MARCH 2019 NARFE Magazine by NARFE

M AR

’19

NARFE-PAC: WORKING TO ENSURE YOUR BENEFITS AREN’T BARGAINING CHIPS Volume 95 • Number 3

COVER STORY

MOVING TOWARD

A MORE AGILE ITY L I GOVERNMENT IB LIG TE

N ME

E THE FEDERAL TIR E R READING RLY LIST A

E ND

Federal Employee Program

Enjoy better hearing with Beltone

Get a pair of Beltone Ally 3 hearing aids for $0 out-of-pocket*. Beltone has been helping the world hear better for more than 77 years as the most recognized and trusted name in hearing care. With the latest made for iPhone® technology and more than 1,500 nationwide locations, Beltone can help you wherever you live.

Hearing aids

Retail

Pair of Beltone Ally 3 ITE/BTE/RIE

$3,990.00

Special Price $2,500.00

Call 1-888-683-2583 to find your local Beltone provider.

Apply Benefit

You pay

$2,500.00

$0.00*

In addition to offering innovative products with amazing sound quality, Beltone also offers: • • • •

3-year product warranty with 3-year Loss & Damage coverage 3-year supply of batteries (48 cells per aid, per year) 45-day money back guarantee period (restocking fee may apply) Premium BelCare™ aftercare plan for ongoing care and service FREE of charge

Schedule your FREE hearing screening today!

Call Beltone at 1-888-683-2583 to find out where your nearest Beltone provider is located

* The insured may need to submit for reimbursement. State and/or local taxes may apply. Prices and product subject to change. Price shown includes the cost of comprehensive hearing exam. Examination and testing for prescribing of hearing aids is covered under the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association’s Service Benefit Plan (also known as the Federal Employee Program or FEP). The member should confirm that the provider rendering the hearing exam participates with their local Blue Cross Blue Shield plan. The Service Benefit Plan will pay a hearing aid benefit up to $2,500 total every 3 calendar years for adults age 22 and over, and up to $2,500 total per calendar year for members up to age 22. Do not rely on this communication piece alone for complete benefit information. All benefits are subject to the definitions, limitations, and exclusions in your Service Benefit Plan brochure. The Blue365® Discount Program offers access to savings on items that you may purchase directly from independent vendors, which may be different from items covered under the Service Benefit Plan or any other applicable federal healthcare program. For hearing aids, acupuncture, chiropractic and vision services, you must exhaust your Service Benefit Plan benefits first before accessing the savings of the Blue 365® Discount Program. To find out what is covered under your policy, contact Service Benefit Plan. The products and services described herein are neither offered nor guaranteed under any local Blue company’s contract with the Medicare program. These items are not subject to the Medicare appeal process. Any disputes regarding these products and services are not subject to the Service Benefit Plan’s Disputed Claims process. Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) may receive payments from Blue365 vendors. Neither the the Service Benefit Plan, BCBSA, nor any local Blue company recommends, endorses, warrants or guarantees any specific Blue365 vendor or item. The Service Benefit Plan reserves the right to change, modify, or terminate any item and vendors made available through Blue365, at any time. Available at participating locations until 12/31/2018. Beltone is made available through Blue365, which provides exclusive health and wellness deals and is a program of Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield Companies. Beltone is an independent company providing discounts on hearing aids. © 2017 GN Hearing Care corporation. All rights reserved. Beltone is a trademark of GN Hearing Care Corporation. Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone, iPad, iPod touch and Apple Watch are tradmarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

MAR

’19

WASHINGTON WATCH

NARFE’s Legislative Accomplishments 115th Congress Review

NARFE Provides Unmatched Assistance During Shutdown

Best Places to Work Report Shows Declining Engagement

Motivated After the Shutdown? Take Action.

COLUMNS

From the President

38 Managing Money

COVER STORY

40 Alzheimer’s Update

SPECIAL CATEGORY EMPLOYEES AND EARLY RETIREMENT David Tobenkin dives into the world of Special Category Employees (SCEs) and the factors that matter with regard to taking early retirement.

DEPARTMENTS

16 Questions & Answers 42 For the Record 44 NARFE News 46 Member Perks

MARCH IS NARFE-PAC MONTH: Ross Apter talks about the vital role of NARFE-PAC and why it’s important in fostering relationships with lawmakers.

48 The Way We Worked

MAR

’19

On the Web VISIT US ONLINE AT:

www.narfe.org LIKE US ON FACEBOOK:

NARFE National Headquarters FOLLOW US ON TWITTER:

@narfehq

NARFE-PAC: YOUR PLAYER AT THE TABLE Volume 95 • Number 3

COVER STORY

MOVING TOWARD

A MORE AGILE GOVERNMENT ITY IBIL LIG

THE FEDERALEMEN READINGRLIST ETIR LY

ON THE COVER

Illustration by GRAPHEK W W W. N A R F E . O R G

MARCH 2019 | Volume 95 | Number 3

EDITOR Helen Mosher ASSISTANT EDITOR Christopher Johnson COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT Precious Dorch-Robinson GRAPHIC DESIGN GRAPHEK, Beth Bedard EDITORIAL BOARD Kenneth J. Thomas, Kathryn E. Hensley, Barbara Sido EDITORIAL OFFICE: NARFE Magazine 606 North Washington St. Alexandria, VA 22314-1914 Phone: 703-838-7760 Fax: 703-838-7781 Email: communications@narfe.org ADVERTISING SALES: Warren Berger Media People Inc. 122 East 42nd St., Suite 1622 New York, NY 10168 Phone: 212-779-7172, ext. 223 Email: wberger@mediapeople.com NARFE FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED ON THE TELEPHONE: This publication can be heard on the telephone by persons who have trouble seeing or reading the print edition. For more information, contact the National Federation of the Blind NFB-NEWSLINE® service at 866-5047300 or go to www.nfbnewsline.org. ON DIGITAL AUDIO: Issues of NARFE Magazine are also available in audio format through the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS). For availability, call 202-727-2142 or your local NLS service provider. The Association, since July 1970, has been classified by the IRS as a tax-exempt labor organization [not a union]; however, dues and gifts or contributions to the Association are not deductible as charitable contributions for income tax purposes.

National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association NATIONAL OFFICERS KENNETH J. THOMAS, President; natpres@narfe.org KATHRYN E. HENSLEY, Secretary/Treasurer; natsectreas@narfe.org EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BARBARA SIDO, execdir@narfe.org

REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENTS

REGION I James C. Risner (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont) TEL: 207-540-6233 EMAIL: rvp1@narfe.org REGION II Kathleen Adams (Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania) TEL: 302-697-6650. CELL: 302-561-5660 EMAIL: adamskhawaii@aol.com REGION III Clarence Robinson (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands) CELL: 404-312-8028 EMAIL: crobin8145@att.net

REGION VI Marshall L. Richards (Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Republic of Panama and Texas) TEL: 903-660-2784 EMAIL: pappysdad@cobridge.tv REGION VII Rodney L. Adelman (Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming) TEL: 623-505-4719 EMAIL: narfe7vp@cox.net REGION VIII Helen L. Zajac (California, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada and Republic of Philippines) TEL: 707-644-7565 EMAIL: HLZajac125@gmail.com

REGION IV Robert L. Helfrich (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin) TEL: 317-501-1700 EMAIL: rvp4@narfe.org

REGION IX Richard Wilson (Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington) TEL: 253-210-5609, CELL: 425-736-6899 EMAIL: narfe1404@comcast.net

REGION V Cindy Reneé Blythe (Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota) TEL: 785-256-1450 EMAIL: mrsdocbusyb@yahoo.com

REGION X William Shackelford (Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia) TEL: 703-830-6590, CELL: 703-201-6304 EMAIL: wshack1951@aol.com

HERE’S HOW TO CONTACT US…

TO JOIN NARFE, RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP OR FIND A LOCAL CHAPTER:

CALL (TOLL-FREE) 800-456-8410 OR GO TO www.narfe.org TO CHANGE YOUR ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER OR EMAIL LISTING:

CALL (TOLL-FREE) 800-456-8410 EMAIL memberrecords@narfe.org OR GO TO www.narfe.org, log in and click on “Update My Record”

TO REACH A FEDERAL BENEFITS SPECIALIST:

EMAIL fedbenefits@narfe.org NARFE HEADQUARTERS

606 N. Washington St. Alexandria, VA 22314 703-838-7760 Hours of operation: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. ET

www.narfe.org

narfe (ISSN 1948-4453) is published monthly by the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE), 606 N. Washington St., Alexandria, VA 22314. Periodicals postage paid at Alexandria, VA, and additional mailing offices. Members: Annual dues includes subscription. Nonmember subscription rate $40. Postmaster: Send address change to: NARFE Attn: Member Records, 606 N. Washington St., Alexandria, VA 22314. To ensure prompt delivery, members should also forward changes of address without delay. Because of the volume involved, NARFE cannot acknowledge nor be responsible for unsolicited pictures and manuscripts, although every reasonable precaution is taken. All submissions become the property of NARFE. Copyright © 2019, NARFE. Advertisements in the magazine are not endorsements of products and/or services by NARFE, unless officially stated in the ad. We shall accept advertising on the same basis as other reputable publications: that is, we shall not knowingly permit a dishonest advertisement to appear in NARFE Magazine, but at the same time we will not undertake to guarantee the reliability of our advertisers.

| MAR

2 019

“To you, it’s the perfect lift chair. To me, it’s the best sleep chair I’ve ever had.” — J. Fitzgerald, VA

NEW Footrest Extension for even more head to toe support.

We’ve all had nights when we just can’t lie down in bed and sleep, whether it’s from heartburn, cardiac problems, hip or back aches – it could be a variety of reasons. Those are the nights we’d give anything for a comfortable chair to sleep in, one that reclines to exactly the right degree, raises feet and legs to precisely the desired level, supports the head and shoulders properly, operates easily even in the dead of night, and sends a hopeful sleeper right off to dreamland. Our Perfect Sleep Chair® is just the chair to do it all. It’s a chair, true – the finest of lift chairs – but this chair is so much more! It’s designed to provide total comfort and relaxation not found in other chairs. It can’t be beat for comfortable, long-term sitting, TV viewing, relaxed reclining and – yes! – peaceful sleep. Our chair’s recline technology allows you to pause the chair in an infinite number of positions, including the Trendelenburg position and the zero gravity position where your body experiences a minimum of internal and external stresses. You’ll love the other benefits, too: It helps with correct spinal alignment, promotes back pressure relief, and encourages better This lift chair puts you posture to prevent back and safely on your feet! muscle pain.

Easy-to-use remote for massage, heat, recline and lift And there’s more! The overstuffed, oversized biscuit style back and unique seat design will cradle you in comfort. Generously filled, wide armrests provide enhanced arm support when sitting or reclining. The high and low heat settings along with the multiple massage settings, can provide a soothing relaxation you might get at a spa – just imagine getting all that in a lift chair! It even has a battery backup in case of a power outage. Shipping charge includes white glove delivery. Professionals will deliver the chair to the exact spot in your home where you want it, unpack it, inspect it, test it, position it, and even carry the packaging away! You get your choice of fabrics and colors – Call now!

The Perfect Sleep Chair®

1-888-759-2985

Please mention code 111247 when ordering. Because each Perfect Sleep Chair is a custom-made bedding product, we can only accept returns on chairs that are damaged or defective.

Long Lasting DuraLux Leather

Tan

Chocolate Burgundy

Black

DuraLux II Microfiber

Burgundy Cashmere

Fern

Chocolate

Blue

Indigo 46488

Sit up, lie down — and anywhere in between!

From the President

LEGCON19 AND NARFE-PAC

ARFE is now in its 98th year of existence, and to some degree, not much has changed. The White

House and Congress continue to debate how to cut federal spending and include reductions to the benefits of federal employees and retirees in the cost-saving conversation.

Cutting the benefits of federal employees and retirees has become an all-too-familiar refrain, and NARFE has made it clear that our members will not roll over but will fight to prevent the erosion of earned benefits, a mission at which we’ve been successful. But the fight continues. Now, more than ever, NARFE members must remain vigilant and continue to contact their members of Congress. There is no better way to advance NARFE’s cause than to be the face of federal employees and retirees in the minds of lawmakers. Later this month, hundreds of NARFE members will attend LEGcon19, NARFE’s legislative training conference. This conference presents a great opportunity for NARFE members to meet and

discuss issues facing the federal community and gain the tools needed to become advocates on behalf of all federal employees and retirees. The conference will attract many first-timers as well as veterans, eager to learn how to best represent NARFE, communicate effectively with Congress, use social media to advance NARFE’s agenda, and share best practices. On the final day of the legislative conference, NARFE members will go to Capitol Hill, meeting with legislators and their staff to advance NARFE’s priorities. Of course, not every member can be in Washington in March to advocate for NARFE, but every member can help support the federal community by contributing to NARFE-PAC, our association’s political action committee. From its creation in 1982, NARFE-PAC has served as the federal employees’ and retirees’ defense fund and an investment in your future. NARFEPAC is designed to complement our members’ voting power, grassroots action and professional advocacy. March is “NARFE-PAC Month,” and you are encouraged to give what you can to help protect our hard-earned benefits. You can do so easily using the envelope in this magazine. Remain vigilant, stay informed and stay involved.

