August 2017 NARFE magazine

AUG

’17

COVER STORY

OPENING THE DOOR TO A

SECOND CAREER P.22

Volume 93 • Number 8

P.30

SOCIAL SECURITY CLAIMING STRATEGIES

P.40

ROTH IRA VS. ROTH TSP

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Call Beltone at 1-866-376-1445 to schedule your complimentary hearing screening today! *The insured may need to submit for reimbursement. State and/or local taxes may apply. Prices and products subject to *The insured may need to submit for reimbursement. State and/or local taxes may apply. Prices and products subject to change. Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan will pay a hearing aid benefit up to $2,500 every 3 calendar years for change. Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefi t Plan will pay a hearing aid benefi t up to $2,500 every 3 calendar years adults age 22 and over, and up to a $2,500 total per calendar year for members up to age 22. Do not rely on this communication for adults age 22 and over, and up to a $2,500 total per calendar year for members up to age 22. Do not rely on this piece alone for complete benefit information. All benefits are subject to the definitions, limitations, and exclusions in your communication piece alone for complete benefi t information. All benefits are subject to the definitions, limitations, and Service Benefit Plan brochure. The Blue365® Discount Program offers access to savings on items that you may purchase exclusions in your Service Benefi t Plan brochure. The Blue365® Discount Program offers access to savings on items that you directly from independent vendors, which may be different from items covered under your Service Benefit Plan or any other may purchase directly from independent vendors, which may be different from items covered under your Service Benefi t Plan applicable federal healthcare program. For hearing aids, acupuncture, chiropractic and vision services, you must exhaust your or any other applicable federal healthcare program. For hearing aids, acupuncture, chiropractic and vision services, you must Service Benefit Plan benefits first. To find out what is covered under your policy, contact the Service Benefit Plan. The products exhaust your Service Benefi t Plan benefi ts first. To find out what is covered under your policy, contact the Service Benefi t and services described herein are neither offered not guaranteed under any local Blue company’s contract with the Medicare Plan. The products and services described herein are neither offered not guaranteed under any local Blue company’s contract program. In addition, these items are not subject to the Medicare appeals process. Any disputes regarding these products with the Medicare program. In addition, these items are not subject to the Medicare appeals process. Any disputes regarding and services are not subject to the Service Benefit Plan’s Disputed Claims process. Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association these products and services are not subject to the Service Benefi t Plan’s Disputed Claims process. Blue Cross and Blue (BCBSA) may receive payments from Blue365 vendors. Neither the Service Benefit Plan, BCBSA, nor any local Blue company Shield Association (BCBSA) may receive payments from Blue365 vendors. Neither the Service Benefi t Plan, BCBSA, nor any recommends, endorses, warrants or guarantees any specific Blue365 vendor or item. The Service Benefit Plan reserves the local Blue company recommends, endorses, warrants or guarantees any specifi c Blue365 vendor or item. The Service Benefi right to change, modify, or terminate any item and vendors made available through Blue365, at any time. Blue Cross and Blue t Plan reserves the right to change, modify, or terminate any item and vendors made available through Blue365, at any time.

Shield Association is an association of independent, locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield Companies. State and local Blue Cross Shield Available Association is an association of until independent, taxes and/orand feesBlue may apply. at participating locations 12/31/17. locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield

Companies. State and local taxes and/or fees may apply. Available at participating locations until 12/31/17.

AUG

’17

22

WASHINGTON WATCH

6

Federal Budget Takes Aim at Feds

7

Reconciling Budget Differences

8

Choose Your Advocacy Adventure!

10

Rep. Gowdy Named House Oversight Committee Chair

11

VA Accountability Bill Signed By The President

12

NARFE Bill Tracker

COLUMNS

4

COVER STORY OPENING THE DOOR TO LIFE AFTER FEDERAL SERVICE. Many retiring or separating Feds have found second careers that have brought them personal and financial rewards.

From the Executive Director

40 Managing Money DEPARTMENTS

DEVELOP YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY GAME PLAN. Learn how to maximize your social security benefits and increase retirement income.

30

14 Questions & Answers 42 For the Record:

TSP Returns, Retirement Claims Status, Countdown to COLA

44 NARFE News 52 The Way We Worked

On the Web VISIT US ONLINE AT:

www.narfe.org LIKE US ON FACEBOOK:

NARFE National Headquarters FOLLOW US ON TWITTER:

@narfehq

ON THE COVER

Illustration by Bill Pragluski, Critical Stages, LLC W W W. N A R F E . O R G

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AUG 2017 | Volume 93 | Number 8

National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association EDITOR Susan Boswell GRAPHIC DESIGN Charlene Gridley EDITORIAL BOARD Richard G. Thissen, Jon Dowie 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 OFFICERS RICHARD G. THISSEN, President; natpres@narfe.org JON DOWIE, Secretary/Treasurer; natsectreas@narfe.org EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BARBARA SIDO, execdir@narfe.org

REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENTS

REGION I James P. Crawford (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont) TEL: 603-630-5191 EMAIL: crawfordjim62@gmail.com REGION II Evelyn Kirby (Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania) TEL: 410-604-1141 EMAIL: ekirby@atlanticbb.net 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 Edward J. Konys (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin) TEL: 937-470-0566 EMAIL: region4vp@gmail.com

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

REGION V Carol R. Ek (Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota) TEL: 620-241-1131, CELL: 620-504-2202 EMAIL: ek617@att.net

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) 800-627-3394 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

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 © 2017, 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, but at the same time we will not undertake to guarantee the reliability of our advertisers.

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From the Executive Director

AUGUST IS FOR ADVOCACY

I

t’s been two months since I assumed the Executive Director position at NARFE. The transition is a homecoming to me as

I return to the Washington, DC, area where I have deep professional roots.

I’ve had the pleasure of working closely with NARFE’s President and Secretary/Treasurer, and I’m thrilled to work with a truly talented staff as we enhance critical programs and services and consider new initiatives.

August is a time when lawmakers also will have a homecoming as they return to their districts and states during the congressional recess. As they listen to the issues affecting constituents, it’s important that they hear your voice, and NARFE’s voice.

