustment of Income Rates Act, introduced by Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., in the House and Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, in the Senate, would increase federal workers’ basic pay by 4.7% across the board next year, and provide an average 4% increase in locality pay.

The introduction of the FAIR Act has been an annual endeavor in recent years; last year, the bill proposed a 5.1% pay increase, split between a 4.1% across-the-board basic pay raise and a 1% average increase in locality pay. Although the bill is rarely acted upon, it could serve as an important marker as lawmakers and the Biden administration debate spending levels for fiscal 2024 as House Republicans demand cuts to government spending.

Connolly described the measure as a way to restore “years of lost wage increases” over the last decade due to government shutdowns, hiring and pay freezes and sequestration-related furloughs.

“For years now, federal employees have risked their health and safety working on the frontlines of this pandemic,” Connolly said. “They were subjected to the Trump administration’s cruel personal attacks, unsafe work environments, pay freezes, government shutdowns, sequestration cuts, furloughs and mindless across-the-board hiring freezes. Still, our federal workforce serves with dedication and distinction every day. Federal employees are our government’s single greatest asset, and they deserve better.”

The bill’s introduction drew swift support from unions and other federal employee groups.

“The 8.7% increase listed in the FAIR Act is not a pay raise,” said Randy Erwin, national president of the National Federation of Federal Employees. “It is a minimum increase needed to offset the dwindling checking accounts of public servants, and it is critical to recruiting and retaining the best possible workforce.”

American Federation of Government Employees National President Everett Kelley said that a sizeable pay increase is particularly important as the government tries to recruit new workers during a tight labor market.

“The latest report of the Federal Salary Council shows that federal worker pay lags behind the private sector by over 23%—making it difficult for agencies to recruit, hire and retain top talent and hurting the quality of services Americans receive,” he said. “The 8.7% pay increase included in the FAIR Act will not only reward federal employees’ hard work and help them keep pace with inflation, but it will also help government agencies remain competitive and deliver high-quality services to the American public.”

And William Shackelford, president of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, echoed that sentiment.

“The FAIR Act proposes a strong pay raise to counteract a tightening labor market and increasing private-sector pay, rising costs of living and an impending federal retirement wave,” he said. “A strong pay increase in 2023 is critical to the recruitment and retention of an effective federal workforce, and we’re thankful to have Congressman Connolly’s support for this effort.”

So how would this raise affect your High 3 average going into retirement?  Let us run a Full Benefits Analysis Retirement Review for you so you can help plan and maximize your retirement.  Contact Us today to get YOUR Review!

Almost Every TSP Fund Ended Last Month (and Year) Down

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The vast majority of offerings in the 401(k)-style Thrift Savings Plan did not have a good month in December—or a good year in 2022 for that matter.

The S Fund, invested in small and mid-sized businesses, had the worst performance for December, losing 6.55%. It was down 26.26% for 2022.

The common stocks of the C Fund fared just slightly better. The fund lost 5.67% last month and 18.13% last year.

The international stocks in the I Fund were 1.85% in the red for December and were down 13.94% for the year 2022, while the fixed income bonds in the F Fund lost 0.65% for the month and 12.83% for the year.

Government securities in the G Fund were the one bright spot, inching up 0.32% for December and 2.98% for the year.

For the year of 2022, L Income lost 2.7%; L 2025, 6.72%; L 2030, 10.32%; L 2035, 11.65%; L 2040, 12.9%; L 2045, 14.03%; L 2050, 15.05%; L 2055, 17.6%; L 2060, 17.61%; and L 2065, 17.62%.

So with that being said, should you look into other investments where you don’t have to take ANY losses?  We call it Zero is our Hero.  Contact one of our Financial Retirement Consultants to learn how we help you plan for a better retirement.

No Time Like the Present: Retirement and Estate Planning in Your 20s and 30s

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When you’re young, saving for retirement may be the last thing on your mind. Yet, the financial choices you make in your 20s and 30s will dictate how well-off you are decades from now, and delaying retirement and estate planning until you’re older can be a decision you live to regret. Here’s how to start preparing so you’re ready for your golden years.

Money Management: Budgeting and Handling Debt

Living within your means is a habit best formed early in life, and it becomes even more critical when you’re earning a regular paycheck that must cover expenditures like rent, auto loans, insurance, and utility bills. To ensure you’ll meet your obligations, start by tracking your income and expenses; if the latter exceeds the former, you’ll need to either cut unnecessary spending or find a way to generate more earnings. Use your tracking to create a monthly budget, and then stick to it to avoid overspending.

If you’ve used credit wisely up to now, and you don’t carry any revolving debt, keep it that way. If not, add a line in your budget for paying down your cards so you don’t waste money on interest charges. Pay as much as you can above the minimum requirements, and remit payments on time to avoid fees and build your credit history.

Money Maximization: Saving and Investing

Once you have built a budget and are following it, you may be tempted to splurge with any extra cash. Although you shouldn’t live a life of hermetic deprivation, focusing on saving rather than spending will always have a better outcome long term. That’s because interest compounds, or builds on itself, so free money is added to what you’ve saved.

Speaking of free money, if your job offers a 401(k) plan, join it. It will make it effortless to build your savings, and if your employer provides matching contributions, then company money will be added to your plan every payday.

Buying a home is also a smart investment, as house values generally increase over time. Down the road, you can use your home’s equity as a source of liquidity when needed. When you’re ready to purchase, use a helpful online house appraisal to assess the asking price so you avoid overpaying and benefit fully from any appreciation.

Money Protection: Insurance and Estate Planning

Once you’ve committed to saving and investing for retirement, take steps to ensure you’ll hold onto that money until you or your loved ones need it. Always carry health insurance coverage, as medical debt can quickly deplete your savings. Having a life or disability insurance policy will also help preserve what you’ve accumulated if you die or become unable to work.

Although estate planning may sound silly when you’re beginning to save for the future, if you die without a will, your money may not go where you wish. By creating a complete estate plan when you’re young and then updating it when you marry, buy a home, have children or go through other life changes, you’ll rest assured that your assets won’t end up in the wrong hands.