NARFE’s Mission Statement To support legislation and regulations beneficial to federal civilian employees and annuitants and potential annuitants under any federal civilian retirement system and to oppose those detrimental to their interests. To promote the general welfare of federal civilian employees and annuitants and potential annuitants, to advise and assist them with respect to their rights under retirement, health and other employee and retiree benefits laws and regulations, and to represent their interests before appropriate authorities. To cooperate with other organizations and associations in furtherance of these general objectives.

| MAR

2 019

KENNETH J. THOMAS NARFE NATIONAL PRESIDENT natpres@narfe.org

No contracts No cancellation fees

Easier is better with the Jitterbug. The Jitterbug® Flip, from the creators of the original easy-to-use cell phone, has big buttons and an exclusive 5Star® Urgent Response button on the keypad. EASY TO USE Today, cell phones are hard to hear, difficult to dial Plans as low as and overloaded with features you may never use. That’s not the case with the Jitterbug Flip. A large screen and big buttons make it $ easy to call family and friends. The powerful speaker ensures every conversation will be loud and clear. Plus, straightforward YES and NO buttons make navigating the menu simple.

Plans a

1499 $14

Plans as for lowyou as* Plans a EASY TO ENJOY Wherever you go, a built-in camera makes it easy and fun to capture and share your favorite memories. And a flashlight with a built-in magnifier $ Flip also $ helps you see in dimly lit areas. With all the features you need, the Jitterbug month comes with a long-lasting battery, so you won’t have to worry about running out of power.

1499 14 2

Plans as low as**

EASY TO BE PREPARED Life has a way of being unpredictable, but you can be prepared in any uncertain or unsafe situation with 5Star Service. Simply press the$5Star button to be connected immediately with a highly-trained Urgent Response Agent who will month confirm your location, evaluate your situation and get you the help you need, 24/7.

Plans a

1499 $14

The Jitterbug Flip is one of the most affordable cell phones on the market and comes with dependable nationwide coverage. Friendly customer service representatives will help figure out which phone plan is best for you, and with no contracts or cancellation fees, you can switch plans anytime. You can even keep your current landline or cell phone number. Powered by the nation’s largest and most dependable wireless network.

NO CONTRACTS No cancellation fees

Buy now and get a FREE Car Charger, a $25 value! To order or learn more, call

1-800-889-6763 or visit us at greatcall.com

Why the Jitterbug Flip is your best choice for a new cell phone: No contracts to sign, ever

Keep your current phone number

Free U.S.-based customer service

No hidden monthly fees

Brain Games powered by Posit Science®

Available at: *Monthly fees do not include government taxes or assessment surcharges and are subject to change. Plans and services may require purchase of a GreatCall device and a one-time setup fee of $35. 5Star or 9-1-1 calls can be made only when cellular service is available. 5Star Service tracks an approximate location of the device when the device is turned on and connected to the network. GreatCall does not guarantee an exact location. Car charger will be mailed to customer after the device is activated. Jitterbug, GreatCall, and 5Star are registered trademarks of GreatCall, Inc. Copyright ©2019 GreatCall, Inc.

Washington Watch

NARFE’S LEGISLATIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS 115TH CONGRESS REVIEW

ederal employees and retirees faced very real and serious threats to their earned pay and benefits during the 115th Congress (2017-2018). In response, NARFE’s legislative priority was to defeat those proposals. But we also worked to advance legislative improvements

for NARFE members as the landscape allowed. Here are highlights of the Association’s accomplishments during the 115th Congress.

✔✔ Thwarted all attempts by Congress and the President to cut the earned pay and benefits of federal employees and retirees.

• P resident Trump’s Fiscal Year 2018 and 2019 budget proposals called for at least $149 billion in cuts to earned retirement benefits for current and former federal employees. Specifically, the budgets proposed: • Eliminating cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for federal retirees covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). • Reducing COLAs by 0.5 percent each year from what they would be otherwise for federal retirees covered by the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). • Eliminating the FERS Annuity Supplement for new retirees. • Increasing federal employee contributions to retirement by 1 percent of pay each year for the next six years, without any corresponding benefit increase. • Basing retirement benefits for new retirees on the highest five years of salary instead of the highest three years of salary.

| MAR

2 019

Ultimately, none of those proposals were passed into law, thanks to the hard work of NARFE and its members. • T he House of Representatives passed a FY18 budget resolution that would have required $32 billion in cuts to federal retirement benefits to offset the cost of a major tax overhaul. The budget report also endorsed policies that would have required around $163 billion in cuts, including: • Increasing retirement contributions for current federal employees. • Limiting the rate of return on the Thrift Savings Plan’s (TSP) G fund. • Limiting the government portion of Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) premiums for retirees to increases in inflation, which would raise premium costs. • Ending the FERS Annuity Supplement. NARFE worked tirelessly to oppose the provision requiring such cuts, and it was not included in the final joint budget resolution. Thanks to the hard work of NARFE and its members, none of these provisions were passed into law, either as part of the budget or other legislation.

• A budget agreement offsetting sequestration cuts for two years did not take from federal employees or retirees. After contributing more than $120 billion to pay for other priorities in recent years, NARFE members have been sounding the drumbeat: Enough is enough! A two-year budget deal was signed into law in February 2018, increasing spending levels by nearly $300 billion without offsetting that increase through cuts to earned federal retirement and health benefits.

✔✔ Protected postal retirees’ health benefits through the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program.

• T he House Oversight and Government Reform Committee approved postal reform legislation, H.R. 756, in March 2017 that would have required all eligible postal retirees and their spouses to enroll in Medicare or forfeit their earned retiree health benefits coverage through FEHB. A similar version, H.R. 6076, was also introduced in 2018. • In March 2018, Sen. Thomas R. Carper, D-DE, introduced a similar, Senate version, S. 2629, which included the same mandate with various, but limited, exemptions. • NARFE opposed the mandatory Medicare provisions, seeking to amend the bills to remove them, or alternatively, to halt progress on the bills as written. • Despite efforts to advance the bills through Congress, the House bills never received approval from additional committees of jurisdiction and the Senate bill did not receive floor consideration. • Thanks to NARFE’s lobbyists and members, this precedent-setting legislation did not reach the president’s desk.

✔✔ Helped provide more flexible withdrawal options for Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) participants, giving them more control over their own retirement savings. • The president signed the TSP Modernization

Act, H.R. 3031, into law, P.L. 115-84, on November 17, 2017. • The law will allow multiple, partial postseparation withdrawals, which individuals can time to their individual needs, and permits multiple, age-based withdrawals for participants who are still working and are older than age 59½. The legislation also will provide greater flexibility by allowing the election of quarterly or annual payments and allows periodic withdrawals that can be changed at any point during the year. Payments could be stopped while leaving the account balance in the TSP. Finally, the law eliminates the withdrawal election deadline. • The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, which oversees the TSP, was given two years to issue the regulations and make the preparations necessary to implement the expanded withdrawal options. The new options will be available in mid-September 2019.

✔✔ W orked with Congressman Gerry Connolly, D-VA, to craft legislation, the Equal COLA Act, H.R. 7165, to ensure Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) annuitants receive a full cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) based on the measured change in consumer prices.

• Under current law, when the change in consumer prices measures between 2 and 3 percent, FERS annuitants only receive a 2 percent COLA. When it is above 3 percent, the FERS COLA is equal to the measured change in consumer prices, minus 1 percent. In 2019, FERS annuitants only received a 2.0 percent COLA, while the COLA to Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) annuities and Social Security benefits was 2.8 percent. • The Equal COLA Act would ensure FERS annuitants receive a COLA based simply on the change in the measured change in consumer prices, and equal to COLAs provided to Social Security benefits and CSRS annuities. • While the bill was not considered, it laid down a marker that FERS retirees deserve full COLAs to maintain purchasing power in retirement.

W W W. N A R F E . O R G

Washington Watch

NARFE PROVIDES UNMATCHED ASSISTANCE DURING SHUTDOWN

he longest government shutdown in U.S. history came to an end on January 25, as the president and leadership in the House and Senate reached a temporary deal to reopen the government through February 15. For 35 days, partisan bickering in Washington took priority over duty, nine federal departments and agencies were shuttered, 800,000 federal employees suffered greatly and unnecessarily from missed paychecks, and local businesses and entire industries faced drastic, if not catastrophic, outcomes. Since the shutdown began on December 22, it seemed that the only thing certain was uncertainty. In the absence of knowledge and presence of fear, the likelihood of misinformation and confusion set in throughout the federal community. NARFE’s advocacy, communications and federal benefits departments embarked on a strategic campaign to ensure that factual information and the value of federal employees were part of the national dialogue. NARFE’s Shutdown Central webpage quickly formed, and with its legislative updates, government resources, and FAQs grew in visibility daily. In response to each legislative development or lack thereof, NARFE issued media statements detailing the shutdown’s negative effects and urging elected officials to come together for the benefit of the country and find a mutually agreeable path forward. In all, we released nine statements, each

| MAR

2 019

SHUTDOWN CENTRAL NARFE’s Shutdown Central webpage provided vital information for Feds: • Legislative updates • Government resources • FAQs • Free webinar • Links to OMB resources • U.S. Department of Labor resources

of which created a continuous ongoing dialogue with well-known journalists and relationships with new ones, positioning NARFE as the go-to resource for the media. As a result, NARFE was referenced in more than 50 media stories, including pieces in The Washington Post, National Public Radio, Federal News Network, Huffington Post and Government Matters, that reached millions of readers and viewers in the U.S. and internationally. In early January, NARFE National President Ken Thomas and Staff Vice President of Advocacy Jessica Klement conducted a free webinar, tackling frequently asked questions on how retirement services and claims, TSP withdrawals, health

ACTION ALERT!

care premiums and coverage, and back pay were affected by the shutdown. More than 1,400 people registered for the webinar, which has also been viewed in replay an additional 1,000 times. As staff members on Capitol Hill continued to work during the shutdown, NARFE’s advocacy team repeatedly engaged with representatives and senators, urging them to end the shutdown and providing their expertise and assistance for their federal community constituents. In turn, several members of Congress promoted NARFE on their websites and social media platforms, thereby expanding NARFE’s visibility to more than 200,000 people across the country.

MARCH

LAST CALL: Register for LEGcon19 today at www.narfe.org/ LEGcon19 to secure your spot at NARFE’s informative and engaging three-day legislative training conference, March 10–13, 2019, in Alexandria, VA.

NARFE worked hard to ensure passage of the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act, which provided back pay to Feds who were furloughed and those working without pay. Seven members of the House voted against the bill.

In addition to reaching out to those seven, the advocacy staff developed a localized grassroots effort, notifying and activating NARFE members in those seven congressional districts. This shutdown was the third in the past year, testing the

patience and pride of hardworking federal employees. At press time, the government was open. But should we be faced with another shutdown, NARFE is prepared to take action with policymakers, the media and public. — BY JILL TALLEY, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS

BEST PLACES TO WORK REPORT SHOWS DECLINING ENGAGEMENT

he nonpartisan Partnership for Public Service (Partnership) produced its “2018 Best Places to Work” in the federal government rankings, which measure federal employee engagement government-wide and at specific organizations by utilizing the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey. The Partnership produced this annual report by capturing the views of more than 847,000 federal employees from 488 federal organizations. The purpose of these rankings is to shed light on federal leaders and their ability to keep employee engagement high. Last year’s numbers were not flattering, as the rankings showed a decline in employee engagement across a majority of federal organizations. Partnership analysis shows that 59 percent of federal organizations included in the rankings sustained a decline in employee engagement, 39.6 percent experienced an

engagement increase and 1.3 percent maintained previous scores. This is dramatically different from the three previous iterations of this annual report, when more than 70 percent of federal organizations gained in employee engagement levels. Overall, the report showed a decline in the three strongest drivers of employee engagement: effective leadership, the match between employee skills and agency missions, and pay. The 2018 rankings also displayed concerning numbers for federal employee engagement when compared to private-sector employees. Employee research firm Mercer | Sirota measured private-sector employee engagement at 77 percent. Meanwhile, “Best Places to Work” scored government-wide federal employee engagement at 62. With a retirement wave on the way, the federal government cannot afford to lag behind

MYTH vs. REALITY Myth: Membership dues, general NARFE funds, and NARFE fundraising efforts, such as note cards and calendars, are used for NARFE-PAC disbursements. Reality: Federal campaign laws prohibit dues money and other general funds (including funds from NARFE solicitations), from being directed to NARFE-PAC. NARFE-PAC is a separate, segregated fund of the Association. All NARFE-PAC funds come from members’ voluntary contributions made explicitly for political purposes.

(Continued on p. 10) W W W. N A R F E . O R G

Washington Watch

MOTIVATED AFTER THE SHUTDOWN? TAKE ACTION!

ow more than ever, on the heels of the nation’s longest government shutdown, it’s imperative that NARFE members build relationships with new and seasoned legislators and congressional staff to position NARFE as the go-to resource for the federal community. Take this opportunity to register for LEGcon19, March 10-13 in Alexandria, VA, to learn how to address your concerns about federal employees being targeted time and again with legislators. Attendees will hear from speakers including NARFE National President Ken Thomas, key members of Congress, congressional staff and experts about what Congress has in store for Feds during the 116th Congress. The recent unprecedented

(Continued from p. 9) private employers by such an extent if it wants to compete for top talent. This report should be taken as a word of caution regarding the importance of providing government leaders with proper training. Efforts toward civil service reform should be 10

| MAR

2 019

government shutdown highlighted crucial services the federal community provides, but also created more information about Feds. Don’t let this opportunity to set the record straight pass by. Save your spot for LEGcon19 so together we can take NARFE’s message to legislators on Capitol Hill. LEGcon19 attendees will have an exclusive first look at the new 116th Congress in action in Washington, DC. They’ll connect with their legislators on Capitol Hill for a day of congressional meetings, start a dialogue with freshmen legislators and build relationships with congressional staff. This is your chance to remind Congress of the essential roles Feds play in communities across the nation. Learn more about LEGcon19 and register today at www.narfe.org/ LEGcon19. LEGcon19 is open to all NARFE members interested in learning how to advocate for NARFE’s legislative priorities and protect members of the federal community from having their earned pay and in the direction of creating higher employee satisfaction and providing employees with the resources and conditions they require to best serve the American public. Look for further coverage of the “2018 Best Places to Work” in the April issue of NARFE Magazine. — BY SAMUEL BARTELS, ADVOCACY ASSISTANT

benefits cut. Attendees will leave Washington, DC, proud to be a member of the federal community, energized by expertled training on advocacy best practices and ready for their role as a trained and seasoned advocate. For questions about registration, please contact the NARFE events team at events@ narfe.org. For questions about the conference, please contact the Advocacy Department at advocacy@narfe.org. We look forward to seeing you in a few short weeks at LEGcon19! — BY MOLLY CHECKSFIELD, GRASSROOTS PROGRAM MANAGER

Legislative Resources • Legislative Hotline: A weekly update of legislative news, compiled by the NARFE Advocacy Department staff, distributed via email and available by phone (tollfree) at 800-456-8410, option 4 and online at www.narfe.org. • Legislative Action Center: A one-stop site to send a letter to Congress, and more, at www.narfe.org.