During NARFE’s Grassroots Advocacy Month this August, there’s never been a more critical time to speak out. The presidential budget contains proposals that would renege on the government’s promise to pay the full amount of

retirement annuities – which includes cost-ofliving adjustments (COLAs) – in exchange for years of hard work over long careers. Retirement contribution levels would be increased, without a corresponding increase in benefits. The annuity supplement would be eliminated for new federal retirees, including those positions that have mandatory retirement ages that force workers to retire early.

The most important thing that you can share with your legislator is your personal story of how proposed policies would affect you. And remember that a compelling way to recruit a prospective member is to talk with them one-on-one about how these issues affect them directly, then follow up with a description of how NARFE is helping them meet the challenge through programs like our very successful webinars.

I know that NARFE members have important comments to share, as I am deeply appreciative of the very warm welcome extended by members as well as their knowledge and insights. I have enjoyed meeting with the National Executive Board and the Federation Presidents at their recent meetings held in conjunction with the NARFE Annual Meeting in July. Thank you for your passion in protecting the earned pay and benefits of the federal community. I look forward to working with you as we advance our mission and deliver value to members.

BARBARA SIDO NARFE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR execdir@narfe.org 4

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Washington Watch

PRESIDENT’S BUDGET TAKES AIM AT FEDERAL WORKERS AND RETIREES

P

resident Trump’s fiscal year 2018 budget proposal, the first budget of his presidency, was released on May 23 and contains unprecedented threats to the earned pay

and benefits of federal workers and retirees. While many of the included proposals have been put forward in recent congressional budgets, new cuts were added that directly target the financial security of current retirees.

Notably, cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for current and future retirees under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) would be reduced by 0.5 percent each year, and for current and future retirees under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), COLAs would be eliminated altogether. This amounts to hundreds of thousands of dollars lost from the pockets of retirees.

The president’s budget also takes aim at the benefits of current FERS workers, affecting financial plans for retirement.

Federal employees covered under FERS would see employee contributions to their annuities increased by 1 percent each year 6

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for the next six years, without any corresponding benefit increase.

This will cost FERS employees $72 billion over the next 10 years, and more thereafter. Additionally, FERS annuities for future retirees would be based on the average of the highest five years of salary instead of the current highest three years.

ACTION ALERT!

For new retirees, the FERS Annuity Supplement would be eliminated altogether. This would impact federal law enforcement officers and other workers forced to retire early due to occupational age caps. Those who are currently receiving the supplement would still maintain the benefit.

Overall, the president’s budget would cost federal and postal workers $149 billion over 10 years in lost compensation, with losses compounding continuously past that time frame.

These proposed cuts would be in addition to more than $120 billion already contributed by the federal community toward deficit reduction since 2011, and would significantly hinder the ability of

AUGUST

President Trump’s fiscal year 2018 budget contains unprecedented threats to the earned pay and benefits of federal workers and retirees. Write your legislators and urge them to reject any attempts to cut or reduce the earned pay and benefits of the federal community using NARFE’s Legislative Action Center! Visit www.narfe.org/legislation to take action.

federal workers and retirees to plan for retirement.

Although the president’s budget would avoid sequestration-related cuts, it would do so by shifting $54 billion in discretionary funding from government agencies to defense spending. On a positive note, the budget also outlined a 1.9 percent pay increase for the federal workforce and a 2.1 percent increase for military personnel.

Many legislators on Capitol Hill consider this budget “dead on arrival,” so it will be telling if Congress considers any of the proposed changes. Prior congressional budget proposals included many of the previously mentioned cuts, although NARFE thus far has been successful in preventing them from being enacted into law.

NARFE members should keep watch on these proposals and

urge their legislators to reject them. Ultimately, Congress will be the body that crafts the fiscal year 2018 budget and we need to make sure they know that these cuts are unacceptable. If you have not done so already, please call and write your legislators and urge them to reject these cuts to the earned pay and benefits of the federal community.

—BY ROSS APTER, LEGISLATIVE ASSOCIATE

RECONCILING BUDGET DIFFERENCES

T

he civil service community has long been wary of the congressional budget process, particularly since the “simple majority vote,” or reconciliation, tool has been used effectively to scale back hardearned compensation, deferred compensation and benefits since the 1980s.

By tradition and congressional rules, the annual budget process begins with the president’s budget. In May, President Trump submitted his formal Fiscal Year 2018 Budget to Congress. The political response to the budget was predictable. Congressional Democrats were unified in their opposition to what they termed unreasonable reductions in social safety net programs, medical research and environmental protection. Conservatives, particularly those House Republicans in the Freedom Caucus, cheered the president’s cuts, with

some saying the budget did not go far enough in slashing the size of government or addressing the federal debt.

Under “regular order,” the House and Senate Budget Committees would take the president’s budget under advisement in constructing a budget resolution for fiscal year 2018.

The budget resolution serves as the precursor to consideration of the 12 annual appropriations bills and the optional budget reconciliation process to address changes in revenues, direct spending and entitlement programs.

POLITICAL COMPLICATIONS The House and Senate Appropriations Committees have started writing funding bills for fiscal year 2018. The first order of business is to forge agreement on the total amount of funding available for the

12 measures that underwrite government agency operations.

This will need to be a bipartisan agreement, as Republican leaders are unlikely to muster 218 Republican votes in the House and cannot move appropriations with fewer than 60 votes in the Senate.

Budget reconciliation has its own procedural complication.

Once Congress agrees to a fiscal year 2018 budget resolution and initiates a new reconciliation process, likely for tax reform, the process has special rules and priviledges. However, action must wait until the fiscal year 2017 process on the replacement of the Affordable Care Act is complete. If the cuts included in the article on page 6 are to be considered by Congress this year, it will likely be in the fiscal year 2018 reconciliation process.

In short, stay tuned.

—BY ALAN LOPATIN, LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL W W W. N A R F E . O R G

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Washington Watch

CHOOSE YOUR ADVOCACY ADVENTURE!

E

ach August, members of Congress return to their home states and districts from Washington, DC, to touch base with their constituents and listen to the concerns of their community.

As part of NARFE’s Grassroots

MYTH vs.