No one ever says they wish they’d waited longer to be smart with their finances. By focusing on managing, maximizing, and protecting your money in your 20s and 30s, which may include taking advantage of your home equity or utilizing your 401(k) plan, you’ll set yourself and your loved ones up for a stronger financial future.

My Federal Retirement Help can assist you as you begin planning for your upcoming retirement. This way, you won’t have to spend your golden years worrying about your finances. Contact us today by calling 254-870-5959 Ext. 700 or texting 254-301-6571.

OPM Will Suspend Long Term Care Insurance Applications as a Sizeable Premium Increase Looms

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The deadline to apply for the program before a two-year suspension is Dec. 19, but officials want applicants to go in with “eyes wide open” that rates will likely increase substantially.

The Office of Personnel Management plans to suspend applications for the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program for two years beginning Dec. 19, in anticipation of a sizeable rate hike.

OPM announced the unusual measure last month in the Federal Register, and noted that federal workers who submit their applications by the deadline will still be considered for enrollment. FLTCIP was created in 2002 and assists with health care costs for participants who need help with daily personal functions, or who have a severe cognitive illness, and covers home care, nursing home or assisted living benefits.

“OPM is suspending applications for coverage in FLTCIP to allow OPM and the FLTCIP carrier to assess the benefit offerings and establish sustainable premium rates that reasonably and equitably reflect the cost of the benefits provided,” the agency wrote.

The program will continue to operate normally for current enrollees, although they will not be able to apply to increase their coverage. There are currently around 267,000 federal workers and retirees participating in the insurance plan, and OPM typically receives only a few thousand applications to enroll per year.

The decision to suspend applications for the program came after John Hancock Life and Health Insurance Co., the contractor that administers the program, informed OPM that it is likely that there will a premium increase sometime next year.

In recent years, the long term care insurance market has been plagued by large premium increases, in part because people have been living longer and in part because long term interest rates have been at historic lows since the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis. The Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program last saw premiums increase by an average of 83% in 2016.

John Hatton, staff vice president of policy and programs for the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, said it is likely that OPM will examine whether there is anything they can do administratively to improve the stability of the program or propose legislation to alter the program.

“Reading the tea leaves, instituting a suspension of applications shows that there’s a lack of faith or trust that it’s designed in a way that can be sustainable,” he said. “The first premium increase was around 25%, the second was as high as 125% [in some cases], and 83% on average. These premiums were quoted with the intention of staying stable for the lifetime of the coverage, which is someone’s life. And it’s not just federal workers’. They were just not priced correctly to begin with.”

After the previous round of premium hikes, OPM instituted “FLTCIP 3.0,” which allows current enrollees to adjust their coverage downward in order to reduce the impact of rising premiums. Even with that change, Hatton said OPM likely made the right decision by suspending applications.

“If you can’t accurately quote someone what the cost will be for a product, it shouldn’t be open ended,” he said. “That said, the reason these premiums are going up is costs are very high, and people have to figure out how to plan for long term care costs, and there’s no public option aside from Medicaid, which only provides catastrophic coverage if you’re completely impoverished yourself.”

Ultimately, Hatton said he thinks that OPM will wind up having to request legislation from Congress to make the changes needed to stabilize the program.

“OPM, for their part, has done—within the structure of the program, I think—what they can do,” he said. “They hired an independent actuary to look at the assumptions and make sure that they’re right, they hired a consultant to look at various options, and we’ll see where that goes and what flexibility they have in the statute or whether they’ll need Congress to provide some flexibilities. But at the end of the day, the options that would emerge are going to be ones that are maybe tied more to affordability and certainty, but also less coverage.”

We can also show you a better alternative to Long Term Care insurance using certain riders on our Income Annuity Products.  Why pay for something you may or may not ever use?  Contact us today to learn more.

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FAQs Related to Federal Retirement Planning

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The number of retirees receiving social security benefits has increased from 34 million to 47 million in the US. It clearly indicates how important retirement planning is. Whether you have just kick-started or are at the mid-way of your career, it is never too late to plan your retirement.

According to a study, 39% of adults start saving for their retirement in their mid-20s. Another study suggests that an average American starts saving money for their retirement at age 31. When you want to begin your retirement planning, you need to increase your awareness, especially when you are a federal employee.

What is the federal employee retirement program?

Under FERS, a federal employee is eligible to receive benefits from three sources, a basic benefit plan, social security plan, and a thrift saving plan. A basic benefit plan is the most common type of retirement plan that every employee is eligible for. A thrift saving plan is similar to a private sector 401 (k), while social security is another type of benefit that a federal employee receives based on the eligibility criteria.

What if your employment comes under fers special retirement category?

If you fall under the category of fers special retirement, your retirement age would be less than other federal employees. They may retire at age 62, but you’ll be retiring at age 57; there will be a money gap till you become eligible for receiving social security benefits. But, you are eligible for receiving special supplemental benefits. It is an extra supplemental income that bridges the money gap till you become eligible for receiving FERS benefits.

Should you calculate your retirement benefits yourself?

You can calculate your retirement benefits yourself using a federal retirement calculator. All you need to know is your high three average salaries and year of creditable service. You can put all the values in the formula to calculate your estimate. However, you can calculate your estimate much more accurately with the help of professionals. But where can you find such professionals? Find out in the next point.

Seek professional help from My Federal Retirement Help

We are federal retirement planning specialists who offer guidance so you can choose the best retirement plan to meet your and your family’s needs. We will listen to your concerns and chart out personalized plans to meet your goals. In the end, we will make sure that your checklist is covered and that you can get the most out of federal employee retirement planning.

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Federal Employees Will Pay 8.7% More Toward Health Care Premiums Next Year

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The Office of Personnel Management said increased use of health care services as the COVID-19 pandemic has waned has led to the sharpest uptick in health insurance premiums in more than a decade.

Federal employees and retirees will spend an average of 8.7% more on their health insurance premiums in 2023, a figure that marks the highest cost increase in more than a decade.

The government’s share of Federal Employees Health Benefits Program premiums will increase by an average of 6.6%, bringing the overall increase to 7.2%, according to an OPM document obtained by Government Executive. That overall premium increase is the highest the nation’s largest health insurance program has seen since costs increased 9% in 2011.