Act Now! NARFE Legislative Training Conference March 10-13, 2019

On the heels of the longest government shutdown in our nation’s history, take this opportunity to attend LEGcon19 and: • Rewrite the tired old narrative of federal employees and retirees being targeted time and again • Amplify NARFE’s position as the go-to resource for the federal community • Meet with members of Congress and advocate on behalf of federal employees and retirees

“

I used to have great pride in being a public servant. I still take great pride in the work that I do. But, my civil servant spirit has been broken [by the shutdown].” IRS IT Security Specialist Bowie, MD

Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in training sessions such as: • • • • • • • •

Be Prepared – Mock Congressional Meetings Making the Most of NARFE’s Hill Day Advocacy 365 The Role of NARFE-PAC NARFE-PAC Leader Training Congressional District Leader Training State Advocacy 101 Ask the Experts

The conference will be held at the Mark Center Hilton Hotel, Alexandria, VA. Call 800-445-8667 to make reservations. Mention NARFE Legislative Conference. Hotel rate: $175 per night (plus tax) Discount parking available

W W W. N A R F E . O R G

Washington Watch

NARFE-PAC:

MEETING OUR GOALS

NARFE-PAC, the political arm of NARFE, works to defend your earned pay and benefits by building strong relationships between NARFE and members of Congress. Thank you to all those who helped NARFE-PAC fight for the federal community this past cycle (2017-2018). Contribute to NARFE-PAC today and take a stand for Feds!

Raise $1.5 million

$1.89 million

Disburse $1 million in political contributions

Grow monthly giving program (sustainer program) by 50%

Send NARFE members to 100 local fundraisers

$1.1 million

32%

105

Figures as of 12/31/2018

Contribute To NARFE-PAC I want to make a monthly sustainer credit card contribution:

q $25/month

I want to make a one-time contribution: q $250 – Gold lapel pin and water bottle q $100 – Silver lapel pin

q $10/month q Other: ______/month ($10 minimum) Sustainers receive a sustainer lapel pin and NARFE-PAC 17oz stainless steel thermal bottle that keeps liquids hot for 12 hours or cold for 24 hours.

q $50 – Bronze lapel pin q $25 – Basic lapel pin q Other: _________

q Please do not send any gifts for my contribution (This saves NARFE-PAC money!)

NARFE Member #: _________________________________________ Name: __________________________________________________ Address: ________________________________________________ City: _________________________________________________ State: ___________

ZIP: _______________

Only members of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association may contribute to NARFE-PAC. NARFE will neither favor nor disadvantage anyone based on the amount of a contribution or the failure to make a voluntary contribution to this political action fund. NARFE-PAC contributions are not deductible for federal income tax purposes.

| MAR

2 019

q Charge my credit card (required for monthly contribution) q MasterCard

q VISA

q Discover

q AMEX

Card #: ________________________________________________ Exp. Date: _____ /_________ mm

yyyy

Name on Card: _________________________________________ Signature: _____________________________________________ Date: _________________________

Or mail check payable to NARFE-PAC to: NARFE Attn. Budget & Finance 606 North Washington St. | Alexandria, VA 22314

Only $20

NARFE’s CONGRESSIONAL DIRECTORY

FOR THE 116th CONGRESS (2019-2020)

Features:

• Members of Congress by state delegation, with color photos, biographical data and congressional district maps. • Members’ contact information, including addresses, phone and fax numbers, website addresses, social media contacts, district offices and key staffers. • Complete listings of committees, subcommittees and leadership. • Contact information for the White House, Cabinet, Supreme Court and federal agencies.

Be a stronger advocate with NARFE’s Congressional Directory at your fingertips

Order your copy of the new CONGRESSIONAL DIRECTORY today! Name___________________________________________________________________ Address _________________________________________________________________ City _________________________________________ State ______ ZIP____________ Member ID# (as it appears on narfe magazine label) _____________________________

o Check (payable to NARFE) o Charge my credit card o MasterCard

o VISA o Discover o AMEX

Card # __________________________________________________________________ Exp. Date

_______ (mm)

/ _______ (yy)

Name on card (print) ______________________________________________________ Signature ____________________________________________ Date _____________

Quantity ________________ $20 each (includes shipping and handling) VA sales tax _____________ VA residents add 6% tax ($1.20) per book Total cost _______________ Mail to: NARFE Congressional Directory 606 N. Washington Street Alexandria, VA 22314-1914

Expected delivery late April 2019. Call NARFE’s Advocacy Department at 800-456-8410, option 3, to order by phone.

Find this and other great deals on www.fepblue.org/blue365

Smart Savings. Smart Hearing. Be smart about your hearing aid purchase. Service Benefit Plan members can combine their benefit with TruHearing® prices to save thousands.

Example Savings (per pair) Prices and products subject to change. For more information, visit TruHearing.com. Sample Product

Average Retail Price

TruHearing Price

Benefit (up to $2,500)*

You Pay†

ReSound LiNX 3D® 9

$6,110

$4,190

–$2,500

$1,690

Starkey® Muse™ iQ i2000

$5,570

$3,100

–$2,500

$600

Oticon Opn® 3

$4,830

$2,950

–$2,500

$450

Phonak™ Audeo® B50

$3,860

$2,590

–$2,500

$90

TruHearing Flyte® 770

$3,700

$1,990

–$2,500

Widex® Beyond® 220

$4,010

$2,500

–$2,500

Smartphone compatible‡

Rechargeable

* FEP will pay a hearing aid benefit up to $2,500 total every 3 calendar years for adults age 22 and over, and up to $2,500 total per calendar year for members up to age 22. Do not rely on this communication piece alone for complete benefit information. All benefits are subject to the definitions, limitations, and exclusions in your FEP brochure. The Blue365® Discount Program offers access to savings on items that you may purchase directly from independent vendors, which may be different from items covered under FEP or any other applicable federal healthcare program. For hearing aids, acupuncture, chiropractic and vision services, you must exhaust your FEP benefits first. To find out what is covered under your policy, contact the customer service number on the back of your member ID card. The products and services described herein are neither offered nor guaranteed under any local Blue company’s contract with the Medicare program. These items are not subject to the Medicare appeal process. Any disputes regarding these products and services are not subject to the FEP’s Disputed Claims process. Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) may receive payments from Blue365 vendors. Neither the FEP, BCBSA, nor any local Blue company recommends, endorses, warrants or guarantees any specific Blue365 vendor or item. The FEP reserves the right to change, modify, or terminate any item and vendors made available through Blue365, at any time.

TruHearing is an independent company that provides discounts on hearing aids.

What Else Can You Expect From TruHearing? Exclusive savings Average savings of $980 per hearing aid compared to national average prices

Batteries for less Get 120 batteries for only $39, conveniently delivered to your door

3 follow-up visits with a provider for fitting and adjustments 45-day trial

Quality & choice TruHearing offers a wide variety of the latest digital hearing aids from top manufacturers Personal care Local professional care from over 5,000 TruHearing providers nationwide

Hearing Aid Purchases Include:

3-year manufacturer warranty for repairs and one-time loss and damage replacement§ 48 free batteries per hearing aid (not included with rechargeable models)

Call TruHearing today and start saving

877-360-2432 | For TTY, dial 711

† Price shown does not include cost of comprehensive hearing exam. Examination and testing for prescribing of hearing aids is covered under the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan. The member should confirm that the provider rendering the hearing exam is a Preferred provider. If the provider is Non-preferred, the member may be charged a maximum fee of $75 for the exam, and the member may need to submit a claim for reimbursement. Must be a FEP member to access TruHearing discounted pricing. ‡ Smartphone compatible hearing aids connect directly to iPhone®, iPad®, and iPod® Touch devices. Connectivity also available to many Android® phones with use of a phone clip accessory. § Hearing aid returns, repairs, and replacements subject to provider and manufacturer fees. For questions regarding fees, contact TruHearing customer service. TruHearing is offered through Blue365, which provides exclusive health and wellness deals and is a program of Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies. The Blue Cross® and Blue Shield® words and symbols, Federal Employee Program®, FEP® and Blue365® are all trademarks owned by Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. All content ©2018 TruHearing, Inc. All Rights Reserved. TruHearing® and Flyte® are registered trademarks of TruHearing, Inc. All other trademarks, product names, and company names are the property of their respective owners. Savings based on a survey of national average retail hearing aid prices compared to average TruHearing pricing. Actual customer savings will vary. Three follow-up visits must be used within one year after the date of initial purchase.

Questions & Answers

The following Questions & Answers were compiled by NARFE’s Federal Benefits Institute staff. NARFE does not provide legal, financial planning or tax advice or assistance.

EMPLOYEES STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS AND LEAVE

I began my federal career fairly recently. I receive pay statements from my agency each pay period. Should I keep all of these for the next 30 years of my federal career, or should I purge them every year after I have confirmed I’ve been paid properly?

From time to time, you may want to doublecheck something on your pay statement (officially, your Statement of Earnings and Leave or SEL), and having access to your statements on occasion may be useful. If you don’t want to keep all of your statements and decide to purge them occasionally, we recommend that you purge no statements that are less than five years old, and at least consider always keeping the following: • Your very first statement; • Statements that reflect a salary change; 16

| MAR

2 019

• Statements that reflect any military deposit payment information; • If part-time, keep all statements that reflect any hours that you worked above your regular part-time schedule; • If changing payroll offices or transferring to a new agency, keep the last statement from your old payroll office or agency and the first statement from your new payroll office or agency; and • Statements for the last five years upon separation from federal service.

HIGH-3 AVERAGE SALARY

After a long break in federal service, I recently returned to a federal position with a modest salary. Although I plan to continue this job until I’m old enough to qualify for an immediate retirement, I don’t expect to reach the salary level that I previously had when I was a federal employee years ago. How will my current salary affect the high-3 average salary that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) uses to calculate my annuity?

When OPM computes your annuity, they will identify the 3 years of consecutive creditable federal civilian service where your basic salary rate was the highest. When they look at your salary history, they ignore breaks in federal service by squeezing your entire federal career together

(from beginning to end), as if you had no breaks in federal service, and then they search for the highest 3 consecutive years of basic salary earned while federally employed. If you steadily increased your basic salary rate from the beginning to the end of your previous period of federal service, then it’s likely that the last 3 years of your previous period of federal service is where OPM would identify your high-3 average salary. But that might not be true if your current modest basic salary rate is higher than the basic salary rate you had 3 years prior to your previous separation from federal service. In that case, they might use some of your current basic salary in the computation of your high-3 average salary. But in this example, if you expect your current salary and any future salary to be less than any basic salary rate you had during the last 3 years of the previous part of your federal career, then it’s unlikely that OPM will use your current salary to compute your high-3 average salary. In this case, it’s more likely that OPM will use your previous salary history to identify your high-3 average salary. Now that you have returned to federal service, I’d recommend that you ask your agency retirement office to prepare an estimate report of your high-3 average salary. This report should include the salary details

for you to review your specific situation. You can find additional details about how OPM computes high-3 average salaries in chapter 50 of the CSRS/ FERS Handbook: www.opm. gov/retirement-services/ publications-forms/csrsfershandbook/c050.pdf

Beneficiary for Unpaid Compensation of Deceased Civilian Employee www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/ sf1152.pdf

BENEFICIARY FORMS

TSP-3 - Designation of Beneficiary for Thrift Savings Plan www.tsp.gov/PDF/formspubs/ tsp-3.pdf

Q A

Is it possible for me to cancel prior designations of any beneficiary forms that I may have filed in the past?

Yes, you can use a new beneficiary form to cancel any prior designations that you may have made in the past. There are examples on each of the beneficiary forms listed below that show you how to do this. If you cancel a prior designation, then upon your death, the benefit would be paid out according to an order of precedence, which is also explained on each of the following forms: SF2808 - Designation of Beneficiary for CSRS www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/ sf2808.pdf SF3102 - Designation of Beneficiary for FERS www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/ sf3102.pdf SF1152 - Designation of

SF2823 - Designation of Beneficiary for Federal Employees Group Life Insurance www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/ sf2823.pdf

EARNINGS TEST FOR FERS RETIREMENT ANNUITY SUPPLEMENT (RAS)

I’m planning to retire under FERS on October 31, 2019 and I will qualify for an annuity supplement payable immediately with my pension from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). I’m also expecting to earn $16,000 in self-employment income in November and December. Will this affect my annuity from OPM?