REALITY MYTH: Federal employees enjoy lavish pensions at the expense of taxpayers.

REALITY: The average federal pension is quite modest. According to March 2017 data from the Office of Personnel Management, the median pension for retirees under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) was just above $3,000 a month in fiscal year 2016.

For employees hired after 1986 and in the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), the median monthly pension was roughly $1,000.

CSRS employees do not pay into Social Security and, accordingly, do not receive any Social Security benefits for their government service.

If they paid into Social Security while working a private-sector job, their Social Security benefits are greatly diminished under the Windfall Elimination Provision. FERS employees pay Social Security taxes at the same rate as privatesector employees and receive the same benefit.

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Advocacy Month, you are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to reconnect with your legislators and urge them to oppose any cuts to the earned pay and benefits of the federal community. This also is a great time to thank our champions in Congress who have supported NARFE’s position on legislative issues. When planning your outreach strategy, please coordinate with federation leaders and fellow NARFE members to avoid scheduling duplicate meetings and show that NARFE is united in its advocacy efforts.

We must show that we will stand together to oppose threats to the federal community that would have a harmful effect on the financial and health security of today’s federal employees and retirees. Your participation in advocacy actions in August shows your legislators that you will fight to protect what you’ve earned, and that you’re watching how they vote on the issues that matter to you.

The graphic on page 9 lists actions that you and your fellow members can take this August during Grassroots Advocacy Month.

All advocacy actions are interconnected and help build relationships with your legislators. The level of relationship-building will depend on which action(s) you take, but any level of outreach strengthens relationships! Stronger connections make it easier to call on that office during a key vote. Representing NARFE while connecting with your legislator also helps build the NARFE brand!

NARFE’s Legislative Department suggests that members of each federation meet with their

legislators at least once a year.

While one of the most visible ways to connect is to schedule a congressional meeting, August presents avenues for advocacy, as it is a time when legislators are in-district for an extended period. Even if you have a meeting planned with your legislator, you are not limited to taking only one action – work with your federation to coordinate responsibilities! One NARFE member can drop off the latest narfe magazine at district offices, and another group of NARFE members should plan to attend a town hall event or participate in a tele-town hall. Is your chapter or federation planning a meeting or picnic this summer? Invite your legislators to attend and, if they can make it, be sure to invite your neighboring NARFE chapters!

If your legislators do not hear from you and other federal employees and retirees about the effects of these dangerous proposals, they will view your silence as acceptance. Now is the time to make your voice heard and show your elected officials that you will not stand for policies that break promises to those who dedicated their lives to public service. And don’t forget to tell the Legislative Department about the actions you take in the “Congressional Meeting and Event Feedback Form” in NARFE’s Legislative Action Center!

If you have any questions, visit the Legislation page of the NARFE website or contact the Legislative Department at leg@narfe. org. Thank you for your advocacy efforts.

—BY MOLLY CHECKSFIELD, GRASSROOTS PROGRAM MANAGER

CH O OS E YO U R OWN

ADVOCACY ADVENTURE Choose Your Own Advocacy Adventure

Choose Your will Own Advocacy Adventure This summer, senators and representatives spend time in their home states and districts, meeting with constituents and holding town halls. NARFE members must not let thisstates opportunity to interact with their This summer, senators and representatives will spend time in their home and districts, meeting with constituents holding town halls.

NARFEGrassroots members must not letMonth, this opportunity to interact withwhere their or legislators passand them by. August is NARFE Advocacy but you may not know legislators pass them by. August is NARFE Grassroots Advocacy you may below not know or your how to get started.

Work with fellow NARFE members, and Month, use thebut flowchart towhere choose how to get started.

Work with fellow NARFE and use the flowchart below to choose your own advocacy adventure.

Complete a newmembers, chart for each of your legislators. own advocacy adventure. Complete a new chart for each of your legislators.

START HERE

Have you met Have you met with yourmember member with your of of Congress in 2017?

Congress in 2017?

Have you Have you dropped droppedoff off the latest the latestnarfe narfe magazine magazineatat the district the district office? office?

Noluck luck getting No getting a a meeting?

Now what? meeting?

Now what?

Drop off Drop off the thelatest latest narfe magazine narfe magazineatat your local your localdistrict district office and office andleave leaveaa business card. business card.

there town AreAre there town hall meetings hall meetings for your elected for your elected official planned? official planned?

Can you attend Can attend withyou other NARFE with other NARFE members?

members?

Research sample quesResearch tions and ask sample themquesat the tions and ask event.

them at the event.

Contact the district

Contact the district office and schedule office and schedule an appointment. an appointment.

Do you have Do have anyyou NARFE any NARFE events events coming up, coming up, like a meeting or apicnic? like meeting

or picnic?

Could you plan a town Could you hall meeting plan a town in the next 1-2 hall meeting months with in the next 1-2 other NARFE months with members?

other NARFE members?

Attend a community event – parade, town Attend community hall – andatalk to your event – parade, legislator there.town

hall – and talk to your legislator there.

Got aGot meeting! a meeting!

VisitVisit NARFE’s Legislation NARFE’s Legislation pagepage to review issue issue briefsbriefs to review and and fact sheets to get fact sheets to get prepared. prepared. www.narfe.org/legislation/

www.narfe.org/legislation/

Could your Could chapter hostyour the chapter member host of the member Congress at of Congress your event? at

your event?

After your After your successful successful meeting, don’t meeting, forget to send don’t a thank-you forget to send note. a thank-you

note.

Visit NARFE’s Grassroots section on the Legislation NARFE’s Grassroots pageVisit to see how easy it is! section on the Legislation www.narfe.org/legislation/

page to see how easy it is! www.narfe.org/legislation/

Visit NARFE’s Grassroots section of the Legislation page to learn how! www.narfe.org/legislation/ Visit NARFE’s Grassroots section of

the Legislation page to learn how! www.narfe.org/legislation/

Tell NARFE’s Legislative Department about your advocacy activity by filling out the “Congressional Meeting and Event Feedback Form” on NARFE’s Legislative Action Center! www.narfe.org/legislation/votervoice.cfm Tell NARFE’s Legislative Department about your advocacy activity by filling out the

“Congressional Meeting and Event Feedback Form” on NARFE’s Legislative Action Center! www.narfe.org/legislation/votervoice.cfm

Washington Watch

REP. TREY GOWDY APPOINTED CHAIR OF HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE

I

n June, Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-SC, was chosen by the Republican Steering Committee, and later confirmed by the House Republican conference, to chair the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, which has jurisdiction over the federal personnel system and employee and retiree benefits.