On average, federal employees enrolled in “self-only” plans will pay an additional $8.11 per bi-weekly pay period, while feds in “self plus one” insurance plans will pay $20.34 more per pay period. Federal workers enrolled in family coverage will pay an average of $20.87 more per pay period in 2023.

For the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program, the average premium for dental plans will increase by 0.21%, while the overall average premium for vision coverage will decrease by 0.41%.

The FEHBP’s annual open season, in which federal employees can choose from a variety of national and regional insurance carriers and coverage plans, will run from Nov. 14 through Dec. 12.

OPM’s document attributed the jump in premiums to the “unprecedented volatility” in health care costs due to COVID-19, noting that the pandemic cost FEHBP about $2 billion in the testing and treatment of the disease in 2021, or roughly double what the disease cost the program in 2020, which has impacted premiums for next year. OPM also cited an increase in usage of health care services, following a period earlier in the pandemic when enrollees used fewer medical services.

The document described the overall 7.2% increase as “aligned” with increases in premiums by comparable large employers. But three of those plans’ reported increases are lower than FEHBP’s—CalPERS, which covers California government employees, projects an average 6.75% increase; a Business Group on Health survey of large employers projected a 6.5% average increase; and consulting group Aon estimated health costs will increase by around 6.5% next year. The Kaiser Family Foundation projects a 10% average increase for individual marketplace premiums, with “most rate increases falling between about 5% and 14%.”

OPM said it has worked with insurers this year to improve coverage of prenatal and postpartum health care services, as well as increase access to gender affirming care for members of the LGBTQ+ community. Insurers are also required to provide “adequate coverage” of anti-obesity medications. And four new plan options will provide assisted reproductive technology coverage, bringing the total number to 18 plans next year, and an additional plan will provide an optional benefit for discounted ART procedures.

National Treasury Employees Union National President Tony Reardon said in a statement Friday that although the premium increases are reportedly in line with other large employers, the spike in costs underscores the inadequacy of President Biden’s proposed 4.6% average pay raise for federal employees next year.

“These premium increases may be similar to those expected by other large employers in the private sector, but they will still cause sticker shock for federal employees,” he said. “These premium increases are yet one more data point in our argument that federal employees deserve a fair pay increase in 2023. NTEU supports legislation providing federal employees, on average, a pay increase of 5.1%, which would help them keep up with rising costs and save for retirement.”

If You Make $100,000 in Average Annual Income, Here’s What You’ll Get From Social Security at 67

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For anyone born after 1960, the Social Security Administration (SSA) determines that your normal retirement age, which is when you would be entitled to your full benefit, is 67.

But deciding whether or not you should retire at that age can be difficult. You can start receiving Social Security benefits as soon as you turn 62, but claiming early can significantly reduce your amount.

You can also wait until 70 to start taking Social Security (increasing your benefit to the highest amount possible), but perhaps you don’t want to wait that long. It depends on where you are in life from a financial perspective and how your health is doing.

Given all of these factors, it’s a good idea to figure out how much you might get when you start to claim benefits. Despite its complexity, you can break down the Social Security formula into basic parts to calculate your amount. Let’s see how much you would make if you earned about $100,000 annually (adjusted) over your career and retired at 67.

Breaking down the formula

To begin calculating your benefits, the SSA first calculates your average indexed monthly earnings (AIME), which looks at the 35 years of your work history in which you made the most money.

It looks at your nominal earnings over these 35 years and then indexes them (or adjusts them) to determine what the amounts would have been if you were making them in the present. So, essentially, the SSA would take your nominal earnings, from, say, 1982 and adjust them for wage inflation over the years to reflect what those earnings would be in 2022.

An example on the SSA website shows that nominal earnings of $13,587 in 1982 would have been equivalent to about $52,000 in 2022. But the SSA also has a wage base limit for what a retiree can get credit for. That number is $147,000 in 2022.

To finish getting the AIME, you add up your highest 35 years of annual earnings, which are now indexed to account for inflation. Then you divide by 35 to get the annual amount over that period and then divide by 12 to get the monthly amount.

Once you have your AIME, the next thing you need to do is calculate your primary insurance amount (PIA), which is your actual monthly benefit from Social Security for those receiving full benefits at the normal retirement age.

This is also not a simple calculation, but it can be done easily enough using these three steps and adding the amounts from each step. Here are the numbers for someone who turned 62 in 2022:

  • 90% of the first $1,024 of your AIME.
  • 32% of any amount between $1,024 and $6,172.
  • 15% of the leftover amount above $6,172.

What is your PIA on an annual income of $100,000?

If your highest 35 years of indexed earnings averaged out to $100,000, your AIME would be roughly $8,333.

  • 90% of $1,024 = $921.6
  • 32% of $5,148 = $1,647.36
  • 15% of $2,161 ($8,333-$6,172) = $324.15

If you add all three of these numbers together, you would arrive at a PIA of $2,893.11, which equates to about $34,717.32 of Social Security benefits per year at full retirement age. That’s not too shabby considering the maximum benefit is $4,194 per month, and that assumes you delay claiming until you are 70.

The $18,984 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook
If you’re like most Americans, you’re a few years (or more) behind on your retirement savings. But a handful of little-known “Social Security secrets” could help ensure a boost in your retirement income. For example: one easy trick could pay you as much as $18,984 more… each year! Once you learn how to maximize your Social Security benefits, we think you could retire confidently with the peace of mind we’re all after.

What You Need to Know About Social Security and Federal Retirement

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What is the average monthly Social Security retirement check in 2022?

$1,657, according to this Social Security fact sheet.

Sandy and her husband, Tom, were both born in 1956. Sandy began receiving a reduced Social Security benefit of $586 a month at 62. (This is 73.3 percent of the full benefit amount of $800 she would have received at her full retirement age of 66 years and 4 months). Tom is retiring this year and will receive $2,800 a month at his full retirement age—also 66 and 4 months. How much will Sandy receive after Tom retires?