In your specific scenario, it doesn’t appear that your self-employment income in 2019 will affect your FERS retirement annuity supplement (RAS) in 2019 or 2020. Any wages earned after you retire from federal service should never affect your regular W W W. N A R F E . O R G

Questions & Answers

FERS annuity. Here is how OPM describes the “earnings test” that could affect the FERS RAS: “If a retiree’s earnings exceed the exempt amount, the annual supplement will be reduced $1 for every $2 that is earned above that amount. Earnings, for purposes of calculating the earnings reduction, consist of the sum of wages for services performed in the year, plus all net earnings from selfemployment for the year, minus any net loss from selfemployment for the year. “The exempt amount is the same as the amount established by the Social Security Administration for the purpose of calculating the earnings reduction for Social Security benefits.” Wages earned after you retire could potentially affect the FERS RAS that OPM temporarily adds to your annuity through the age of 62. OPM applies an annual “earnings test” to these types of wages earned after you separate to determine how they might need to reduce your FERS RAS. As mentioned in the quote from OPM, this “earnings test” is very similar to the “earnings test” that Social Security applies if you are still working and you attempt to claim payment from Social Security prior to your full retirement age. A reduction in the FERS RAS in a given year is based on excess earnings in the previous year. If you are younger than your FERS minimum retirement age (MRA) and you are going to separate for an immediate retirement under the special provisions for law enforcement officers, firefighters, air traffic 18

| MAR

2 019

controllers or military reserve technicians, then OPM won’t apply the “earnings test” until you reach your FERS MRA. However, if you are not going to separate for one of the immediate retirements listed in the previous paragraph and/ or you have reached your FERS MRA, any Medicare taxable wages earned and received after you have retired from federal service can be used toward this annual “earnings test.” It’s important to note that any federal salary or lump-sum payment for unused annual leave that you receive from your agency payroll office shortly after you separate from federal service won’t apply towards this “earnings test” because that income is considered to have been earned before you separated from federal service even though it was paid after you separated. The 2019 earnings limit, or exempt amount, is $17,640. These limits increase from time to time. Since you don’t intend to earn that much in November and December 2019, you won’t be required to respond to the first letter that you typically receive from OPM each February as a FERS annuitant eligible for the RAS. This means any FERS RAS payable in 2019 and 2020 will be unaffected, and you won’t have to communicate your wages to OPM again until you receive your second letter from OPM in February 2021. If you reach your 62nd birthday before February 2021, your FERS RAS simply stops, regardless of whether or not you want to separately apply for

Social Security at that time. But if you are still younger than 62 in 2021 and you expect to remain gainfully employed in 2020, then you will receive another letter from OPM in February 2021 where you will be required to report your earned income if your 2020 income exceeds the limit established for 2020. If your 2020 wages exceed the 2020 limit, then the FERS RAS payable in 2021 could be affected. Refer to the following link for more details: www.opm. gov/retirement-services/ publications-forms/csrsfershandbook/c051.pdf

RETIREES GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWNS AND RETIREMENT INCOME

Does a lapse in funding typically affect payments from sources of retirement income like Social Security, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) or the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS)?

No. When Congress fails to appropriate funds or approve a budget to allow the federal government to fully operate, the budgets that allow the Social Security Administration (SSA), Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to process retirements and administer payments are not affected by a typical government shutdown such as the one we recently experienced.

Individuals who have been receiving payments from these sources prior to the shutdown were not affected. Individuals who applied for Social Security during the shutdown were not affected. However, individuals who applied for retirement under CSRS or FERS during the shutdown may have experienced a delay in the processing of their retirements from OPM, only because the agency wasn’t able to forward the retirement application package to OPM before it shut down. But once a shutdown ends and OPM receives a complete retirement application package from the agency, they process the retirement and make the

necessary retirement payments retroactive to the effective date that the employee retired. If someone separated for retirement from federal service during the shutdown, those individuals may have trouble making withdrawals from TSP. The reason for this is because TSP typically receives a separation code in an electronic communication from the agency payroll office when an employee separates from federal service. But if the agency shutdown occurred before they had an opportunity to send that separation information to TSP, then TSP would not be able to allow the employee to make any post-separation withdrawals

from their account until the agency reopens and sends the proper information to TSP.

PENALTY TAX FOR TSP WITHDRAWALS

If I separate from federal service at the age of 56, will I be subject to a penalty tax if I take a withdrawal from the taxable portion of my Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) before the age of 59½?

No. Whether you are a regular federal employee or a public safety employee (i.e. law enforcement officer, firefighter, air traffic controller), if you separate from

ATTENTION VETERANS!

John S. Victory, Sr., US Army, Retired

You served our country, now let us serve you. An Acorn Stairlift is the perfect solution for arthritis and COPD sufferers, those with mobility issues, or anyone who struggles with the stairs.

RECEIVE $250 OFF* & YOUR FREE STAIRLIFT BUYING GUIDE TO HELP YOU MAKE AN INFORMED DECISION. CALL TODAY TO RECEIVE YOUR FREE STAIRLIFT BUYING GUIDE & DVD PLUS SAVE $250!

1-866-797-9796 *Not valid on previous purchases. Not valid with any other offers or discounts. Not valid on refurbished models. Only valid towards purchase of a NEW Acorn Stairlift directly from the manufacturer. $250 discount will be applied to new orders. Please mention this ad when calling. AZ ROC 278722, CA 942619, MN LC670698, OK 50110, OR CCB 198506, RI 88, WA ACORNSI894OB, WV WV049654, MA HIC169936, NJ 13VH07752300, PA PA101967, CT ELV 0425003-R5, AK 134057.

2019_01_NARFE_Mar_HHoriz.indd 1

ACCREDITED BUSINESS ®

A+

Rating

1/15/19 12:24 PM

W W W. N A R F E . O R G

Questions & Answers

federal service at the age of 56, you would be exempt from the typical 10 percent penalty tax that the IRS might impose upon others who attempt to withdraw taxable funds from a retirement savings account prior to the age of 59½. Regular federal employees who separate from federal service in the year of their 55th birthday or later are exempt from penalty taxes, if they decide to later take a taxable withdrawal from TSP before they reach the age of 59½. A similar rule applies to public safety employees who separate from federal service in the year of their 50th birthday or later.

Just keep in mind, this exemption from the 10 percent penalty tax only applies to distributions that you take directly from the TSP. So if you transfer any portion of your TSP to a traditional IRA and attempt to take taxable distributions from the IRA before the age of 59½, the distribution from the IRA may be subject to this penalty tax. If a regular employee separates from federal service before the year of their 55th birthday, or if a public safety employee separates from federal service before the year of their 50th birthday, they would typically be subject to the 10 percent penalty tax if they

attempted to take a distribution from TSP before they reach the age of 59½. However, there are additional exceptions, such as choosing annuity payments or small substantially equal payments based on life expectancy for these individuals. More details can be found in the TSP Tax Notice (TSP-536) www. tsp.gov/PDF/formspubs/tsp536.pdf

CSRS OFFSET

I retired as a CSRS Offset employee when I was 58. When should I expect the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to reduce my annuity?

What Every Fed Should Know About Their Benefits Registration FREE for members in the NARFE Federal Benefits Institute

Don’t miss out on these upcoming WEBINARS from the NARFE Federal Benefits Institute: March 7 March 21 April 11

All New!

TSP: Your Key to a Secure Retirement Income Optimizing Your Social Security Benefits Federal Benefits and Divorce

Not a member? Join NARFE today to access all

NARFE Federal Benefits Institute resources and events: www.NARFE.org/Join

NARFE PRESENTERS

James Marshall, head of the NARFE Federal Benefits Institute, offers a depth of knowledge from his long career helping Feds make smart decisions.

Tammy Flanagan, expert on federal benefits, offers easy-to-understand answers to the most complex questions. Mark Keen, CFP®, is a financial planner with years of experience helping Feds prepare for retirement.

NARFE Federal Benefits Institute www.NARFE.org/Institute 20

| MAR

2 019

If you will have 40 or more credits on your Social Security work record by the time you reach the age of 62, then OPM will apply the reduction (i.e. offset) to your annuity at age 62. Otherwise, if you don’t expect to have these credits by the age of 62, OPM would not apply the offset unless you later obtain the necessary credits to qualify for Social Security. If you are like most CSRS Offset retirees, you most likely have the 40 or more credits on your Social Security work record already. So if this is true for you, just keep in mind that OPM still applies the offset to your annuity at age 62

even if you decide to wait to draw Social Security payments later. If this is applicable to you, the good news is that OPM computes the offset based on the amount of Social Security potentially payable at age 62 and not the larger amount that you actually claim at a later age. To obtain an answer to a federal benefits question, NARFE members should call 800-456-8410 and select option 2 for the Federal Benefits Institute; send the question by postal mail to NARFE Headquarters, ATTN: Federal Benefits; or submit it by email to fedbenefits@narfe.org.

NARFE at Your Service At NARFE headquarters, experts are available to answer questions and to assist in helping with a variety of benefit matters. Call NARFE at:

800-456-8410, Option 2

Introducing the INOGEN ONE G4. It’s oxygen gen therapy on your terms.

Meets FAA Requirements for Travel

No more tanks to refill. No more deliveries. No more hassles with travel. The INOGEN ONE G4 4 portable oxygen concentrator is designed to provide unparalleled freedom for oxygen therapy users. It’s small, lightweight, clinically proven for stationary and portable use, pr during the day and at night, and can go du virtually anywhere — even on most airlines. vi

JUST 2.8 LBS!

Reclaim your freedom and independence. ®

Call Inogen toll-free today to receive your FREE Info Kit.

MKT-P0066

W W W. N A R F E . O R G

Cover Story

ITY

EN M E R I

| M A R

2 019

AND

Y RE L R A

BIL I G I EL

nkin

obe vid T a D By

Certain federal jobs are classified as civilian, but they might as well be military given the amount of stress, long hours, and dangers they involve. Jeff, a former FBI special agent and manager who spent 30 years at that agency before retiring in 2005, describes some of the risks and perils of his work. “We have had guys shot in surveillance or during undercover activities, and there were SWAT team forced entries I participated in where you never knew what you were going to find in there, such as trip wires with explosives or a suspect who might want to kill you,” he says. “We also put in 12- to 14-hour days, six days a week on a routine basis. There was no way you could do your job in a 40-hour week.”

W W W. N A R F E . O R G

Years of performing stakeouts overnight in freezing weather, fighting wildfires in intense heat, or painstakingly following aircraft trajectories on a radar screen to avoid collisions can take their toll on the human body and mind. The federal government has long recognized this and responded with a career track for these federal employees such that they obtain accelerated retirement compensation and earlier retirement eligibility, but that also forces them out of their positions upon reaching a maximum age. That formula, which is under pressure in the current costcutting environment, also forces important financial and career planning decisions upon employees long before they would otherwise face them. “Do I think these employees deserve the extra pay? Yes, I do,” says Jeff, who requested anonymity to avoid alleged criminals and their associates he pursued at the FBI from tracking him down to his home in northern Florida, where he is retired. “Just given the hours we had to put in, we were probably getting paid far less per hour than most federal workers. And we undertook a lot of danger.”

Special Category Employees Several classes of federal employees, most notably law enforcement employees, firefighters, air traffic controllers and Foreign Service officers, often termed Special Category Employees (SCEs), participate in federal job series that require them to retire early: age 57 for those firefighters and law enforcement officers (LEOs), 56 for air traffic controllers, and 65 for Foreign Service officers. Some statutory provisions allow for agency extensions or exceptions to the age cap on a case-bycase basis. Given the mandatory retirement structure, nearly all active SCEs are under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), not the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). Not all employees at agencies employing SCEs are SCEs. There were several basic considerations in Congress’ decision to impose the formula for SCEs, beginning with FBI agents in 1947. They include that such employees’ face physical demands that limit the age 24

| M A R

2 019

range at which they can optimally perform their jobs, that enough has been asked of these employees that they are entitled to a relatively early retirement. Also, they determined that there is a positive agency benefit to having a new crop of younger employees on the job, because they are less expensive, more physically robust, and more recently and easily trained.

The Financial Benefits of the SCE Formula Several attributes of the SCE retirement system make it considerably more generous than a standard FERS pension, notes Dan Jamison, CPA, who retired in 2013 from the FBI after 21 years as a Special Agent Accountant. He now consults on financial planning topics, publishing a financial planning guide geared to the special needs of SCEs called the FERSGUIDE. Among those advantages are: • SCEs accrue retirement benefits at a more rapid rate. For the first 20 years, they accrue benefits at 1.7 percent per year and after that at 1 percent per year, compared to the standard rate of 1 percent for FERS employees retiring before age 62 and at 1.1 percent for those retiring at or after age 62. • SCE annuity COLAs begins at retirement, even if they retire before age 50 with 25 years, unlike other FERS participants, who must wait until age 62 to start receiving a COLA. • SCEs can commence second careers at a time when they are more vigorous and more valuable to other employers, offset of course, by the wear of their jobs upon them to that point. As an extreme case, Jamison notes that a firefighter who begins working at age 18 could be eligible to retire at age 43. • There is also the time value of money for having received that money far earlier than other federal employees, allowing time for interest compounding and investment appreciation. • The FERS Annuity Supplement is particularly beneficial to these employees, as it is not subject to reduction based on outside employment until they attain their minimum retirement age, typically age 56 or 57. • Of course, federal employees, as well as their agencies, have to pay more for those benefits. Law enforcement personnel contribute an additional one-half percent of pay compared to regular federal employees hired at the same time. • SCEs must retire on an immediate annuity to receive 1.7 percent for their first 20 years of service. For example, if an SCE separates with 18 years of SCE service, they receive 1 percent per year credit, payable as a deferred annuity at age 62, just like any other FERS participant.