Gowdy replaces outgoing Chairman Jason Chaffetz, R-UT, who resigned from Congress effective June 30. Chaffetz leaves behind many pieces of legislation that are of great interest to NARFE, including reform of the U.S. Postal

where he has served ever since.

The congressman is now tasked with leading the committee that has oversight of the executive branch and its agencies. With civil service reform reportedly in the works, Gowdy will be an important player in upcoming discussions.

Of interest to NARFE members, Gowdy holds a 4 percent lifetime NARFE voting record.

NARFE looks forward to working with the new chairman and will follow his priorities closely, as they will likely drive the committee’s agenda in the 115th Congress.

Service. As of press time, it was not clear how Chaffetz’s resignation will impact legislation he authored.

Before beREP. TREY GOWDY ing elected to Congress, Gowdy was a federal prosecutor and later became the 7th Circuit Solicitor. After election to the 112th Congress, Gowdy was assigned to the Oversight and Government Reform Committee,

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

q $25/month

OR

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

q $10/month q Other: ______/month ($10 minimum) Sustainers receive a Sustainer lapel pin and cozy fleece NARFE blanket.

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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.

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

VA ACCOUNTABILITY BILL SIGNED BY THE PRESIDENT

L

egislation to speed up the firing of employees of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has been signed into law.

The Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017, S.1094, amends both pre- and post-removal procedures and the appeals process for VA employees.

Specifically, the bill shortens the time for notification and opportunity to respond prior to removal for rankand-file employees and senior executives to 15 days. The Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) has been removed from the

appeals process for senior executives, replacing it with an internal process.

Additionally, the bill authorizes the VA to recoup bonuses from employees engaged in misconduct or poor performance. Finally, the legislation reduces the response to a notice of adverse action for supervisors who commit a prohibited personnel action from 14 days to 10, and codifies the creation of the VA Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection.

The Federal-Postal Coalition, of which NARFE is a member, objected to the inclusion of these changes in the legislation. In a letter, the

coalition stated, “[T]he bill would undermine longstanding civil service protections that ensure VA employment is based on merit, and not political affiliation or blind loyalty to superiors. In so doing, it would set a dangerous precedent for important civil service protections that apply to the entire federal workforce, which provide an important safeguard against corruption, mismanagement and political favoritism.”

The passage of this law should be viewed as a precursor of what’s to come to the entire federal workforce.

—BY JESSICA KLEMENT, LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR

Order your copy of NARFE’s CONGRESSIONAL DIRECTORY for the 115th CONGRESS (2017-2018) today!

Clip and mail to: NARFE Congressional Directory / 606 N. Washington Street / Alexandria, VA 22314-1914 Name___________________________________________________________________ Address _________________________________________________________________

Only $20

City _________________________________________ State ______ ZIP ___________ Member ID# (as it appears on narfe magazine label) ________________________________________________________________________

o Check (payble to NARFE) or cash enclosed o Charge to my credit card o MasterCard

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Quantity ________________ $20 each (includes shipping and handling) VA sales tax _____________ VA residents add 6% tax ($1.20 per book) Total cost _______________

Please allow 2-3 weeks for delivery.

Call NARFE’s Legislative Department at 703-838-7760 to order by phone.

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

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11

Washington Watch

narfe bill tracker

THE NARFE BILL TRACKER IS YOUR MONTHLY GUIDE TO THE CONGRESSIONAL LEGISLATION THAT NARFE IS FOLLOWING. CHECK BACK EACH ISSUE FOR UPDATES. ISSUE

BILL NUMBER / NAME / SPONSOR H.R. 756: Postal Service Reform Act of 2017 / Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-UT

LATEST ACTION(S)

Requires postal retirees to enroll in Medicare in order to continue receiving their current federal health insurance coverage. Enrollment would be automatic.

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and two other committees

Expresses the sense of the House that the U.S. Postal Service should take all appropriate measures to ensure the continuation of six-day delivery.

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

Expresses the sense of the House that the U.S. Postal Service should take all measures to restore service standards in effect on July 1, 2012.

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

Cosponsors: 183 (D), 54 (R)

Expresses the sense of the House that the U.S. Postal Service should take all measures to ensure the continuation of door-to-door delivery for all businesses and residential customers.

H.R. 757: The Federal Adjustment of Income Rates (FAIR) Act / Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, D-VA

Provides for a 2 percent pay raise for federal employees and 1.2 percent increase in locality pay in 2018.

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

Cosponsors: 9 (D), 7 (R)

H.Res. 15: As a resolution, it will not be sent to the president and, therefore, cannot become law/ Rep. Sam Graves, R-MO Cosponsors: 171 (D), 55 (R) POSTAL REFORM

WHAT BILL WOULD DO

H.Res. 31: As a resolution, it will not be sent to the president and, therefore, cannot become law / Rep. Dave McKinley, R-WV

narfe, June 2017

Cosponsors: 151 (D), 41 (R) H.Res. 28: As a resolution, it will not be sent to the president and, therefore, cannot become law / Rep. Susan Davis, D-CA

Cosponsors: 67 (D), 1 (R)

FEDERAL COMPENSATION

S. 255: The Federal Adjustment of Income Rates (FAIR) Act / Sen. Brian Schatz, D-HI

Referred to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

Cosponsors: 7 (D), 0 (R)

narfe, April 2017

H.R. 1594: Wage Grade Employee Parity Act / Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-PA Cosponsors: 2 (D), 1 (R)

TAXES

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Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform narfe, June 2017

H.R. 396: Tax Accountability Act of 2017 / Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-UT Cosponsors: 0

Gives the president the authority to provide wage grade, or hourly, employees a pay raise.

Mandates that no individual with an unpaid tax liability can be eligible for federal employment. Requires agencies to review employee’s tax liability.

