1. NARFE Federal Benefits Institute 2019
James Marshall
Deputy Director
NARFE Federal Benefits Institute
7/9/2019
National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association

2. National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association
Team of federal benefits experts offering information and guidance on complex, critical issues
Accurate, Timely and Accessible - informed by strong agency relationships
Growing NARFE as a resource to meet the needs of active and retired feds
7/9/2019
National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association

3. National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association
Federal Benefits Experts via phone and
Resource for NARFE Service Officers and leadership
Monthly webinars on critical issues
Online Issue Briefs
narfe magazine contributions
New products and services under development
7/9/2019
National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association

4. National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association
Webinars are a proven recruitment and retention tool
Live and archived webinars always free to members
For non-members, $39.95 including one-year NARFE membership
7/9/2019
National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association

5. Communications with OPM
Retirement Services Online
Login at least once per year to avoid having to reset your password
Change your federal and state tax withholding
Change your mailing address and/or banking account for direct deposit
Change your password
View/print your annuity statement / verification of income
View/print 1099-R tax form
View/print verification of Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance (FEGLI)
And much more…

6. Communications with OPM
Always use your CSA or CSF number
Never send your Social Security number via
Clearly communicate your request and provide your phone number and mailing address
Retirement Operations Center
Monday through Friday, 7:40 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET

7. Communications with OPM
Mailing address (always use certified mail)
U.S. Office of Personnel Management Retirement Operations Center P.O. Box 45 Boyers, PA

8. Were you a CSRS Offset employee?
Has anyone ever properly explained what CSRS Offset means to you?
Has OPM already applied the offset to your annuity?
If not, do you know when this offset occurs?
Do you have an estimate of the offset amount?

9. Were you a CSRS Offset employee?
Are you married?
Are you aware of how the offset is applied to a spousal survivor benefit?
If spouse’s own Social Security is higher than yours, then the survivor benefit you elected for them won’t be offset once they are drawing their own Social Security.
If spouse’s own Social Security is smaller than yours, the offset to the survivor benefit should be based only on the Social Security you earned for your spouse.

10. FERS Annuity Supplement
Are you receiving the FERS Annuity Supplement?
Are you still working OR planning to work before age 62?
If so, do you understand how the earnings test works?
Only employment/work income is used in this earnings test
Supplement payable is reduced by $1 for every $2 earned above $17,640
Survey letters delivered from OPM each Spring are usually due back by mid-May each year
Reduction is applied by OPM in July
Refer to the RI 92-22, “Annuity Supplement Earnings Report,” for more details

11. TSP-3 (Thrift Savings Plan) SF 1152 (Unpaid Compensation)
Beneficiary Forms
SF 2808 (CSRS) or SF 3102 (FERS)
SF 2823 (FEGLI)
TSP-3 (Thrift Savings Plan)
SF 1152 (Unpaid Compensation)
if returning to federal service

12. Spousal Survivor Benefits
Elections made if you were married when you retired from federal service
Unable to increase or decrease
However, may be canceled if you lose your spouse (death or divorce)

13. Spousal Survivor Benefits
What if you get married AFTER you retire from federal service?
As an annuitant, although you have two years from date of marriage to elect a spousal survivor benefit, you may want to contact OPM and make this election effective sooner than later.

14. Spousal Survivor Benefits
What if you are divorced and get remarried AFTER you retire from federal service?
What does the divorce decree say about former spouse survivor benefits?
Regardless, you still might want to elect a survivor benefit for your new spouse.

15. FERS Spousal Supplement
What is it?
An extra benefit payable from OPM to the surviving spouse of a deceased FERS annuitant that helps bridge the gap between the time of the annuitant’s death until the spouse qualifies for widow/widower benefits from Social Security.

16. Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB)
Open Season
Qualified Life Events
OPM Form 2809
Medicare
TRICARE (military health insurance)
Public safety officer annuitants

17. Federal Employees Dental & Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP)
FEDVIP is not part of the FEHB program
Several plans to choose from
Open Season
Children covered until age 22
FEDS (3337)

18. If you are retired CSRS …
Social Security
If you are retired CSRS …
Are you close to having 40 credits?
Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP)
Government Pension Offset (GPO)
Considerations for your spouse

19. If you are retired CSRS Offset, FERS, or FERS transferee…
Social Security
If you are retired CSRS Offset, FERS, or FERS transferee…
FERS not subject to WEP or GPO
CSRS Offset and FERS transferee possibly exempt from WEP and GPO
What if you become widowed?
Former spouse (10+ years of marriage)
Restricted application (if born before Jan. 2, 1954)

20. Thrift Savings Plan More flexibility coming soon! Transfers
Partial withdrawal option
Full withdrawal option
Single payment
Monthly payments
Annuity
Required Minimum Distributions
Lifecycle funds

21. Be Prepared Financial Planning Be Prepared For Life’s Events booklet
For individual assistance, NARFE recommends you contact a financial planner who has a stated fiduciary responsibility to act solely in your interest.
December 13, 2018
Worry-Free Estate Planning for Feds
March 7, 2019
TSP and You: Sound Savings Strategies
March 21, 2019
Social Security: A Key Ingredient in Your Retirement
Be Prepared For Life’s Events booklet
-What Your Survivors Should Know

22. National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association
Federal Benefits
Q&A Live!!!
Federal Pensions - OPM
Social Security
Thrift Savings Plan
Federal Health Insurance
Federal Dental/Vision Insurance
TRICARE
Medicare
Federal Life Insurance
Federal Long Term Care Insurance
Flexible Spending Accounts
7/9/2019
National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association

23. National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association
Recent issues that NARFE has been fighting:
Annuitant/Employee FEHB cuts
COLA reduction/elimination
High-3 Average Salary to High-5 Average Salary
Elimination of the FERS Supplement
2019 employee pay freeze
Increase in employee contributions to the CSRDF
Reduce the return rate of the G Fund in TSP
U.S. Postal Reform – Medicare/FEHB
FERS Supplement – Court Ordered Benefits/OPM
7/9/2019
National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association