Difference Between Regular and SCE Retirement Under FERS Item Eligibility

SCE

Regular

Any age for SCE with 25 years for CSRS and FERS Age 50 if 20 SCE years for FERS

Age 55-57 with 30 years (MRA+ 30), age 60 with 20 years, age 62 with 5 years

Accrual Rate

1.7 percent first 20 years, 1.0 percent afterwards

1 percent all years, unless 62 with 20 years, then 1.1 percent

COLAs

Immediate, regardless of age

Annuity supplement

Not income tested until MRA

Income tested at retirement

At MRA +10 with 5 percent permanent reduction for all years younger than 62.

Source: FERSGUIDE

Financial Planning Best Practices Even with enhanced benefits, SCEs face a variety of financial planning challenges. A particularly important factor for FERS SCEs, for example, is to try to “max out” contributions to their Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), given they will only be eligible to contribute and receive agency matching contributions during a shorter number of years in federal service, and given a large amount contributed early will allow for many, many years of compounding interest and stock growth to increase the amount of money. Social Security claiming strategies are important for this group, as they will live a very long time after retirement on average and selecting the wrong assets to tap could risk running short or out of money before the end of their lifetime, notes Carol Schmidlin, president of Franklin Planning. Schmidlin says that

whether to claim Social Security, at 62, when benefits are reduced, or at the full benefit age, usually 65-67, should follow a holistic analysis of benefits, but it can often make sense to tap such benefits early so that retirees don’t have to draw down assets from their TSP and other sources too early. One SCE financial challenge is that a pension plus a post-separation salary from a second career can lead to excessive spending in the years before retirement, says Micah Shilanski, a certified financial planner (CFP®) and founder of federal retirement website www.plan-your-federal-retirement.com. “For many of those getting a pension and a paycheck, they used to budget, and now they just spend it all,” Shilanski says. “I try to get them to live on a budget that is closer to their retirement income.” W W W. N A R F E . O R G

An irony is that the demands of the

SCE positions are so unusual and extraordinary that financial issues, and financial planning, often are not paramount for many SCEs.”

Second Acts

A Different Breed An irony is that the demands of the SCE positions are so unusual and extraordinary that financial issues, and financial planning, often are not paramount for many SCEs, some say. “People joining ATF are a different breed,” says Bill Earle, vice president of the Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms Association and former chief financial officer at ATF. “They often come to ATF with military or law enforcement training. These professionals want to stay active while participating in interesting investigations. They do so at a pretty high risk to life and of injury. People don’t walk into these positions looking at the retirement horizon. It is not top of mind for them.” The hardest part of the job for such employees may be the current climate for federal employees. “Today we see many people viewing federal service as less of a high calling,” Earle says. “Law enforcement officers are constantly bumping up against attitudes toward federal government that are negative. Who will want these ever more dangerous jobs in the future?” 26

| M A R

2 019

Many SCEs retire from federal service as soon as they are eligible. “There is not a lot of incentive to stick around after 20 years given the drop from 1.7 to 1 percent after 20 years,” says Nancy Savage, the executive director of the Society of Former Special Agents. “Most of them are bailing out at about age 50 after 20 years of service. Many want another full-time job to stay in the workforce until they are age 65 or 70. Financially, that is what makes sense. Not many of them are financially independent with retirement benefits. Almost all of them are highly employable, given that every FBI agent has a top-secret security clearance and prospective employers do not have to pay them health insurance benefits, [since they can] carry federal health benefits into retirement.” John Naland, vice president for retirees at the American Foreign Service Association, says that most Foreign Service members stay on until they are forced to retire, either through failure to be promoted under the Foreign Service’s up-or-out model or when they hit an absolute age cap of 65. Most retiring Foreign Service members seek fulltime or part-time employment after retiring from the government, Naland says. They do so, however, having spent two-thirds of their career overseas— making it difficult to network and job search with potential U.S. employers. That structure is why Congress in 1980 authorized establishment of the Job Search Program (JSP) at the Foreign Service Institute. To facilitate the transition to private-sector employment, the JSP, for example, helps retiring employees prepare a resume that translates their Foreign Service skills and experiences into terms understandable to private-sector employers.

N OR TH AMER I CA’S

for Specia NAR l O FE R ffer ead ers

1 Selling Walk-In Tub

Featuring our New

Exclusive Shower Package

Now you can finally have all of the soothing benefits of a relaxing warm bath, or enjoy a convenient refreshing shower while seated or standing. Introducing Safe Step Walk-In Tub’s exclusive NEW Shower Package!

NE W

P R O DU C T

✓ First and only walk-in tub available with a customizable shower ✓ Fixed rainfall shower head is adjustable for your height and pivots to offer a seated shower option ✓ Durable frameless tempered glass enclosure available ✓ High-quality tub complete with a comprehensive lifetime warranty on the entire tub ✓ Top-of-the-line installation and service, all included at one low, affordable price

Now you can have the best of both worlds–there isn’t a better, more affordable walk-in tub!

Call today and receive

FREE SHOWER PACKAGE!

FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY

Call Toll-Free 1-888-505-4803

www.BuySafeStep.com With purchase of a new Safe Step Walk-In Tub. Not applicable with any previous walk-in tub purchase. Offer available while supplies last. No cash value. Must present offer at time of purchase.

For your FREE information kit and our Senior Discounts, Call Today Toll-Free

1-888-505-4803 FINANCING AVAILABLE WITH APPROVED CREDIT CSLB 983603 F13000002885 13HV08744300

The Need to Transition Financially, professionally and personally, the biggest mistake many SCEs make is staying in federal government too long. “If you are chasing drugs for 25 years at the Drug Enforcement Agency, you may have no idea how that translates into the private sector, and you have no other skills, so you are scared and you stay,” Jamison says. “Instead, you need to plan five years out what to do to get the skills set you will need outside of government, such as updating credentials, obtaining more education, or doing something else at your agency that gives you the skill set you need, such as becoming an intelligence officer or going into cybersecurity, even if the job pays less.” However, a large surprise for many is how long getting a good private-sector job can take. “To find an equally well-paid position in private sector can take a long time, possibly one to one-and-a-half years,” says Shilanski. Some agency employee and alumni associations offer job search services. The 840-member Association of Former Customs Special Agents (AFCSA) has post-retirement employment as a focus at the association, says AFCSA founder Robert Guthrie. AFCSA’s After Customs Employment (ACE) program consists of retiree members who are employed in a customs-related company and provide information about opportunities that arise to the association, which then disseminates the information to its members.

Fly in the Ointment Financially, professionally and personally, the biggest mistake many Special Category Employees make is staying in federal government too long.”

Divorce is one particular danger for SCEs, one which can make adequate or generous benefits inadequate due to a court-ordered division of benefits with a former spouse. The Office of Personnel Management in June 2016 also began including the FERS Annuity Supplement payment in such divisions even where it was not expressly included in a court order, Schmidlin notes. Jamison says some divorced SCE employees chose to keep working to improve their financial situation, as their former spouses will not receive a share of the annuity payments until after they retire. SCEs are particularly vulnerable to possible changes in the FERS formula, such as reductions in cost-of-living adjustments or elimination of the FERS Annuity Supplement, because their annuities may need to sustain them over a longer retirement. —DAVID TOBENKIN IS A FREELANCE JOURNALIST BASED IN THE GREATER WASHINGTON, D.C. AREA

| M A R

2 019

This Button Saves Lives!

Get Peace of Mind and Independence with Medical Alert Monitoring!

Feel safe and secure with round-the-clock monitoring from Medical Alert, one of the nation’s largest providers of personal emergency response systems. With the Medical Alert system, a simple button can be worn anywhere—even in the shower. If emergency help is needed (medical, fire or police), push the button and a certified operator will respond immediately. We’re now offering our lowest price ever. Get complete protection from $19.95/mo.*

Why Choose Medical Alert? • Hundreds of thousands of protected customers • No Long-Term Contracts • FREE Equipment • No Activation Fee • U.S. Based Sales & Monitoring Agents When you call, be sure to ask about our advanced fall detection technology, which sends an automatic call for help even when you can’t push your button.†

CALL NOW TOLL FREE!

1-800-752-9611 www.MedicalAlert.com

*FOR AT HOME LANDLINE SYSTEM ONLY. MOBILE SYSTEMS AND FALL DETECTION REQUIRE ADDITIONAL FEES. WHILE SUPPLIES LAST. FOR NEW CUSTOMERS ONLY. NOT AVAILABLE ON MONTHLY RATE PLAN. **REQUIRES AN ANNUAL RATE PLAN. ‡FREE SECOND BUTTON APPLIES TO CERTAIN PRODUCTS, SUBSTITUTIONS MAY APPLY. †FALL DETECTION DOES NOT DETECT 100% OF ALL FALLS. USERS SHOULD ALWAYS PUSH THEIR BUTTON WHEN THEY NEED HELP.

| M A R

2 019

March is

NARFE-PAC Month Learn more about NARFE-PAC and its success as part of NARFE’s efforts to keep federal pay and benefits off the negotiating table. By Ross Apter

A politically split Congress presents challenges for advancing NARFE’s legislative priorities. A strong NARFE-PAC is crucial to ensuring NARFE’s voice doesn’t get lost among competing priorities. Gridlock is certain to take hold of Capitol Hill, and lawmakers, trying to move forward their own legislative agendas, will use any and every bargaining chip to advance their hand, including the earned pay and benefits of the federal community.

W W W. N A R F E . O R G

“The 116th Congress is going to be mired in divisiveness, forcing lawmakers to make concessions to make any progress. Federal annuities, Thrift Savings Plans, health care premiums and more are all bargaining chips at risk of being played to the detriment of the federal community,” observes NARFE Staff Vice President for Advocacy, Jessica Klement. “NARFE must be politically strong to make it clear to lawmakers that these earned benefits should be off the table.”

WHAT IS NARFE-PAC?

NARFE’s political action committee (NARFE-PAC) is the political arm of NARFE that raises funds to support the political campaigns of candidates running for Congress. NARFE-PAC is a separate, segregated fund of NARFE and is financed directly through NARFE members’ voluntary contributions. By law, your dues to NARFE cannot be used to contribute to campaigns.

A CRUCIAL TOOL IN THE TOOLBOX

NARFE-PAC is the third tool in NARFE’s advocacy toolbox, working in conjunction with grassroots advocacy and lobbying to discuss NARFE’s agenda with lawmakers. It allows the priorities of NARFE and its members to be heard loud and clear by lawmakers who are strategizing their next move. “You never want go unheard,” says NARFE National President Ken Thomas. “NARFE-PAC amplifies the voice of each NARFE member and is paramount to defending the earned benefits that each federal employee has earned through years of service to this nation.” NARFE-PAC is another opportunity to protect your earned benefits and stand up for the federal community. Your contributions make NARFE a game changer by fostering relationships with lawmakers and getting Fed-friendly candidates elected to Congress.

NARFE-PAC raised $1.89 million during the 2017-2018 cycle, a 30 percent increase from the previous cycle.

NARFE-PAC disbursed $1.1 million for political purposes in 2017-2018.

212 NARFE members attended 105 in-district fundraisers.

| M A R

2 019

NARFE-PAC worked tirelessly during the 2017-2018 cycle to meet the aggressive goals set at the beginning of the cycle. As a result, hundreds of NARFE allies have been sworn into the 116th Congress.

BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH LAWMAKERS

Each disbursement made by NARFE-PAC to a campaign provides an opportunity to foster a relationship with a lawmaker, and to make NARFE members’ voices heard. These relationships can go a long way, as they keep NARFE’s priorities at the forefront of legislators’ minds and prevent your earned benefits from being used as bargaining chips. Each contribution made by NARFE-PAC is connected with an event attended by NARFE staff, officers or NARFE members. Lawmakers and their senior staff also attend, giving NARFE advocates a seat at the table to have in-depth discussions on issues of importance to NARFE. Events are often held in Washington, DC, but they also take place in candidates’ districts, providing opportunities for NARFE members to put a face to NARFE’s issues and strengthen the relationship. NARFE members attended an astounding 105 in-district fundraisers this past cycle, fostering relationships new and old. Lawmakers want to hear from their constituents and give particular weight to these in-person meetings. Attending events in both Washington and back home is part of NARFE-PAC’s two-prong approach that strengthens the bond NARFE has with lawmakers. “NARFE-PAC focused on sending more NARFE members to in-district fundraisers during the 2017-2018 cycle,” says Thomas. “NARFE-PAC wants to send even more NARFE members to events in 2019-2020 because you are your own best advocates. NARFE-PAC is here to support its members to develop these important relationships.”

ELECTING FED-FRIENDLY LAWMAKERS

The more allies NARFE has in Congress, the better positioned we are to advance NARFE’s priorities. That’s where NARFE-PAC makes a difference.

“

Each disbursement made by NARFE-PAC to a campaign provides an opportunity to foster a relationship with a lawmaker, and to make NARFE members’ voices heard.”