NARFE’s Position:

Support

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform narfe, April 2017 Oppose

No position

EDITOR’S NOTE: These bills are all listed online at www. narfe.org/legislation/votervoice.cfm.

ISSUE

CAMPAIGN FINANCE

BILL NUMBER / NAME / SPONSOR

WHAT BILL WOULD DO

H.R. 20: The Government By the People Act of 2017 / Rep. John Sarbanes, D-MD

Reforms campaign finance laws to put small donors on par with wealthier donors. Provides a tax credit for contributions and government matching contributions.

Referred to three House committees

Requires Social Security and many federal retirement programs to use the Consumer Price Index for the Elderly (CPI-E) to calculate cost-ofliving adjustments in retirement benefits.

Referred to the House Committees on Ways and Means, Veterans’ Affairs, Oversight and Government Reform, and Armed Services

Updates age-based and postseparation withdrawal options, creates new withdrawal intervals, grants flexibility in payment amounts and eliminates the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) withdrawal election deadline.

Referred to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

Cosponsors: 155 (D), 1 (R) H.R. 1251: CPI-E Act of 2017 / Rep. John Garamendi, D-CA COLA

Cosponsors: 36 (D), 1 (R)

S. 873: TSP Modernization Act of 2017 / Sen. Rob Portman, R-OH FEDERAL RETIREMENT

HEALTH CARE

DC STATEHOOD

Cosponsors: 1 (D), 0 (R)

narfe, May 2017

narfe, June 2017

Repeals the Affordable Care Referred to nine H.R. 1408: Access to Insurance for All Americans Act / Act and establishes a national House committees Rep. Darrell E. Issa, R-CA health program administered by the Office of Personnel ManageCosponsors: 0 ment to offer Federal Employees Health Benefits Program plans to individuals who are not federal employees or retirees.

The bill would place non-federal participants into the federal employee risk pool.

H.R. 1291: Washington, DC Admission Act / Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-DC Cosponsors: 131 (D) H.R. 1205: Social Security Fairness Act of 2017 / Rep. Rodney Davis, R-IL

GPO/WEP

LATEST ACTION(S)

Cosponsors: 108 (D), 34 (R) S. 915: Social Security Fairness Act of 2017 / Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-OH

Sets forth procedures that would allow the District of Columbia to become a state known as the State of Washington, DC.

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and Committee on Rules

Repeals both the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP).

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means narfe, May 2017 Referred to the Senate Finance Committee

Cosponsors: 4 (D), 3 (R), 1 (I)

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

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Questions & Answers

The following Questions & Answers were compiled by NARFE’s Federal Benefits Service Department staff.

NARFE does not provide advice or assistance on legal, financial planning or tax matters.

EMPLOYEES CAN YOU STILL WORK AND RECEIVE DISABILITY PAYMENTS?

Q A

Can you still work and receive disability payments if you are able to perform the essential functions of the job with reasonable accommodations?

Retirees who receive disability payments can work in any job outside of the federal government.

However, if they are under age 62, the maximum amount of annual earnings is restricted to 80 percent of the current pay for the position they left. If earnings exceed the 80 percent amount – even by $1 – the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) may find them to be restored to earning capacity and end their disability annuity. If a retiree receiving disability payments becomes reemployed in the federal government, and their new position is the same or similar to the posi-

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tion from which they retired, OPM may make a determination that they have recovered from their disability and stop annuity payments.

SEND UPDATED W-4 FORM TO OPM

Q

Please provide me the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) address where I can send a new Form W-4?

A

Mail your Form W-4, or just a letter, to change your federal tax withholding from your monthly annuity

to: OPM Retirement Operations Center, P.O. Box 45, Boyers, PA 16017, ATTN: Tax Withholding.

You also may make a change by phone at 888-767-6738. The easiest way to make your change is to visit the OPM Retirement Services Online website at www.servicesonline.opm.gov.

RETIREES OPT INTO MEDICARE OUTSIDE OF OPEN SEASON

Q

I will turn age 65 in September. I presently have Blue Cross Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan Standard Option. I would like to opt into Medicare Part B, and simultaneously substitute the cheaper, Blue Cross Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan Basic Option. How do I do

that outside of the Federal Benefits Open Season?

A

As a retiree, the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) considers becoming eligible for Medicare as a qualifying life event that allows you to make a change outside of the annual Open Season.

Therefore, when you reach age 65, contact the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) at 888767-6738 and ask to change your FEHBP enrollment from BCBS Standard to BCBS Basic, based on your eligibility for Medicare.

VA DISABILITY BENEFITS AND RETIREMENT

Q

I’ve been retired from civil service and was told that my disability may be covered by the Department of Veterans Affairs, so I applied and now receive VA benefits. Do these two programs together influence the amount of my retirement or the amount of my disability?

A

If the question is whether the receipt of both benefits will affect either one, such as a reduction in one or the other, the answer is no. You are eligible to receive these two different benefits, and receipt of one does not affect the other.

RETIREES IN THE 49TH PARALLEL NORTH

Q

I would like to receive specific information about residing across the 49th

parallel north in British Columbia, Canada. I am retired under the Federal Employees Retiremant System (FERS) and receive monthly Social Security and FERS annuity benefits and am enrolled in Kaiser through the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP).

A

If you are asking whether you can still receive your Social Security and FERS annuity payments while living in Canada, the answer is yes. Regarding your enrollment in Kaiser, if you reside outside of the United States, you are outside of the Kaiser health plan’s service area.

You should request to enroll in one of the nationwide fee-for-service plans, such as Blue Cross Blue Shield or GEHA. You can change your mailing address and health insurance by writing to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) at P.O. Box 45, Boyers, PA 16017.

WORKING SPOUSES CAN CONTINUE FEHBP

Q

My husband and I have coverage through the Blue Cross Blue Shield’s (BCBS) Federal Employee Program. I am an annuitant, but my husband is currently working in the private sector. He just turned age 65. Can he still remain on my BCBS without enrolling in Medicare Parts A and B? If he does not enroll in Medicare, will there be a penalty when he retires at age 70?

Conversely, if he were to enroll now, how would this affect his BCBS coverage?