She will get $1,115. This is a bit complicated, so don’t feel bad if you couldn’t figure out the answer. At full retirement age, a spouse is eligible for 50% of the full Social Security retirement benefit of their spouse or their own benefit—whichever is higher. But the fact that Sandy began collecting her own benefit at 62 affects the calculation of her spousal benefit when her husband retires.

Social Security will use Sandy’s full benefit amount that would have been payable at her full retirement age, based on her own work record (not the amount she has been receiving since she was 62). That amount will be subtracted from 50%of her husband’s amount. Sandy’s full benefit would be $871 (it has grown from the initial amount of $800 by cost-of-living adjustments since 2018), so Social Security would subtract $871 from 50% of her husband’s full benefit amount of $2,800, or $1,400. The resulting sum of $529 would be added to her current benefit of $586, and her new benefit amount would be $1,115 per month. If Sandy had waited until her full retirement age to apply for Social Security, then she would have received the higher of her own full benefit amount or 50% of Tom’s, which would have been $1,400 a month.

How much can you earn in 2022 if you are under your full retirement age without reducing your Social Security benefit?

$19,560. If you’re under your full retirement age for the entire year, Social Security will deduct $1 from your benefit for every $2 you earn above the annual limit. Here’s more information about how work affects your Social Security benefit.

What are the conditions under which you can receive a Social Security benefit based on your former spouse’s work record?

If you were married for 10 years or more, are not currently remarried, and are not receiving a pension from work not covered by Social Security. A former spouse who meets the requirements to receive a Social Security benefit is treated basically the same as a current spouse. This entitlement does not affect the former spouse’s own Social Security benefit or his or her new family’s. If the spouse is receiving a Civil Service Retirement System retirement benefit, then he or she will be affected by the dreaded Government Pension Offset, which will reduce the spousal benefit by two-thirds of the CSRS retirement. This will eliminate the benefit entirely in many cases. Read more in this Social Security publication: What Every Woman Should Know.

Among beneficiaries 65 and older, what percentage rely on Social Security for more than 90 percent of their income?

For men the answer is 12%, and for women it’s 15%. It’s also interesting to note that 37% of men and 42% of  women rely on Social Security for 50% or more of their income.

What is the full Social Security retirement age?

The earliest you can start receiving Social Security retirement benefits is 62, but the benefit is permanently reduced for applying early. Your full retirement age is between 65 and 67, depending on your year of birth.

What can you do to increase the amount of your Social Security check?

Here are some of your options:

  • Delay receiving payment until you turn 70
  • Claim a benefit on your spouse’s work record
  • Continue working past 62

Social Security was never meant to be your only source of retirement income. Knowing this, how should you plan your retirement?

Here are some steps you could take:

  • Learn to live on less now
  • Make saving mandatory and automatic
  • Plan for being single, even if you’re not
  • Be realistic about when you can afford to retire

Always remember that the modern federal retirement has three key elements: a government retirement benefit, Social Security and personal savings, especially through the Thrift Savings Plan. Learning how to balance and maximize these elements is the key to a comfortable retirement.

Postal Employees Voice Major Concerns as USPS Begins Implementing Its Delivery Consolidation Plan

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The U.S. Postal Service is standing up the first of the new plants across the country that will process mail for larger geographic areas, causing employees to fear the mailing agency will relocate or consolidate jobs throughout the workforce.

As promised in his 10-year plan to allow USPS to break even, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy has identified an initial 10 previously closed plants to reopen for consolidated mail and package sorting before the pieces go out for final delivery. Postal management began this week notifying employee groups of the sites, located primarily on the East Coast and in the Midwest. Those organizations reacted with significant consternation, saying USPS has failed to keep them in the loop or answer questions regarding the fallout for the workforce.

Most post offices around the country operate as delivery units, meaning mail carriers go to them to pick up mail and packages for their routes before bringing them to homes and businesses. DeJoy has repeatedly decried this model, saying it is inefficient and can lead to as many as dozens of such units in one metropolitan area. Instead, he is looking to open “sorting and delivery centers” around the country, as well as larger mega-centers, that can take on more work in less space. Letter carriers will have to travel farther to take mail to its final destination, but DeJoy said it will save costs on the contracted trucks that USPS hires to bring mail between various facilities.

“It just goes right out,” DeJoy said last week of mail at the new centers. “It’s going to save 100% of the trucking costs.”

What do You need to Know About Special Retirement Supplement?

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Do you know about the FERS supplement? An important retirement benefit plan for individuals who retire before the age of 62, it is also called the Special retirement supplement or SRS. Many individuals retiring before 62 are not aware of FERS benefits and thus couldn’t make a wise decision.

Special retirement supplement offers various benefits, such as it bridges the money gap if you retire before age 62 as you don’t receive social security until you reach age 62. But, not all federal employees are eligible for a special retirement supplement.

Who gets FERS special retirement benefits?

Federal workers younger than age 62 eligible for an unreduced federal employee retirement system are also eligible for temporary extra benefit, i.e., FERS annuity supplement. Firefighters, air traffic controllers, and law enforcement officers who retire under special provisions and FERS retirees who retire at age 60 with a minimum of 30 years of service are also eligible. If you are a firefighter planning your retirement, learn about FERS’s special supplement.

Rule for eligibility

1) If the employee has at least one calendar year of service at the time of retirement

2) Individuals retiring at or after reaching MRA with at least 30 years of service

3) individuals retiring at age 60 with at least 20 years of service

So, if you are eligible for FERS special retirement supplement, estimate it with the help of the below-mentioned formula.

 

 

How to estimate FERS special retirement supplement?

Get your annual social security statement handy to estimate your supplement amount. You also need to know how many years of creditable service you would have at the time of your retirement. Now, you can use the formula.

Years of creditable service/40 * your age 62 social security benefit = your estimated FERS supplement. Calculating FERS supplement benefits is an extremely time-consuming and complex task; take the help of a consultant from My Federal Retirement Help.

We are a team specialized in designing a comprehensive financial plan considering all aspects related to pre-retirement and retirement. We make integrated financial plans tailored to your specific goals and your family’s needs.