NARFE-PAC helps get Fed-friendly lawmakers elected to Congress, ensuring representatives on Capitol Hill understand the vital role of the federal community. Running for Congress is expensive, and every dollar counts in close elections. NARFE-PAC disbursed over $1.1 million for political purposes during the 2017-2018 cycle, empowering NARFE’s strongest supporters. Because NARFE-PAC takes a national approach to giving, every NARFE member, regardless of what district they live in, has a voice. NARFE-PAC played a role in many key elections during the 2018 midterms, supporting our strongest allies and funding challengers against legislators with poor NARFE voting records. The more Fed-friendly lawmakers elected to Congress, the less likely it is that legislative threats to the federal community will make it through Congress. Over 90 percent of NARFE-PAC-supported candidates won their recent elections, proving the effectiveness and strength of NARFE-PAC. Federation NARFE-PAC coordinators are consulted for a recommendation for each candidate who receives funds. In turn, the federation coordinator should consult with local NARFE chapters and W W W. N A R F E . O R G

members in the relevant congressional district or state. After consulting the local NARFE federation, the NARFE-PAC Board weighs a variety of factors to ensure that NARFE-PAC dollars advance NARFE’s agenda. “Every disbursement from NARFE-PAC goes through a locally-driven consultative process and is approved by the NARFE-PAC Board,” says Thomas. “Several factors are taken into consideration, including but not limited to the candidate’s support of our issues, the recommendation of the NARFE federation, the influence of the legislator, the competitiveness of the race and the overall NARFE-PAC budget.” You can lend a hand with that last factor by contributing to NARFE-PAC today and boosting the support that NARFE-PAC can send to Fed-friendly candidates to earn them a seat in Congress.

2019-2020 GOALS

NARFE-PAC is entering the 2019-2020 cycle with a renewed momentum and new goals to strengthen NARFE’s political influence. In order to accomplish this, NARFE-PAC needs to: • Raise $1.75 million in member contributions; • Disburse $1.25 million for political purposes; • Send NARFE members to 110 in-district fundraisers; and • Increase monthly NARFE-PAC sustainers by 20 percent. These ambitious goals will help elect Fedfriendly lawmakers and increase the number of positive relationships that NARFE has with legislators. The 116th Congress is going to bring unique challenges, making it all the more necessary to have NARFE-PAC running at full strength.

Recap: 2017-2018 Cycle NARFE-PAC had a highly successful 2017-2018 cycle, thanks to the hard work of NARFE members who generously contributed. NARFE-PAC surpassed many of its goals set at the beginning of the cycle, and now has momentum going into 2019-2020. NARFE-PAC raised over $1.89 million by the end of the 2017-2018 cycle, surpassing its $1.5 million goal. That’s a 30 percent increase in contributions from the previous cycle and allowed NARFE-PAC to make more disbursements to raise NARFE’s influence and involvement in the midterm elections. Speaking of disbursements, NARFE-PAC contributed $1.1 million to political candidates, party committees and leadership PACs in 2017-2018, passing its goal of $1 million in disbursements. This is a 36 percent increase from the previous cycle, when NARFE-PAC disbursed $813,000.

| M A R

2 019

Every disbursement NARFE-PAC makes is meant to be in connection with an event, and 212 NARFE members furthered their commitment to protecting the federal community by attending 105 in-district fundraisers, exceeding the goal of 100. Thank you to all of those who took time to attend these events. The number of local events attended smashed the previous cycle’s 65, and NARFE-PAC looks forward to sending even more members to these events. Finally, the NARFE-PAC sustainers, those who make monthly credit card contributions to the PAC, grew by 32 percent. These monthly contributions ensure that NARFEPAC has a consistent base of support and they form the backbone of the PAC. “NARFE members answered the call this past cycle and threw their support behind NARFE-PAC and the federal community. Thank you all for your generosity and I hope you will continue your commitment to protecting what you have earned,” said NARFE National President Ken Thomas.

BOOK YOUR VACATION NOW – CALL FOR LIMITED-TIME SAVINGS FROM

1,649 *

1,399 *

HAWAIIAN ESCAPE

7 days, departs July - December 2019

EXPERIENCE HAWAII WITH YMT!

See Hawaii with YMT Vacations, the island experts with over 50 years’ experience! From golden beaches to lush mountains and the moving memorials at Pearl Harbor, these tours see it all. Join us for the 13-day Ultimate Hawaii Tour, with included sightseeing in Oahu, a river cruise in Kauai, a Lahaina tour in Maui, and active volcanos on the Big Island. Or take a blissful 7-day trip to paradise with our Hawaiian Escape tour and unwind on 2 of Hawaii’s most popular islands, Oahu & Maui. Either way you choose, you will be accompanied by one of our friendly Tour Directors. Baggage handling, hotels & sightseeing are all taken care of so all you need to do is relax.

STARTING AT $1,649 $1,399*

ULTIMATE HAWAII TOUR WITH PEARL HARBOR EXPERIENCE 13 days, departs March - December 2019

FROM

2,149 *

1,899 *

2,249 *

1,799 *

FROM

1,949 *

1,699 *

FREE ONBOARD CREDIT

ROSE PARADE & MEXICAN RIVIERA CRUISE

Los Angeles • Pasadena • San Diego • Cabo San Lucas • Mazatlán • Puerto Vallarta • and more

ALASKA CRUISE & PACIFIC NORTHWEST TOUR

Portland • Seattle • Vancouver • Ketchikan • Juneau • Skagway • Glacier Bay • Seward • Anchorage • and more

14 days, departs December 29, 2019

13 days, departs May - September 2019

Experience the 131st Rose Parade with a private float viewing prior to the event, and grandstand seating to watch the parade. Spend 5 days enjoying parade events and seeing the highlights of Los Angeles, then head to San Diego for a tour and overnight stay before embarking on Holland America Line’s ms Oosterdam. Spend 7 days at sea and at Mexican port stops like Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán, and Puerto Vallarta.

Experience the culture and natural beauty of Alaska and the Pacific Northwest on this unforgettable vacation. Start with a tour of Portland before visiting Mount St. Helens on the way to Seattle, Olympic National Park, and Vancouver. Board Holland America’s ms Westerdam for a cruise up Alaska’s coast, through Glacier Bay National Park, and the breathtaking Inside Passage, with stops in Skagway, Ketchikan, and Juneau.

ESCORTED TOUR EXPERTS – CALL FOR YOUR FREE BROCHURE TM

ymtvacations.com Promo code M6009

CALL 1-877-783-1619

*Prices are per person based on double occupancy plus 299 taxes & fees. Cruise pricing based on lowest cabin category; upgrades available. Single supplement and seasonal surcharges may apply. Add-on airfare available. Free Balcony Upgrade requires purchase of Ocean View Cabin. Onboard Credit requires purchase of Ocean View or Balcony Cabin. For full Set Sail terms and conditions see www.ymtvacations.com/setsailoffers. Offers apply to new bookings only, made by 2/28/19. Other terms and conditions may apply. Ask your Travel Consultant for details. $

2018 Election Results: What Do They Mean? Wondering about the 2018 midterm election results and what they mean for NARFE members? You’re not alone. In the Senate, Republicans maintained control of the upper chamber, with a 53 to 47 majority. In the House, Democrats gained enough seats to flip control of the lower chamber, with a 235 to 199 advantage, with one race still undecided as of press time. But what do these results of the elections mean for NARFE members? While NARFE cannot predict the future, if the recent government shutdown is any indication, it’s safe to say that there is likely to be considerable gridlock between the split chambers of Congress and the White House. Previous partisan budget threats to the federal community are less likely to move in the House, but that doesn’t mean the federal community is protected from benefit cuts. Major spending projects, such as an infrastructure bill, could garner bipartisan support. However, how those projects are paid for will be a major point of contention. There is a real threat of federal pay and benefits being used as bargaining chips by lawmakers to pay for these bipartisan bills, a threat that NARFE members will need to fight back against. Federal spending levels for fiscal years 2020 and 2021 could also spell trouble for Feds. Congressional leaders and the president will need to reach another budget deal during the 116th Congress to increase spending over the sequester levels. Federal benefits have been a constant in these discussions in the past and we expect this year to be no different. Maintaining a strong NARFE-PAC is a necessity when facing these new challenges. Support NARFE-PAC today and tell Congress to take your benefits off the negotiating table.

“Your contributions to NARFE-PAC go a long way towards changing the narrative around the federal community,” says Thomas. “Please support NARFE-PAC today and help make sure your earned benefits are not used as bargaining chips.” “Lawmakers have not been shy about discussing the expendability of federal pay and benefits. NARFE is committed to fighting this rhetoric, but we can’t do this without your support. I hope you will consider making a contribution and joining the fight to protect what you have rightly earned,” echoes Klement.

“

Please support NARFE-PAC today and help make sure your earned benefits are not used as

bargaining chips.”

Help NARFE-PAC reach its $1.75 million goal by contributing today. Complete the contribution form on the cover wrap of this magazine and return it in the attached postage-paid envelope. Your support will get NARFE a seat at the table with lawmakers and help prevent your earned pay and benefits from being used as bargaining chips. To learn more about NARFE-PAC, go to the NARFE-PAC specific page on the NARFE website, www.narfe.org (you must be logged in). There you can find information about NARFE-PAC, see who we’ve given disbursements to, and find out how much your chapter and federation has contributed to NARFE-PAC. Consider making a contribution to NARFE-PAC today! —ROSS APTER, POLITICAL ASSOCIATE

| M A R

2 019

Managing Money

HOW TO MOVE YOUR RETIREMENT PLAN

o, you’re thinking you may want to move money from one retirement plan to another. The good news is you can do so without incurring any tax liability,

but it’s important to understand the different ways you may move retirement plan money to ensure you don’t run into trouble. Moving money from one retirement plan to another involves one of three processes: a transfer, a direct rollover, and an indirect rollover (also known as a 60-day rollover). A transfer, or “trustee-totrustee” transfer as it’s called, is used typically when moving money between IRA accounts. There are no restrictions on the number of times you may initiate a transfer—they may be done as often as you’d like and whenever you want. If you are moving money from your Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) to another retirement plan, you may instruct the TSP to transfer the payment (via a direct rollover) to the new retirement plan, or by way of an indirect rollover. A direct rollover occurs when you move money from one type of retirement plan to another. For example, from the TSP to an IRA. Although you may accomplish the same move with a 60-day rollover, the difference has to do with whether or not you take possession of the funds.

| M A R

2 019

For example, if you elect a direct rollover from your TSP to your IRA at Fidelity, the TSP will make the check payable to Fidelity FBO (for benefit of) Jane Doe. Although the check may be mailed to you, and you in-turn forward it to Fidelity, you have not taken possession of the funds since the check was payable to Fidelity rather than you. With a 60-day rollover, however, you do take possession of the funds before putting them back into a retirement plan. In this case, rather than requesting the TSP to transfer the distribution to your Fidelity IRA, you could instead request the payment be made directly to you. You would deposit the funds into your bank account, and to complete the rollover, you then write a check to the new retirement plan or IRA. Be careful: there are several rules regarding 60-day rollovers which can create headaches for retirement plan owners. For starters, as the name implies, you

BY MARK A. KEEN,

CFP®

must complete the rollover within 60 days. Second, the IRS permits only one 60-day rollover within a one-year period—that’s 365 consecutive days, not a calendar year. Note, the once per year limit only applies when moving money between IRAs (Traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs are combined for this purpose), not when moving money from an employer plan, such as the TSP. Additionally, while a nonspouse beneficiary is free to move an inherited IRA from one IRA custodian to another, the money may only be moved via a direct trustee-to-trustee transfer. A non-spouse beneficiary may never do a 60day rollover—period. Finally, while an IRA owner typically has the option to have zero taxes withheld from an IRA distribution, employer retirement plans are subject to mandatory withholding rules when payments are made directly to the retirement plan owner. This can create issues if you want to complete a rollover. For instance, if you request either a full or partial distribution from your TSP, and elect to have it paid directly to you, the TSP is required to withhold 20 percent for federal income taxes. While this is considered

BENEFITS RESOURCES NARFE offers members a wide range of information on federal benefits. Visit www. narfe.org/federalbenefits and www.narfe.org/ FederalBenefitsInstitute.

to be an eligible rollover distribution, you will need to come up with the 20 percent from other funds in order to avoid taxes on the entire distribution. For example, if you request a $100,000 partial distribution payable directly to you, the TSP will send you $80,000 and $20,000 to the IRS. You have 60 days to rollover this money into another retirement plan, but you’ll need to come

up with an additional $20,000 to avoid taxes on the entire $100,000 distribution (assuming the entire $100,000 came from the Traditional TSP balance). Assuming your federal tax liability was otherwise paid in full, you’ll get the $20,000 back from the IRS when you file your tax return. To learn more about what TSP distributions may be rolled over and when mandatory tax withholding applies, check out publication TSP536, which may be found on TSP’s website. For more information on transfers and rollovers, go to www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/ plan-participant-employee/rollovers-ofretirement-plan-and-ira-distributions. MARK A. KEEN, CFP®, IS PARTNER, KEEN & POCOCK, AND AN INVESTMENT ADVISER REPRESENTATIVE AND REGISTERED PRINCIPAL OF THE STRATEGIC FINANCIAL ALLIANCE, INC. (SFA). SECURITIES AND ADVISORY SERVICES ARE OFFERED THROUGH SFA.

Government nt Issued I Issue

2019 AMERICAN EAGLES

1/10 oz $5 GOLD AMERICAN EAGLE E

PRECIOUS METAL INVESTMENTS ARE BACKED BY THE U.S. MINT AND RETAIN VALUE GLOBALLY.

$141.99

1 oz $1 SILVER AMERICAN EAGLE

$18.99 JAN 3 15. 15.6

Special Arrangements for orders that are DEC 6 over $10,000 NOV 11 14.2

14.5

1240 DEC 6

SILVER PRICES IN USD/OZ

1230 NOV 11

1280 JAN 3

GOLD PRICES IN USD/OZ

CALL NOW

Limited Supply

855-839-2728 855-83 9-2728

Prices and availability subject to change due to market consideration. This offer is available to first time customers only. Quantities are limited. Limit 10 per customer. Texas Bullion Exchange, Inc. has a 10-15 day shipping policy. There is a 5-day inspection period upon arrival. Any returns after the 5-day period will be subject to a 20% restocking fee. *Spot Price: The daily quoted market price of precious metals in bullion form is determined at the time of transaction by Texas Bullion Exchange, Inc.