A

Your husband will continue to have coverage under your Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) plan, unless you change to Self Only, whether or not he decides to enroll in Medicare. However, if he enrolls in Medicare Part B after his initial enrollment period, he may be subject to the late enrollment penalty. The initial enrollment period is the sevenmonth period that begins three months prior to the month he turns 65, the month of his 65th birthday, and the following three months. The late enrollment penalty increases the premium 10 percent for each 12 months he did not enroll in Medicare Part B and was eligible to do so.

Since he is covered only through your FEHBP plan, and because you are retired and no longer covered by an employer’s group health plan, he does not meet the exception to the late enrollment penalty. (Individuals who are still employed at age 65 and covered under their employer’s group health plan or under an employed spouse’s group health plan can wait until they or the spouse retires to enroll in Part B without being subject to the late enrollment penalty.) When your husband enrolls in Medicare, this becomes his primary insurance coverage and your federal BCBS plan will become his secondary plan, which will pay what Medicare does not pay when he submits claims for his own medical expenses.

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Questions & Answers

EFFECT OF PRESIDENT’S BUDGET ON RETIREMENT

Q

I am concerned about the impact of potential changes in federal benefits with the president’s budget.

I’ve postponed my annuity and plan to start it January 2018 with a slight penalty, as I will not be eligible for my full annuity until I reach age 62 in August 2018.

Trump’s budget calls for using the highest five years of earnings instead of the highest three years to calculate federal annuities.

Since I have postponed the start of my annuity, do you believe I would be subject to “high five” if the Trump budget passes before my annuity commences? I know

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everything is speculation at this point regarding Trump’s budget, but I worry that the “high five” could apply to me because I’ve postponed my annuity.

A

Unfortunately, there is no answer we can give you at this time. As you may know, Congress passes the federal budget for each fiscal year.

While the president submits a proposal, all of the federal changes require legislation. The congressional budget process is slow, and while the budget is supposed to be completed by October 1, this hasn’t occurred in a number of years. Even if Congress chooses to change from the average of the

highest three years of salary to the highest five years for the computation of retirement benefits, it is unknown at this time when that provision would become effective.

NARFE’s Legislative Department is following the budget process as it moves through committees and inform members on details that emerge. We advise you to be flexible on your retirement date until further details are announced.

POSTAL REFORM AND SPOUSAL COVERAGE

Q

I retired from the Postal Service under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). I currently have

Savings from Sea to Shining Sea. Your National Active and Retired Federal Employees membership could get you a special discount on auto insurance.

Some discounts, coverages, payment plans and features are not available in all states or all GEICO companies. Discount amount varies in some states. One group discount applicable per policy. Coverage is individual. In New York a premium reduction may be available. GEICO is a registered service mark of Government Employees Insurance Company, Washington, D.C. 20076; a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. subsidiary. Š 2017

geico.com/fed/narfe | 1-800-368-2734

Some discounts, coverages, payment plans and features are not available in all states or all GEICO companies. Discount amount varies in some states. One group discount applicable per policy. Coverage is individual. In New York a premium reduction may be available.

GEICO is a registered service mark of Government Employees Insurance Company, Washington, D.C. 20076; a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. subsidiary. Š 2017

Questions & Answers

Medicare Part A only. My wife, who is not a federal employee or retiree, is not eligible for Social Security but has Medicare Part A. If the Postal Service Reform Act, H.R. 756, becomes law and requires Postal retirees to enroll in Medicare Part B, will that apply only to me, and not to my wife? If the law passed and my wife also enrolled in Medicare Part B, could her premium be deducted from my monthly civil service annuity?

A

Based on the current language of the proposed legislation, if your wife also is covered under your federal health benefits, then she also will have to enroll in Medi-

care Part B to continue coverage under your health benefits. This is the requirement in the current form of the legislation. However, NARFE is working to create an opt-out window for those who wish to not enroll in Part B. This legislation has passed the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and must go through two additional committees before a vote on the House floor. In response to your last question, your spouse may have her Part B premiums withheld from your monthly CSA annuity as long as you also are having your premium for Part B withheld.

SURVIVOR ANNUITY FOR THOSE NOT MARRIED

Q

I retired under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). At the time of my retirement, I was asked if I had a designated survivor for my federal annuity, and I indicated that I did not. Can I designate a survivor for my annuity on my living trust even though I’m not married?

A

At the time you retired, you were given the opportunity to elect a monthly survivor annuity for your spouse, if you were married, or to an insurable interest.

Retirement law does not permit

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The NARFE Insurance Services-sponsored program includes a full spectrum of products that can help you protect yourself and your loved ones at highly competitive group rates available to members like you.

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Policies issued by The United States Life Insurance Company in the City of New York (US Life).

Issuing company US Life is responsible for financial obligations of insurance products and is a member of American International Group, Inc. (AIG). Products may not be available in all states and product features may vary by state. Policy # V-610,270, Form # G-19000.

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a survivor annuity to be paid to anyone else. If you marry in the future, you will have an opportunity, within two years after the marriage, to elect a survivor annuity for your new spouse in the event you predecease your spouse.

REPORTING THE DEATH OF A SPOUSE

Q

How do you report the death of your spouse, terminate the survivor benefit and request an adjustment for your monthly Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) annuity?

A

If you are predeceased by your spouse, write to the Office of Personnel Management at P.O. Box 45, Boyers, PA 16045, ATTN: Y-Adjustment Request. In your letter, state that your spouse

is deceased and ask that your annuity be adjusted to the full life rate. Include a copy of your spouse’s death certificate and provide your Civil Service Annuitant (CSA) retirement claim number. You also should request that your enrollment in your federal health plan be changed to Self Only if you do not have any other dependents eligible for coverage. You also might ask for new Designation of Beneficiary forms for both your CSRS benefits and for your Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance proceeds.

To obtain an answer to a federal benefits question, NARFE members should call 703-838-7760 and ask for the Federal Benefits Service Department; 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, ext. 202 www.narfe.org

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Attn: Federal Employees and Retirees

The first hearing device proven to make it easier on the brain.

Federal Employees and Retirees may be eligible for a pair of Oticon Opn™ 3 hearing aids for $0 out-of-pocket.* Your brain works at incredible speeds to process sound.