Reduction in FERS Supplement

FERS supplement is treated as social security income, so if you take the supplement before the full social security retirement age, your supplement can be subjected to taxes and reductions. Also, if you take a part-time job after retiring from federal service, your supplement may get reduced. Contact an expert to get more clarity on this.

My Federal Retirement Help is a team of planners and advisors who can help federal employees get into the next stage in their life by assisting them with a retirement plan, paperwork, and its submission to OPM.

TSP Preps for Its Transition to a New Service Provider

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Officials at the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program on Tuesday outlined the disruptions—and new features—participants will see as the Thrift Savings Plan transitions to a new recordkeeping service provider this weekend.

At the monthly meeting of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, which administers the TSP, project manager Tanner Nohe said the agency is on track to bring the public facing portions of the project, which was internally called Converge, online by June 1. Currently, most transactions are unavailable to participants, and there will be a full blackout period from the close of business on Thursday until the new system comes online.

Nohe said that while some aspects of TSP services will remain unchanged, like the tsp.gov web address and the phone number for the Thriftline customer service center, that’s where the similarities end. Beginning in June, TSP participants will have access to long awaited and requested features like a mobile app, a virtual agent to help users and answer questions.

Additionally, changes to the TSP website will enable participants to make loan repayments after they leave federal service, sign documents electronically, while participants who invested in the TSP both as members of the military and as civilian federal workers will be able to see their all of their account information from the same login, where before now they had to log into two separate tsp.gov accounts.

The TSP’s mobile app, which will be available on both Apple and Android operating systems, will feature most of the same functions as the desktop website, including the new virtual assistant, the ability to make distributions and withdrawals and change how funds are invested and make interfund transfers. And participants will be able to sign and submit forms electronically, as well as upload an image of a check to roll over funds from a traditional 401(k) into the TSP.

Additionally, the TSP is adjusting a number of its terms to track with the terminology used more commonly throughout the 401(k) industry.

Once the new services are live, participants will be required to create a new account on tsp.gov, which then will work on both the website and the mobile app. The new login process will be streamlined and feature greater security, Nohe said.

But Tee Ramos, the TSP’s director of participant services, warned there could be hiccups during the transition. The agency is expecting higher than normal call volume on the Thriftline, and has staffed up at its call center to accommodate those who need assistance.

“There will be some delays in the first week, and we’re doing everything we can to support participants,” he said. “But expect much higher call volume in the days before we go live, and know that we appreciate your patience.”

If anyone is needing assistance with making some changes within there TSP Accounts, or have considered other investment ideas with their Thrift Savings Plan, we do assist all Federal Employees in this area.  You can contact us for assistance or read some testimonials from other Federal employees we have helped as well.

Whole Life Insurance: What You Need to Know About It

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We all want to protect our loved ones from the uncertainties of life. So, we take a life insurance policy for our family. Many people go with While Life Insurance policies to take advantage of unique features, including consistent, level premiums for life, the ability to accumulate cash value, and living benefits. Do you also want to get the same for your loved ones? Read further to learn more.

Furthermore, some Whole Life Policies come under a special category. This means that you receive dividends through these policies, while getting cash value. Keep in mind that you get this benefit only, if you go through mutual life insurance companies. If you want to know more about it, look for a federal professional for federal employee retirement help.

If we talk more about mutual life insurance companies, stockholders or private equity companies don’t own them. Policyholders own these companies. Moreover, we are here to explore the main features of a Whole Life policy and make sure it is right for you.

health premiums

Permanent Coverage

Whole life insurance is nothing but permanent life insurance. It has some varying features compared to term life insurance. This insurance policy has been designed to protect you through your lifespan. Whether you die today after buying the policy or 50 years later, your loved ones will receive the benefits. After all, hire a consultant if you are planning your retirement and need any help with federal retirement.

Build Cash Value

While you take benefit of consistent premiums, your Whole Life insurance collects cash value for you in the form of dividends. Mutual life insurance companies help you make the most out of your policy. As a policy owner, you receive an equitable portion of the company’s surplus each year as a dividend. If you want federal employee retirement helphire a federal consultant. 

Consistent Premiums

Whole Life premiums work as per your age and will not vary throughout your life. In comparison with FEGLI, FEGLI will become greater in cost by over 650% by the time you retire. After all, many federal employees want to reduce their coverage to maintain the deduction at retirement. For this, it is good to have Whole Life insurance that compensates the risk with guaranteed premiums. To get help with federal retirementlook for a federal consultant near you.

Simplified Issue

As a federal professional, you can take advantage of this policy with simplified issue guidelines. This means that you will not need to undergo any health exams, bloodwork, or other requirements. That’s all.

What is the Federal Employee Retirement System, and How Does It Work?

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A federal employee retirement plan or FERS is a retirement plan for federal government employees working in the executive, judiciary, and legislative branches of the federal government. However, this retirement plan doesn’t cover military personnel or employees of state or local government.

The employees under the FERS retirement system can avail of benefits from three sources: the basic benefit plan, social security, and the thrift saving plan, or TSP. Want to discover what benefits you will get from federal civil service retirement plans or FERS? Read on.

 

  • Basic benefit plan

Under the basic benefit plan, employees receive a set amount, regardless of the amount they have contributed. The amount you will receive will depend on the length of service and high-3 average. High-3 is the highest three consecutive years of service, often the last three years of your service. However, if you held a higher paying position in your service, your higher three years could be considered from that time.

 

  • Social Security

Your social security benefits depend on the time you have been working and the amount of money you have earned over that period. Every federal employee has to contribute 6.2% of their basic pay to the social security fund.

 

  • Thrift saving plan

A Thrift saving plan is similar to a 401(K). In1986, Congress established TSP for federal employees; however, it covers employees hired before 1986. According to this plan, 1% of your salary will go into a TSP contribution each pay period. Unlike social security plans and basic benefit plans, the amount you receive will depend on market conditions, the fund you choose, and other conditions.

Want to gain all information about thrift saving plans? My Federal Retirement is there for help. Our financial advisors will tell you about various retirement plans for federal employees, for instance, FERS firefighter retirement, federal civil service retirement plan, etc. We will also help you choose the best retirement plan aligned with your life goals.