PLEASE REFERENCE VAULT CODE

N A R F 2 1 9

OFFER VALID UNTIL April 23 , 2019

W W W. N A R F E . O R G

Alzheimer’s Update

ALZHEIMER’S AND DEMENTIA: A GLOBAL CONCERN

lzheimer’s. Dementia. These two conditions have been around for a long time and are often confused with one another. Why is understanding

the difference so important? Getting the right diagnosis the first time means a loved one will receive the right medications, treatments and support. One of the reasons that Alzheimer’s disease is frequently confused with dementia is that Alzheimer’s disease is a common but specific form of dementia. Dementia is a more general term that describes a group of symptoms associated with a nonreversible decline in mental function, including disorientation, disorganization, language impairment and memory loss, in sufficient measure that it interferes with daily life. The treatments vary widely according to specific diagnoses. Some of the other diseases that are associated with dementia include Lewy body dementia, Huntington’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia; it is a degenerative brain disease that results in memory loss, behavior changes and other cognitive impairments that can interfere with one’s daily life. Alzheimer’s disease progresses slowly through three general stages: mild, moderate and 40

| M A R

2 019

severe. A cure for Alzheimer’s remains elusive, although researchers have identified evidence that may indicate the cause of the disease: amyloid plaques and tangles in the brain. According to recent information from the Alzheimer’s Association, more than 50 million people are living with the disease and other forms of dementia worldwide. Ending Alzheimer’s is not just a local or even a national cause, but a global one. These diseases are devastating to individuals, families and healthcare systems, and will only grow with the aging population. Looking at it globally, a new challenge is how other communities and cultures perceive Alzheimer’s. This adds another complicated layer to the disease that demands our attention. Researchers and public health practitioners note that the unique cultural, demographic and economic

BY OLIVIA A. WILLIAMS NARFE-ALZHEIMER’S CHAIR

characteristics of individual countries demand specific plans to address the burden of the disease. By broadly sharing locally-conducted research and statistics, the international research community can be better able to collaborate. The Alzheimer’s Association is committed to supporting global research initiatives. Since 2000, they have hosted an international conference of researchers, clinicians, students, and caregivers to share their discoveries and insights with the intent of finding better treatments, interventions, prevention methods and eventually a cure. The 2019 conference will take place this summer in July and promises to bring together leaders from more than 70 countries. The first survivor of Alzheimer’s disease is out there, but we won’t find that person without you, NARFE members. We need to continue to raise funds for Alzheimer’s disease research. Your contributions can and do make a difference. For more information, please visit the Alzheimer’s Association website at www.alz.org. OLIVIA A. WILLIAMS IS CHAIR OF THE NARFEALZHEIMER’S NATIONAL COMMITTEE. EMAIL: OEASHF3@GMAIL.COM THIS COLUMN APPEARS QUARTERLY.

BOOK YOUR VACATION NOW – CALL FOR LIMITED-TIME SAVINGS FROM

1,849 *

1,599

FROM

1,949 *

1,699 *

FREE ONBOARD CREDIT

GRAND ALASKAN CRUISE & TOUR

CANADIAN ROCKIES TOUR

Seattle • Vancouver • Ketchikan • Juneau • Skagway • Glacier Bay • Anchorage • Denali • and more

Seattle • Spokane • Glacier National Park • Banff • Jasper • Kamloops • Whistler • Vancouver • and more

12 days, departs June - September 2019

14 days, departs June - September 2019

Enjoy a cruise & tour between Seattle and Alaska including 7 nights aboard Holland America Line’s ms Westerdam and 4 nights on land. You’ll cruise the Gulf of Alaska and the Inside Passage—a sea lane teeming with marine wildlife, where you’ll pass glaciers, mountains, and lush forests, with stops in Ketchikan, Skagway and Glacier Bay. On land, you’ll go deep into Denali National Park, tour Anchorage, and see the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.

Take a trip into the Canadian Rockies. From Seattle, travel east on the “Going to the Sun” road through Idaho and Montana to Glacier and Waterton Lakes National Parks. Cross the Continental Divide on the Icefields Parkway to Banff National Park, and visit Lake Louise and enjoy an Ice Explorer glacier excursion. Next are Jasper and Yoho National Parks and the Okanagan Lake Region, followed by Kamloops. Enjoy a day of leisure in Vancouver before your tour ends in Seattle.

FROM

1,649 *

1,399 *

1,949 *

1,699 *

SOUTHERN MUSIC & DIXIELAND TOUR

HIGHLIGHTS OF AMERICAN HISTORY

Nashville • Lynchburg • Memphis • Jackson • New Orleans • and more

Washington, D.C. • Williamsburg • Shenandoah • Gettysburg • Philadelphia • New York • and more

9 days, departs May - September 2019

10 days, departs May - September 2019

From Nashville to New Orleans the south comes alive on this wonderful adventure! Whether you seek southern charm, rock ‘n’ roll or maybe a taste of bourbon history, our brand new Southern Music and Dixie Tour is the ultimate journey through America’s South. With nights in Nashville, Memphis, Jackson and New Orleans and visits to the Grand Ole Opry House, Graceland, Jack Daniel's Distillery, Oak Alley Plantation, this 9-day tour has rhythm, history, and of course rock ‘n’ roll!

Start with a tour of Washington DC followed by visits to Arlington National Cemetery and the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial. Then into the countryside—visit Mount Vernon, then Jamestown settlement, and Colonial Williamsburg for a traditional 18th century dinner. See the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah National Park before traveling to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania Dutch country, and then Philadelphia and New York City for fascinating city tours.

ESCORTED TOUR EXPERTS – CALL FOR YOUR FREE BROCHURE TM

ymtvacations.com Promo code M6009

CALL 1-877-783-1619

*Prices are per person based on double occupancy plus up to $299 taxes & fees. Single supplement and seasonal surcharges may apply. Onboard Credit requires purchase of Ocean View or Balcony Cabin for Grand Alaskan Cruise & Tour. Add-on airfare available. Offers apply to new bookings only, made by 4/30/19. Other terms and conditions may apply. Ask your Travel Consultant for details.

W W W. N A R F E . O R G

2018

G FUND

F FUND

C FUND

S FUND

JANUARY

0.23%

1.07%

8.01%

11.64%

6.60%

DECEMBER

0.28%

1.84%

-9.03%

-10.70%

-4.82%

NOVEMBER

0.26%

0.62%

2.04%

1.92%

-0.13%

YTD

0.23%

1.07%

8.01%

11.64%

6.60%

1 YEAR

2.94%

2.39%

-2.34%

-1.98%

-12.11%

3 YEAR*

2.37%

2.14%

14.02%

15.14%

7.78%

5 YEAR*

2.29%

2.78%

10.99%

8.25%

3.03%

10 YEAR*

2.30%

3.93%

15.05%

15.92

I FUND

8.53%

*ANNUALIZED

L INCOME 2018

JANUARY

L 2020

L 2030

L 2040

L 2050

1.83%

2.53%

4.92%

5.86%

6.67%

DECEMBER

-1.31%

-2.18%

-4.64%

-5.61%

-6.45%

NOVEMBER

0.53%

0.65%

0.99%

1.12%

1.22%

YTD

1.83%

2.53%

4.92%

5.86%

6.67%

1 YEAR

1.44%

0.32%

-1.89%

-2.87%

-3.74%

3 YEAR*

4.42%

6.70%

8.76%

9.82%

10.80%

5 YEAR*

3.67%

5.07%

6.23%

6.81%

7.28%

10 YEAR*

4.79%

8.51%

10.19%

11.32%

N/A

*ANNUALIZED

RETURNS are net of the effect of accrued administrative expenses and investment expenses/costs. Source: TSP (For additional monthly returns, go to www.tsp.gov.) G Fund: Government securities (specially issued to the TSP) F Fund: Government, corporate and mortgage-backed bonds C Fund: Stocks of large- and medium-size U.S. companies S Fund: Stocks of small- to medium-size U.S. companies (not included in the C Fund) I Fund: International stocks of 21 developed countries L Fund: (Lifecycle) Invested in the G, F, C, S and I Funds (The proportion of L Fund balance invested in each of the individual TSP funds depends on the L Fund chosen.)

OPM RETIREMENT CLAIMS PROCESSING STATUS ’17

2018

For the Record

ALL FUNDS START NEW YEAR WITH POSITIVE RETURNS

THRIFT SAVINGS PLAN FUND RETURNS

Claims Received

Inventory Monthly FYTD (Steady State Average Processing Average Processing is 13,000) Time in Days Time in Days

DECEMBER 5,568 14,515 JANUARY 14,590 20,467 FEBRUARY 13,290 24,225 MARCH 7,767 18,730 APRIL 8,390 17,489 MAY 7,625 18,024 JUNE 9,397 18,198 JULY 8,281 18,334 AUGUST 8,826 17,513 SEPTEMBER 7,142 17,628 OCTOBER 9,012 19,729 NOVEMBER 7,510 19,162 DECEMBER 5,782 18,019

60 63 46 49 58 58 65 57 56 64 63 70 60

63 63 59 57 57 58 59 59 58 59 63 67 61

FOR THE NUMBER of new retirement cases the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) receives each month by agency and the percent with errors that it returns to those agencies, go to www.opm.gov/retirement-services/. l Source: OPM 42

| MAR

2 019

lobal stocks staged a strong rally as U.S. monetary policy concerns eased and fourth quarter corporate earnings reports came in better than expected. Some optimism over trade and a reversal in oil prices from December’s lows also contributed to the month’s positive sentiment. The C Fund and the S Fund achieved solid gains. The I Fund’s gains were reinforced by the dollar’s decline. Most U.S. Treasury debt yields moved lower, helping the F Fund to positive returns as well. All of the L Funds’ returns were higher. —BY SEAN MCCAFFREY, CHIEF

INVESTMENT OFFICER, THRIFT SAVINGS PLAN

COUNTDOWN TO COLA

he Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) decreased by 0.47 percent in December 2018. To calculate the 2020 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), the indices of July, August and September 2019 will be averaged and compared with the 2018 third-quarter average of 246.352. The percentage increase determines the COLA. December’s index, 244.786, is down 0.64 percent from the base. Benefits awarded under the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA) to individuals suffering workrelated injuries or illnesses are adjusted according to each calendar year’s percentage change in the CPI-W. December’s index is 1.77 percent higher than the December 2017 base index of 240.526. FECA recipients will receive a 1.8 percent COLA, effective March 1.

The CPI represents purchases of food and beverages, housing, apparel, transportation, medical care, recreation, education and communication, and other goods and services. Included are various government fees, such as water charges, auto registration fees, and sales and excise taxes. MONTH

CPI-W

Monthly % Change

% Change from 246.352

OCTOBER 2018

247.038

0.19

0.28

NOVEMBER

245.933

-0.45

-0.17

DECEMBER

244.786

-0.47

-0.64

JANUARY 2019 FEBRUARY MARCH APRIL MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER

Donate to NARFE Programs Support Alzheimer’s Research WRITE YOUR CHAPTER NUMBER ON YOUR CHECK; MAKE IT PAYABLE TO: NARFE-Alzheimer’s Research AND MAIL TO: Alzheimer’s Association 225 N. Michigan Ave., 17th Floor Chicago, IL 60601-7633

YOUR CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION IS TAX-DEDUCTIBLE TO THE FULLEST EXTENT ALLOWED BY LAW. Enclosed is my NARFE-Alzheimer’s contribution: $______________ Every cent that is contributed is used for research. Please circle: Mr.

Mrs.

Miss

Ms.

Name:____________________________________________________ Address:__________________________________________________ City:______________________________________________________ State:_____________________________________________________

NARFE MEMBERS CONTRIBUTED FOR ALZHEIMER’S RESEARCH: $13 Million Fund

$12,946,540.47*

*Total as of December 31, 2018 100% of all contributed funds go to Alzheimer’s research. If you have any questions, write to: NATIONAL COMMITTEE CHAIR Olivia Williams, 22 Garden Springs Road Columbia, SC 29209 EMAIL: oeashf3@gmail.com

Give to the NARFE-FEEA Fund

MAKE CHECK PAYABLE TO: NARFE-FEEA Fund PLEASE MAIL COUPON AND CHECK TO: FEEA 1641 Prince St. Alexandria, VA 22314

ZIP:______________________________________________________ Chapter Number:___________________________________________ Credit Card Information:

MasterCard

VISA

Discover

AMEX

Card Number:______________________________________________ Expiration Date:_____(mm)/____ (yy) 3-Digit Security Code:______ Signature:_______________________________ Date:___ /___ /____ Name: (please print)________________________________________

YES!

I would like to help with my contribution.

The NARFE-FEEA Fund supports NARFE members during disasters; provides scholarships to their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and funds other programs to support NARFE members at the direction of NARFE and FEEA, such as the recent government shutdown microgrants. Enclosed is my NARFE-FEEA Fund Contribution: $______________ Name:____________________________________________________ Address:__________________________________________________ City:______________________________________________________

YOUR CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION IS TAX-DEDUCTIBLE TO THE FULLEST EXTENT ALLOWED BY LAW.

State:_____________________________________________________ ZIP:______________________________________________________

To make credit card or e-check contributions, visit www.feea.org/ givenarfe.

NARFE News

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS DUE Applications for the 2019 NARFE/FEEA Scholarship Program must be submitted no later than March 25 at 3 p.m. The scholarships are open to children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of NARFE members. In 2019, 10 students will receive a $700 award.

AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHERS WANTED!

hat does the USA mean to you? NARFE is calling on all amateur photographers to submit their entries for the 2018 NARFE Photo Contest. Winning entries will be used in the NARFE 2020 calendar. The deadline for all entries is April 8. The theme for this year’s contest is “Living in the USA.” All NARFE members in good standing may submit a photo, whether or not they’ve already had a photo appear in past calendars. The only exception is all professional photographers are not eligible.

NARFE is calling on all amateur photographers to submit their entries for the 2019 NARFE Photo Contest. Photos must be horizontal in format and 8” x 10” or 8 1/2” x 11” in size. Each member is limited to five photo entries (no photos of children or pets, please.) Each entry must have the

To access the application and program rules, go to www.narfe. org/scholarships. For complete details on eligibility requirements, visit www.feea.org/ our-programs.

following information on a piece of paper taped to the photo: photo title, entrant’s name, address, chapter number (if applicable), email address and phone number. Submitted photos will not be returned. Please mail photos to: NARFE Photo Contest (Attn: M. Williams), NARFE, 606 N. Washington St., Alexandria, VA 22314. Note: Photos sent by email will not be accepted. No Polaroids. Photos will be judged and winners notified by the end of June. For more information, go to www. narfe.org/photocontest.

2019 FEDERATION CONFERENCE DATES

hirty-eight states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico/Virgin Islands will hold conferences this year. Dates and locations are: AL, 4/16-17, Birmingham; AZ, 5/3-4, Tucson; AR, 5/16-17, Little Rock; CA, 4/23-25, San Diego; CO, 6/2728, Aurora; DE, 6/5, Dover; DC, 5/4, Washington, DC; FL, 5/69, Orlando; GA, 5/3-4, Warner Robins; HI, 5/2-3, Oahu; IL,

| M A R

2019

5/14-16, Effingham; IN, 5/18, Beech Grove; IA, 5/20-21, Tama; KS, 4/29, Manhattan; KY, 5/1315, Frankfort; LA, 3/26-27, Slidell; MD, 5/6-7, Ocean City; MA, 5/2-3, Devens; MI, 5/29-31, East Tawas; MN, 5/21-22, Detroit Lakes; MS, 4/5-7, Louisville; MO, 4/24-25, Independence; NH, 5/15-16, West Lebanon; NJ, 4/17, Hazlet; NM,4/4-6, Las Cruces; NC, 5/7-9, Jacksonville; ND, 5/2-3, Minot;

OH, 5/3-4, Columbus; OK, 4/4-5, Midwest City; OR, 5/5-7, Newport; PR/VI, 10/19, San Juan; SC, 4/29-5/1, Columbia; SD, 5/16-17, Pierre; TN, 4/15-16, Chattanooga; TX, 4/25-26, Longview; VT, 5/15-16, West Lebanon; VA, 4/710, Charlottesville; WI, 5/7-8, Wisconsin Dells. At press time, NV and UT were still to be determined. The states not listed here will hold their conferences in 2020.

FEDERATION ELECTIONS 2019 FEDERATION

DATE(S)

WEBSITE/CONTACT FOR MORE INFORMATION

Arizona

March 1 to April 15, 2019

www.narfeaz.com Etta Bryant, 520-578-0848, narfeazfp@gmail.com

Colorado

June 27 to June 28, 2019

www.narfe-colorado.com Frank Impinna, 303-482-1747, impinna@gmail.com

Delaware

Nominations due March 31, 2019 Voting: April 1 to April 30, 2019

www.narfe-de.org Tom Sutor, 302-354-4654, TomSutor@aol.com Larry Trombello, 302-430-7689, Trombello@comcast.net

Indiana

May 18, 2019

www.narfe.org/site/in Linda Keithley, 812-981-8178, keitll15@aol.com

Maryland

March 26 to April 15, 2019

www.mdnarfe.org Larry Walton, 443-831-1791, lrwalto@yahoo.com

Minnesota

May 21 to May 22, 2019

www.narfe.org/site/mn Earl O.Knutson, 320-220-4444, eoknutson@gmail.com

Mississippi

April 6, 2019

www.narfe.org/ms Jerry Janci, 662-412-2029, lettermanj@aol.com

Virginia

May 1 to May 31, 2019

www.vanarfe.org Leslie E. Ravenell, 804-224-3069, Nell8211@gmail.com

Need to publish your Federation Election information in NARFE Magazine? Please email Precious Dorch-Robinson, NARFE communications assistant, at probinson@narfe.org. Remember to provide your federation name, date(s) of your election and any website or contact information.

W W W. N A R F E . O R G

Member Perks

SAVE MONEY WITH NARFE PERKS NARFE appreciates your service, and so do businesses across the country. Whether you are planning your next vacation or planning for retirement, members can save money on everyday purchases, thanks to our Affinity Partners. It’s just one more way we’re able to say “thank you” for being a NARFE member.

PUT YOUR NARFE MEMBERSHIP TO WORK

Money-saving discounts that benefit you . For a complete list of Member Perks, visit www.NARFE.org/memberperks

| M A R

2 019

INSURANCE: NARFE Insurance Services

WELLNESS: Lifeline

Plans administered by Mercer Health offering life, short term recovery, pet, travel, vision and hospital insurance policies.

Call and mention code BKHN075 or go online to schedule your health screening appointment.

1-800-233-5764 www.narfeinsurance.com

Nationwide

1-855-550-9216 Discover how Nationwideâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s suite of insurance solutions can help protect your financial future.

TRAVEL: Choice Hotels International 1-800-258-2847 www.choicehotels.com

1-800-324-9906 www.lifelinescreening.com/narfe

Brookdale Senior Living 571-483-1265 www.brookdale.com

Discounts on memory care, independent and assisted living communities, and more throughout the U.S. Offer good on new move-ins only.

PERSONAL SERVICES: Office Depot/Office Max

Receive 20% off of your next stay when you use the special rate id 00801967.

1-855-337-6811, ext. 2897 www.officediscounts.org/narfe

Alamo 1-800-462-5266

Save up to 80% on more than 93,000 products. Shop online or in any Office Depot or Office Max Store.

Drive Happy with Alamo, where NARFE members receive year round discounts using contract id 262544.

ID Shield

www.alamo.com

Avis 1-800-633-3469 www.avis.com

Avis has 5,500 locations world-wide. Get discounted rate using the AWD number A701900.

571-830-5489 www.legalshield.com/info/narfe Monitor your identity from every angle. NARFE Members receive a discounted rate of $8.95 for individuals or $18.95 for families.

W W W. N A R F E . O R G

The Way We Worked

WOMEN’S SUPPORT IN WAR In this 1942 photo, a young War Department employee is seen at her Singer model 31-15 presenting the result of her hard work: Military Police armbands to be worn by the men in the field in Europe. With a shortage of men at home during World War II, American women were employed in every industry, every region, at every level of expertise, and especially by the federal government. Women filled many roles during WWII, working in industries like aircraft manufacturing and shipbuilding, and they also lent their hands at the sewing machines. All of the military uniform insignia required precise craftsmanship, and some of them included Military Police (MP) armbands. The Military Police is the uniformed law enforcement branch of the United States Army. PHOTO from the Records of the Office of War Information, courtesy of the National Archives History Office; in collaboration with the Society for History in the Federal Government (SHFG), bringing together government professionals, academics, consultants, students and citizens interested in understanding federal history work and the historical development of the federal government. To join, visit www.shfg.org. 48

| M A R

2 019

DID YOU KNOW? The Office of War Information was created on June 13, 1942, almost six months after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. This agency was established to encourage U.S. citizens to work jobs supporting the war effort, and specific slogans were coined to inspire patriotism. “Rosie the Riveter,” originally a poster aimed at recruiting women in defense industries, became a cultural icon. During World War II, nearly 350,000 American women served in the Women’s Army Corps, Navy Women’s Reserve (WAVES), the Marine Corps Women’s Reserve, the Coast Guard Women’s Reserve (SPARS), the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPS), the Army Nurses Corps and the Navy Nurse Corps. Visit: www.archives.gov

New amplified phone lets you hear AND see the conversation.

o ct N t ra e n Fe o Co N hly t on M

Breakthrough technology converts phone calls to captions.

The Hamilton® CapTel® Captioned Telephone converts phone conversations to easy-to-read captions for individuals with hearing loss.

A simple idea… made possible with sophisticated technology. If you have trouble understanding a call, captioned telephone can change your life. During a phone call the words spoken to you appear on the phone’s screen – similar to closed captioning on TV. So when you make or receive a call, the words spoken to you are not only amplified by the phone, but scroll across the phone so you can listen while reading what’s said to you. Each call is routed through a call center, where computer technology – aided by a live representative – generates voice-to-text translations. The captioning is real-time, accurate and readable. Your conversation is private. Internet Protocol Captioned Telephone Service (IP CTS) is regulated and funded by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and is designed exclusively for individuals with hearing loss. To learn more, visit www.fcc.gov. The Hamilton CapTel phone requires telephone service and high-speed Internet access.

WiFi Capable. Callers do not need special equipment or a captioned telephone in order to speak with you. Finally… a phone you can use again. The Hamilton CapTel phone is also packed with features to help make phone calls easier. The keypad has large, easy to use buttons. You get adjustable volume amplification along with the ability to save captions for review later. It even has an answering machine that provides you with the captions of each message.

“For years I avoided phone calls because I couldn’t understand the caller… now I don’t miss a thing!”

SEE what you’ve been missing!

See for yourself with our exclusive home trial. Try a captioned telephone in your own home and if you are not completely amazed, simply return it within 60-days for a refund of the product purchase price. It even comes with a 5-year warranty.

Captioned Telephone Call now for our special introductory price! Call now Toll-Free

1-888-726-7479 Please mention promotion code 111248. The Captioned Telephone is intended for use by people with hearing loss. In purchasing a Captioned Telephone, you acknowledge that it will be used by someone who cannot hear well over a traditional phone. Hamilton is a registered trademark of Nedelco, Inc. d/b/a Hamilton Telecommunications. CapTel is a registered trademark of Ultratec, Inc.

81232

Do you get discouraged when you hear your telephone ring? Do you avoid using your phone because hearing difficulties make it hard to understand the person on the other end of the line? For many Americans the telephone conversation – once an important part of everyday life – has become a thing of the past. Because they can’t understand what is said to them on the phone, they’re often cut off from friends, family, doctors and caregivers. Now, thanks to innovative technology there is finally a better way.

Your life is active. Your life is Your life is active. active. You deserve You You deserve deserve hearing aids that hearing aids hearing aids that that can keep up. can keep can keep up. up.

Pay nothing on over 250 hearing aid styles! Pay nothing on over 250 hearing aid Pay nothing on over 250 hearing aid styles! styles! Access all the newest & best technology at HearUSA. Access all the newest & best technology at Access all the newest & best technology at HearUSA. HearUSA. HearUSA offers more than 250 styles of hearing aids HearUSA offers more than 250 styles of hearing aids HearUSA offers more than 250 styles of hearing from every major manufacturer, available withaids no from every major manufacturer, available with no from every major manufacturer, available with no out-of-pocket expense for NARFE members with Aetna, out-of-pocket expense for NARFE members with Aetna, out-of-pocket expense NARFE members Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shieldforand GEHA health with insurance. Blue Cross Blue Shield and GEHA health insurance. Blue Crossmembers Blue Shield and GEHA insurance. All NARFE are entitled to thehealth HearUSA Affinity All NARFE members are entitled to the HearUSA Affinity All NARFE members are entitled to the HearUSA Affinity Partner Discount Program! Partner Discount Program! Partner Discount Program! With more than 30 years in hearing care, HearUSA has With more than 30 years in hearing care, HearUSA has With more than 301years in people hearingexperience care, HearUSA has helped more than million a better helped more than 1 million people experience a better helped more than 1 million quality of life through better people hearing.experience a better quality of life through better hearing. quality of life through better hearing.

NARFE Member Exclusive NARFE NARFE Member Member Exclusive Exclusive • NARFE members may be entitled • NARFE members may be entitled * • NARFE members may be entitled to 2 FREE hearing aids! to 2 FREE hearing aids!** to 2co-pay FREE hearing • $0 for manyaids! plans! • $0 co-pay for many plans! •• $0 co-pay60-Day for many plans! Risk-Free Trial • Risk-Free 60-Day Trial •• Risk-Free 60-Day Trialbatteries Free 3-year warranty, • Free 3-year warranty, batteries • Free 3-year warranty, batteries & follow-up care & follow-up care & follow-up care

Schedule your FREE hearing appointment: Schedule Schedule your your FREE FREE hearing hearing appointment: appointment:

1-855-252-0025 1-855-252-0025 1-855-252-0025

HearUSA is the exclusive Affinity Hearing Care Partner for NARFE members. HearUSA is the exclusive Affinity Hearing Care Partner for NARFE members. The hearing aidsHearUSA NARFE members want withAffinity the outstanding service HearUSA is known for every step of the way. is the exclusive Hearing Care Partner for NARFE members. The hearing aids NARFE members want with the outstanding service HearUSA is known for every step of the way. The hearing aids NARFE members want with the outstanding service HearUSA is known for every step of the way.

*This is not insurance and insurance benefits vary. Some restrictions apply. 1 year battery supply with purchase of hearing aids. Offer valid at participating HearUSA providers only. Call for details. *This is not insurance and insurance benefits vary. Some restrictions apply. 1 year battery supply with purchase of hearing aids. Offer valid at participating HearUSA providers only. Call for details. *This is not insurance and insurance benefits vary. Some restrictions apply. 1 year battery supply with purchase of hearing aids. Offer valid at participating HearUSA providers only. Call for details.