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Cover Story

Many retiring or separating Feds have found second careers that have brought them fulfillment, happiness and financial success.

By Everett A. Chasen

OPENING THE to Life After MOST PEOPLE WHO LEAVE GOVERNMENT SERVICE have a major decision to make: Should they retire or keep working? The good news for those who choose not to retire permanently is that many retiring or separating Feds have found second careers that 22

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Illustration by Bill Pragluski, Critical Stages, LLC

DOOR Federal have brought them fulfillment, happiness and financial success.

NARFE’s website includes a list of second careers its members have chosen to pursue, from alpaca farming to teaching yoga.

Some invest in real estate while others own and operate bed

A LIST OF SECOND CAREERS IS AVAILABLE IN THE MEMBERS ONLY SECTION OF THE WEBSITE: WWW.NARFE.ORG/ SECONDCAREERS

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

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23

OPENING THE DOOR TO Life After Federal Service

and breakfasts. Many teach, some become artists or continue in their former professions.

For those contemplating a second career, two former federal employees and a retirement benefits counselor explain how to pursue a rewarding new career and offer advice on ways you, too, can make a successful transition to the private sector.

Ronald Aument retired after 33 years of government service, served an apprenticeship at a consulting firm and then founded his own consulting firm with the help of a partner.

Stewart Liff left government 14 months before he was eligible to retire and became an author and management expert. Both believe their experience as federal employees was instrumental to their current success.

James Marshall, owner of Federal Retirement Planning, LLC, regularly conducts seminars for federal agencies and employees in areas related to federal retirement benefits. As part of his classes, he asks the rhetorical question, “Just because you’re leaving federal service doesn’t mean you’re done working, right?”

“I can look across the crowd and tell by the looks on their faces the ones who are going to fully retire,” he says. They are the ones who look at him with horror, which he interprets to mean “James, when I leave this agency, I am going to be done working!”

On the other hand, he says, “Some people will start new careers, and will make more money than they ever did when they were in federal service.”

ONE RETIREE’S ADVICE

For Ron Aument, finances were the primary reason he chose to end his federal career and start on a new chapter in his life. “My reason for leaving government was a mixed blessing,” he tells us. “My son was accepted into a very good university, and I did not want him to come out of school burdened by student loans.”

To relieve his son of student debt, Aument would have had to go into debt himself if he remained in government service. Instead, “I realized there were better opportunities for making a significant income outside of civil 24

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service,” he says.

“I had accomplished a lot in government. I liked the work I was doing; I liked the mission; and I liked the people I worked with. I retired with some regrets, but figured it was the smart thing to do.”

Aument decided the best opportunity for a new career was in consulting. He knew he would have a learning curve to understand some of the nuts and bolts of how consulting businesses work.

He interviewed with several large consulting practices and accepted an offer from a now-defunct organization called Bearing Point. There, he learned the ins and outs of the consulting world, including how to evaluate opportunities and to deliver outstanding work in a profitable way.

When the company went bankrupt, Aument and a co-worker saw an opportunity to acquire some of the contracts the company had been managing. Through a combination of loans and “personal risk assessments,” Aument says, they started a business in 2009.

His partner had expertise in how to manage a consulting organization; Aument understood government. Because both are disabled veterans, they took advantage of programs providing special opportunities to service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses.

Today, their company has 65-70 employees. Aument says the skills he developed during his three decades in government helped him succeed in the private sector. “There were many things I learned that turned out to be helpful to me in the business world. Financial management and analytic skills were very transferable.

Knowledge of how the government contracting process works was very useful in my particular business world.”

The concept of leadership is universal, no matter whether you’re in government or running a large or small business, Aument says.

“Leadership is leadership, and the best definition I’ve ever heard is that to be a leader, you have to have at least one follower.

“There’s so much I’ve learned in my gov-

ernment career I’ve been able to apply, repackage and adapt,” he concludes.

TRAGEDY BRINGS OPPORTUNITY

Personal tragedy caused Stewart Liff to leave government service earlier than he planned.

“I left the government because my first wife had brain cancer,” he explains. “I had about 14 months before being eligible for retirement, but I felt the right thing to do was to stay home and take care of her. At the same time, I had two back surgeries — and my brother died.

“By the time my wife passed away, I was within a month or so of being able to retire, and in no condition to go back to work,” he continues. “I was thinking about what I

wanted to do with the rest of my life, and felt I had unique expertise in human resources.

I decided I wanted to make a difference and felt I could eventually help other government organizations.”

While still in federal service, Liff had written a book, “Seeing is Believing: How the New Art of Visual Management Can Boost Performance Throughout Your Organization.” Visual management combines generally accepted management principles with the fine arts to reinforce the direction in which an organization is growing.

“I came upon this concept, which I had not seen anywhere else, and wanted to share the idea and establish my credibility in that area,”

Planning for a Second Career Key considerations for federal employees planning a second career:

PREPARE BEFORE YOU LEAVE. What are your skills and interests?

What’s important to you?

BUILD A NETWORK. Liff met regularly with a group of private consultants while still in government service to “understand the way they think.” Talk to former colleagues who have made the transition and learn from their experiences.

KEEP LEARNING. Aument served an apprenticeship at a consulting firm. Consider taking a volunteer job (many federal agencies have great volunteer programs that offer the chance to gain new skills).

KNOW YOUR OPTIONS. James Marshall’s suggestion to “first find out what your options are” is valuable advice, not only for those involuntarily separated, but also for those who are planning to retire.

Remember, you can go home again. Marshall’s advice for involuntarily separated employees also applies to retirees, who can come back as retired annuitants. There are jobs with federal agencies throughout the nation that will allow you to maintain your pension and health benefits program status.

IT’S NEVER TOO LATE. Your health, energy and passion to succeed in a new career are far more important than your age. As Mark Twain once said, “Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter!”

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

25

OPENING THE DOOR TO Life After Federal Service

he says. “I found I really enjoyed writing. It forces you to think things through.”

Today, Liff has authored seven books on government and team building. He also started a company that provides performance management consulting and training for companies, government, institutions and individuals.