My Federal Retirement specializes in analyzing all aspects of your pre and post-retirement planning and designing a comprehensive financial plan tailored to your specific goals, your family, and your individual needs. You can meet our licensed professional to discuss your retirement financial plans anytime.

USPS Converted 63,000 Non-Career Employees to Permanent Jobs Over the Last Year

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he U.S. Postal Service has converted 63,000 part-time or non-permanent workers into career positions, with leadership saying it has helped stabilize the workforce after years of escalating turnover.

USPS has struggled for years with high turnover rates—particularly within its non-career workforce—leading postal management to identify new strategies to keep them on as it aims to grow its rolls. The conversions have also helped the Postal Service address employee availability issues during the COVID-19 pandemic, the agency said in a report marking the one-year anniversary of the unveiling of Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s 10-year business plan.

The Postal Service has since 2010 increasingly relied on non-career workers, such as postal support employees and mailhandler assistants, as a cheaper alternative to reduce labor costs as part of efforts to keep pace with shrinking mail revenue. Non-career employees generally receive a less generous benefits package and lower pay than their permanent, full-time counterparts. The agency’s non-career staff grew by more than 60% between 2010 and 2017. At least some of the conversions were promised as part of collective bargaining negotiations.

The USPS inspector general has for years highlighted the problems with the Postal Service’s growing reliance on non-career workers. It found in a 2016 report, for example, that turnover the agency’s unionized, career workforce turns over every year was 1.2%, while in 2014 the non-career workforce had a 29% quit rate. By 2016, the turnover rate for non-career employees had climbed to 43%.

DeJoy previously laid out plans to reduce turnover by focusing on better options for non-career employees, highlighting the issue in testimony to Congress and in his 10-year plan. The trend marks a departure from the first months of DeJoy’s tenure, when the postmaster general led an effort to slash tens of thousands of non-union jobs by offering early retirement incentives and layoffs. USPS has since gone on a hiring spree and DeJoy has speculated he may add up to 100,000 positions compared to when he took over to meet growing package demand.

The Postal Service ended 2021 with nearly 517,000 career employees, its highest total since 2012. The non-career workforce has remained fairly steady in recent years at 136,000.

USPS boasted that it has committed more than $6 billion in core infrastructure over the last year, part of DeJoy’s promise to invest at least $40 billion by 2031. About half of the obligated total has gone toward the Postal Service’s controversial contract for new delivery vehicles, only about 20% of which are so far electric. Other investments have included new processing equipment, improvements to post offices and technology upgrades.

Postal management also highlighted its improvements in delivering mail on time, though it is still falling well short of its goals. It has also slowed down delivery for about 40% of First-Class mail, making it easier to hit its targets. USPS promised more changes to “optimize” its network, saying those plans are still in the works.

“These efforts—impacting all aspects of our operations and infrastructure—are being refined now and will be deployed in stages this year and in the coming years,” the Postal Service said.

USPS also again noted its “judicious” use of its new authority to raise prices above inflation, though it just this week proposed hiking its rates for the second time by nearly the fully allowable amount. Through a complicated formula derived from factors including inflation, declining mail volume and retiree costs, USPS could have raised its First-Class mail rates in July by 6.507%. It chose to raise them by 6.506%. The Postal Service has generated nearly $2 billion in annualized revenue from previous increases, the agency said.

If you want to know more information, please let us know via our Contact us

Consider these Things if you want to retire within 5 Years

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If you want to retire from your federal government job within five years, you should know some important things. After all, you should make sure everything is right for a great exist from your federal career.

In this article, we have included four things that you should do to retire within five years of your job. You can also contact a federal consultant to plan your federal retirement to gain the most out of it.

Remember to keep your insurance into retirement

It is always helpful to keep the insurance in your retirement, but not all are able to do so. You need to follow essential rules to keep the insurance into retirement. Eligibility for FEHB is:

• You need to enrol in FEHB for a minimum of five years before retirement.
• You should be covered under FEHB when retiring.

While FEHB has rules to keep it into retirement, FEGLI has certain rules. You need to follow all these rules to carry your insurance to your retirement. To understand the rules in detail, call a federal consultant. They will also help you with FERS special supplements.

Consider your retirement income and expenses 

If you are a federal employee, you should know that you have three primary income sources: FERS pension, social security, and your TSP. If you don’t know how these incomes sources work, hire a federal consultant. They will explain each technical point and help you plan your federal retirement.

medicare-supplement

Know the decision you make at retirement 

Mainly, three big decisions you usually make at your retirement include survivor benefit, life insurance, and TSP. The survivor benefit is when you have to offer your spouse a piece of your pension. Life insurance helps you take care of all your medical expenses. After your retirement, you have to decide how you will use your TSP funds or how you will invest them. Learn more about these three terms with a federal consultant. They will help you plan your retirement in the right way.

Choose a retirement date

The last important thing to decide to retire within five years of federal service is to choose a specific day. Choosing a date to retire makes a big difference in how you receive your pension. If you don’t know anything about planning your retirement within five years of your job, hire a federal consultant. They will help you in everything from planning to knowing about FERS special supplement. That’s all.

Know About Switching From Federal Service to Private Sector

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Are you thinking of switching from your federal career to the private sector? Before you switch, you need to learn some important things about it. After all, if you have made your decision, then stay with this blog to learn more.

You are not alone if you want a transition in your federal service. Many people like you want to work in the private sector by switching from their federal life. After all, you may think of doing so to make more money with less hassle. But keep in mind that it is not easy to make a transition in your federal career. You may not get some benefits such as civil service retirement benefits for federal employees in a private-sector job.

Moreover, your private sector employment will come with some benefits as well as some downsides. Keep reading this post to know the reasons for switching from a federal job to the private sector.

medicare-supplementSalary

One of the reasons you think of changing your federal career is salary. You may have an offer from the private sector with a higher salary, and so you want to make a switch. But you should know that retired federal employees gain huge retirement and social security benefits you may not get in the private sector. After all, you can consult a federal professional before leaving your federal job. A professional will help you with the federal government pension plan calculator and other tools.

