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November 9, 2022
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plan your federal retirement

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.

September 30, 2022
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health premiums

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.”

September 25, 2022
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If You Make $100,000 in Average Annual Income, Here’s What You’ll Get From Social Security at 67

By | Benefits, Federal Pay, TSP | No Comments

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.

August 5, 2022
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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 “401k” Federal Savings Plan . Learning how to balance and maximize these elements is the key to a comfortable retirement.

August 5, 2022
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Postal Employees Voice Major Concerns as USPS Begins Implementing Its Delivery Consolidation Plan

By | Benefits, Federal Pay, Retirement | No Comments

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.”

June 3, 2022
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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.

May 26, 2022
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“401k” Federal Savings Plan 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 “401k” Federal 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 “401k” Federal Savings Plan , 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 “401k” Federal Savings Plan 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, “401k” Federal Savings Plan 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 “401k” Federal Savings Plan website will enable participants to make loan repayments after they leave federal service, sign documents electronically, while participants who invested in the “401k” Federal Savings Plan 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 “401k” Federal Savings Plan ’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 “401k” Federal Savings Plan .

Additionally, the “401k” Federal Savings Plan 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 “401k” Federal Savings Plan ’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 “401k” Federal Savings Plan Accounts, or have considered other investment ideas with their “401k” Federal 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.

May 10, 2022
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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 help, hire 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 retirement, look 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.

May 9, 2022
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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 “401k” Federal Savings Plan . 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 “401k” Federal Savings Plan for federal employees; however, it covers employees hired before 1986. According to this plan, 1% of your salary will go into a “401k” Federal Savings Plan 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.

April 8, 2022
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USPS Converted 63,000 Non-Career Employees to Permanent Jobs Over the Last Year

By | Benefits, Federal Pay, Retirement, TSP | No Comments

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.

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