Health insurance

Health insurance is one of the great benefits you get as a federal employee. And due to this, many people don’t want to leave the federal government. You know that health costs are rising day by day, so it is crucial to have an affordable health plan for you and your family.

Further, many contracting companies offer more affordable health insurance than federal employees. This is the reason why people want to switch. But you should not underestimate the civil service retirement benefits for federal employees. You may not get it in a private job.

Life insurance

FEGLI is the best health insurance program that allows federal employees to take advantage of insurance regardless of health issues. You may not get this benefit in the private sector. On the other hand, if you have good health, you may get cheaper options in the private sector.

Pension

As a federal employee, you know that you get a pension on your retirement, which is a huge perk. While many contracting companies offer a similar plan to the TSP, only a few will have a pension plan. For these civil service retirement benefits for federal employees, many people don’t want to switch. That’s all.

Do You Know These Facts About Federal Retirement?

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You go through several facts in your daily life. Some of them are interesting but don’t make any difference in your life whether or not you know them. After all, when it comes to federal retirement, federal employees should know these facts about federal retirement. These facts may be a subject of discussion for many on weekends. 

Moreover, below we have included some fun facts about federal retirement you will want to know. If you are worried about federal government retirement benefits and pension plans, these facts may be beneficial for you. 

federal retirement planning - fers benefits -retirement support services - tsp payment schedule 2018

The federal retirement system is about 100 years old

Do you know the federal retirement system is almost 100 years old? The single mandatory retirement age of 70 was created in 1920 under an act. In the beginning, retirement was not permitted except for disability. But in 1922, a retroactive provision came into force enabling discontinued service retirement at age 55 with 15 years of service. If we talk about the basic annuity, it was 60% of the final 10-year average salary. Moreover, if you are not clear about civil service retirement benefits for federal employeesyou can consult professionals in your area. 

Withdraws from conventional TSP accounts are taxed as ordinary income.

Conventional TSP withdrawals are a part of your other income that is taxed with ordinary federal rates. In addition to it, you need to keep yourself aware of the 10% tax penalty if you make any early withdrawals due to resigning or taking an early retirement before age 55. After all, to know more about federal government retirement benefits and pension plans, you can consult a professional federal retirement planner in your area. 

People are working longer.

As of 2014, the total workforce, including men and women, was 23% and 15%, respectively. The age of male and female individuals was 65 and older. The total workforce is supposed to increase in the upcoming years. If we talk about the study of the Census Bureau, the nation’s 90 and older population has almost tripled over the previous four decades. After all, federal employees should keep themselves aware of the advantages of lifetime pensions and health insurance. To know more about civil service retirement benefits for federal employeesyou can call a professional federal retirement planner in your area. That’s all. These are some facts about federal retirement you need to know. 

Federal Employee Retirement Planning Checklist

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If you want to retire at the time you have always planned to, and with a sufficient pension amount so that you can live the rest of your retirement life comfortably, the last five to ten years of your service are crucial. You can also take a financial advisor’s help to calculate the FERS benefits, understand how to boost up the perks, and what would be the perfect age for your retirement. 

When you contact a FERS advisor, they will use the federal government pension plan calculator to calculate the benefits that you may receive. Meanwhile, they will also offer you a federal employee retirement planning checklist that will assist you in planning a comfortable retirement. The checklist contains numerous factors.   

retirement planning 

The accuracy of SF 50 form

It is one of the important factors of the federal employee retirement planning checklistYou should ensure that all the details in your form are correct, especially box 30 and box 31 for retirement plan and service computation date, respectively. Box 30 is for the retirement plan you are covered under, and box 31 determines annual leave for full-time employees. 

 

Federal Employee Health Benefit (FEHB) coverage

Suppose you are enrolled under FEHB insurance through yourself or through a spouse who is also a federal employee and if you want to retain the benefit of FEHB through your retirement years. In that case, you must ensure that you have the FEHB coverage for at least five years on the day of your retirement. 

Thrift Saving Plan Contributions 

Use a federal government pension plan calculator to calculate how much you must contribute to the thrift saving plan. If you want to have a good amount in your thrift saving, you must also contribute the maximum amount to TSP. Unless you want to withdraw the amount as soon as you retire, you should allow for its long-term growth. 

Examine social security benefits

It is another factor of the federal employee retirement planning checklistThe social security benefit would be paid to the individual in the case of death, disability, or retirement. You must ensure that your earning history is mentioned correctly. 

These are some of the important checklists of the federal employee retirement plan. However, one of the mistakes an employee can make is not updating his estate plan. The important estate plan includes beneficiaries’ details, a living will, and establishing a trust to cover inheritance taxes. 

How to Deal With OPM’s Delay in Retirement Application Processing

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Many federal employees have realized that upon retiring from federal service,  the amount of time from the day of retirement to the newly retired employee receiving his or her first full  CSRS or FERS annuity check may be in the range of three to eight months.

While the newly retired employee will receive (for a period of two months to as much as 10 months )“interim” annuity checks (which are a percentage of what the full annuity check they are entitled to), for many new retirees this could turn into a cash flow problem during the interim annuity payment period.

This column discusses some of the problems causing the delays in OPM’s sending the first full annuity payment to annuitants and what employees who will be retiring in the next few years should do in anticipation of a possible cash flow problem during the early months of their retirement.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM)’s retirement office processing center in Boyers, PA is responsible for processing retirement applications. OPM is well aware of the increasing processing delays in retirement applications. The problem is nothing new . It has gone on for many years but has gotten worse in recent years due to the increasing number of retiring employees.  The OPM retirement department keeps a monthly tab on retirement application processing and delays and publishes the monthly data.

How To Expedite Your Retirement Application

Some retirement applications are processed (that is to say, adjudicated) faster than others. This means that some annuitants receive their first full annuity checks sooner than other annuitants. Included with the first full annuity check will be retroactive payments owed on the previous partial annuity payments. According to OPM, the one thing that retiring federal employees can do to expedite the time for OPM’s retirement office to process retirement applications is for employees to make sure that the portion of the retirement application they are responsible for is fully complete. Complete applications include providing all necessary forms besides the application form itself.

The following is a list of the necessary forms and documents to be submitted in order to fully adjudicate a CSRS or FERS retirement application:

1.   Application for immediate federal retirement:  For CSRS/CSRS Offset employees – Form SF 2801; for FERS/ “Trans” FERS employees – Form SF 3107;

2.   The notarized consent of a spouse if the spouse has agreed to less than a maximum  survivor annuity benefit;

3.   In case a retiring employee has been divorced and a former spouse was awarded a portion of the employee’s CSRS or FERS annuity, a certified copy of the divorce decree or court order;

4.   Documentation of five years of coverage (in particular; the last five years) under the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program in order to maintain health insurance coverage throughout retirement;

5.   Documentation of five years of coverage during at least the last five years of service, under the Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) program;

6.   FEGLI life insurance election form for maintaining FEGLI coverage during retirement –  SF 2818;

7.   Documentation of creditable civilian service that provides evidence of an employee’s Federal service;

8.   Documentation of military service, if any;

9.   Updated beneficiary designation forms including for CSRS, Form SF 2808; for FERS, Form SF 3102; and for FEGLI, Form SF2823.  The other major beneficiary form for the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), form TSP-3 should already be on file with the TSP Service Office; and

10.   Voluntary contribution election for CSRS employees who have established a Voluntary Contributions Program (VCP) account.

3 Primary Reasons Federal Retirement Applications Are Delayed

OPM cites three main reasons for delay in processing retirement applications, namely:

  1.  A retirement package is incomplete – for example, important documentation is missing or documents are lacking a signature;
  2.  A retirement application contains elements that create additional processing requirements such as a court order or a FERS annuity supplement; and
  3.  The applicant has to make multiple decisions such as whether to pay a deposit for temporary (non-deposit) federal service or prior military service; to make a redeposit for withdrawn CSRS or FERS contributions; or to make voluntary contributions to the CSRS Retirement and Disability Fund under the Voluntary Contribution Program.

Also, it is important to keep in mind that OPM’s retirement processing  unit tries to process applications in the order in which the applications arrive. But retirement application processing can take longer in the case of retirement applications accompanied by a court order to pay benefits to a former spouse.

Given the reality of the situation and accepting the fact that OPM’s retirement office processing center will be facing a retirement application backlog for most probably a very long time as more and more employees retire, what should employees who intend to retire within the next five to 10 years do in order to solve their possible cash flow problem while waiting for their first full CSRS or FERS annuity check? The following are some suggestions of what retiring employees can do — and what they should not do.

5 Things Retiring Federal Employees Can Do

1. Build up unused annual leave.

When an employee retires from federal service, any unused annual leave will be paid to the retiring employee in a lump sum payment. This lump sum payment – fully subject to income and payroll taxes – is paid by the retiring employee’s payroll office within a few weeks after the employee retires. Some employees can get get paid for as much as six weeks of unused annual leave and can use this payment to help pay their bills while waiting for their first full annuity check.

2.  Seek employment, at least on a temporary basis.

After retiring from federal service, many employees seek employment in the private sector, at least for a few years. In so doing, they can earn as much as the want without affecting their CSRS or FERS annuities. The only pension income that could be affected by salary or self-employment income is the FERS annuity supplement which is subject to an earnings test. FERS annuitants who retire before age 62 and are eligible for the FERS annuity supplement should be aware that the annuity supplement is not paid during the “interim” annuity period. This means that a FERS annuitant’s working during the “interim” annuity period, and for that matter during the annuitant’s first year of retirement, will not affect  the FERS annuity supplement.

3.  Start Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) withdrawals.

A retiring employee can start withdrawing from his or her TSP account following at least 30 days following his or her retirement date. With the new and more flexible TSP withdrawal rules perhaps starting later this year, annuitants will have more flexibility in withdrawing from their TSP accounts. Annuitants should be aware that since the TSP has to last as much 30 to 40 years of retirement, annuitants should  be somewhat conservative in the amount of withdrawals from their TSP accounts during the early years of their retirement. Penalty-free traditional TSP withdrawals can be made if the employee retires from Federal service sometime during the year after the year the employee becomes age 55.

4.  Start receiving monthly Social Security retirement benefit as early as age 62.

Federal retirees should be careful about starting to receive their monthly Social Security retirement benefit at age 62 since starting one’s Social Security before full retirement age (ages 65 to 67, depending which year an individual was born) will result in a permanent reduction to one’s Social Security retirement benefit. Drawing Social Security before one’s FRA and working could also reduce or eliminate one’s monthly benefit due to the Social Security earnings test. A married or formerly married individual may be eligible to receive half of a spouse’s or ex-spouse’s Social Security benefits (“spousal” or “ex-spousal” benefit) or all of a deceased spouse’s or a deceased ex-spouse’s Social Security benefit (“widow /”widower” benefit).

5.  Increase one’s financial liquidity, perhaps to as much as one year’s worth of one’s average monthly expenses.

Financial advisors generally recommend that all individuals – whether working or retired – should always own a certain amount of liquid assets. Liquid assets include a passbook savings account or a money market account. These liquid assets should ideally be equal to at least three to six months of their average monthly expenses. Retiring employees therefore should have at least six months to a year’s worth of their average monthly  expenses invested in liquid assets. These liquid asset funds will be used to help pay their monthly expenses during the “interim” annuity period.

What Retiring Federal Employees Should Not Do

Taking out short-term loans such as home equity loans is not a good idea and highly not recommended. Adding more debt to one’s retirement years  when there is generally less income is not a good move. Employees and annuitants should also be aware that under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Acts of 2017 taking effect  Jan. 1, 2018, all home equity loan interest is nondeductible if the loan proceeds are not used to improve one’s home. This means that the interest on home equity loans used to pay personal expenses is nondeductible on one’s income taxes.

Shortly before retiring, a retiring employee could take out a general purpose TSP loan. However, the loan must be paid back within 90 days following the employee’s retirement date. If the loan is not paid back in full within those 90 days, then the unpaid balance will be considered a taxable distribution – subject to federal and state income tax – for that year. If the annuitant  is under age 59.5, then the taxable distribution is subject to a 10 percent early withdrawal penalty.