“One of the best decisions I made while I was in government was to try and align myself with several private-sector consultants so that my thought process would not be focused solely on the government, but would also help me understand how people in the private sector work,” he says.

Liff says he used a personal coach to help transition into the private sector, and hired a website consultant to develop a website for strategic branding.

“Think about what you have to offer, and understand that the terminology used in the private sector may be a little different than that in the public sector. Be aware of that when you’re crafting your resume,” he concludes.

ADVICE ON SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS

Social Security benefits can be an important consideration to factor into second-career employment. Retirees considering re-employement should check out the retirement calculators on the Social Security Administration’s website at www.ssa.gov/planners/benefitcalculators.html.

Retirees covered by the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) or CSRS Offset should use the Windfall Elimination Provi-

“Think about what you have to offer, and understand that the terminology used in the private sector may be a little different.”

26

—Stewart Liff

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sion (WEP) calculator to get a better estimate of what may be waiting for them at various ages. (WEP is a method of computing benefits for workers, such as government employees, who receive a pension based on non-Social Security covered work.) Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) retirees can use the regular online calculator.

“If the only reason you’re going to work is to boost your Social Security benefit, and it only gives you a $50 a month boost, that job may not be worth it to you,” says Marshall, a financial adviser. “The longer you wait, the more accurate the calculators are for Social Security. They reach their maximum accuracy when you reach age 62,” he says.

Social Security has a webpage titled “Information for Government Employees” (www. ssa.gov/planners/retire/anyPiaWepjs04.html).

In addition to providing a link to the WEP online calculator, the page also provides links to fact sheets on how the WEP affects government employees’ Social Security benefit, and to frequently asked questions about the WEP and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) law, which can reduce the Social Security benefit for the spouse or widow/widower of federal employees.

Marshall also has important guidance for those who are being reached by a reductionin-force (RIF) or facing involuntary separation. “My best advice to those who are being terminated involuntarily is to understand the options,” he says.

Marshall advises those on a RIF list to visit USA Jobs (www.usajobs.com) and apply for positions prior to termination. “Let’s say you’ve got a three-month notice of termination. You’ve got some time to put in applications and the ability to get another federal job — usually before someone ‘on the street’ can get that job, so you’ve got a chance to transfer before you are separated.”

Agencies are required to give re-employment consideration to former competitive service employees who have been RIFed, or (Continued on p. 28)

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OPENING THE DOOR TO Life After Federal Service (Continued from p. 26) notified they will be separated, by maintaining a re-employment priority list (RPL). Those registered on an RPL must get priority consideration for employment over certain outside job applicants, and agencies also may choose to give them priority before considering internal candidates.

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) maintains two types of career transition programs. Employees who have received either a RIF notice or a “Certificate of Expected Separation” may be eligible to participate in a Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) run by their agency. There is also a plan for interagency assistance both before and after separation, called the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP). In addition to receiving selection priority, those participating may receive “You should first training in specific job skills, start with what is resume writing, interviewing and advice on conducting an important to you. I employment search.

Marshall discussed another think you’re doing option for some federal employees — discontinued service yourself a favor retirements, which provide immediate annuities for employby following your ees who are involuntarily separated. Employees aged own lodestar.”

50 with 20 years of service, or —Ron Aument those with 25 years of service at any age may qualify for this type of retirement. This option allows continued coverage in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) plan and continued participation in the Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) program. Those taking this form of retirement, however, do not qualify for any severance package their agency may be offering involuntarily separated employees.

Some employees with the option to take discontinued service retirement may not benefit from doing so, especially those who may want to return to federal service in the future.

“Even if you can’t transfer to another agency

28

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right away, you can let them terminate you and have a small break in service. Otherwise, you are considered a rehired annuitant, and you may not want to be a re-employed annuitant at 50 or 52 years old,” he explains, noting that most rehired annuitants’ federal salaries are reduced by the amount of their annuities.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Marshall, Aument and Liff all had additional advice for those considering career changes: reflect, consider their options and follow their passion.

Marshall noted that breaks in service are becoming more prevalent. “Gone are the days when people work at one company for more than 20 years. You might end up leaving the federal government, voluntarily or involuntarily, and you might end up coming back if you’re not retired,” Marshall says.

Those who are involuntarily separated don’t have the luxury of a lot of planning time, he notes. “Start thinking now about what you will do if your agency does downsize. What if your agency is reorganizing? What if your agency decides to privatize your job functions?

Develop a plan now, so that when that happens, you’ve already got an idea of the direction in which you want to go.”

Aument notes that the process begins with self-reflection. “You should first start with an understanding of what’s important to you. I think you’re doing yourself a favor by following your own lodestar.”

And Liff concludes, “If there’s one rule I’d give people, it’s go after your passion. Determine what your passion is, and then try to do something that will make a difference, as opposed to simply trying to make the most money you can.

“That’s what I’ve been doing since I retired — things I’m passionate about. And people seem to sense the passion I have for them!”

—EVERETT A. (EV) CHASEN IS A WRITER AND COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT IN THE WASHINGTON, DC, AREA. HE RETIRED FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AFTER 35 YEARS OF SERVICE.

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DEVELOP YOUR CLAIMING STRATEGY GAME PLAN

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By Mary Beth Franklin

In addition to an annuity and personal savings in the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), Social Security is a key piece of a secure retirement plan for most federal retirees.

Learning how to maximize your Social Security benefits before you submit your final time sheet can substantially increase your future retirement income.

PAY-TO-PLAY SYSTEM

Social Security is a pay-to-play system. You must have earned a minimum of 40 credits, meaning you had Social Security taxes deducted from your paycheck for at least 10 years, to be eligible for retirement benefits. The actual amount you receive in retirement will depend on your average lifetime earnings and your age when you first claim benefits.

For most employees under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), who pay Social Security (FICA) taxes with every paycheck, Social Security coverage is a given. FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act) is the federal payroll tax imposed on both employees and employers to fund Social Security and Medicare.

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

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However, it’s a different story for workers covered under the original Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) who do not contribute to the Social Security system, although they do qualify for Medicare coverage.

CSRS employees who worked at least 10 years in the private sector may qualify for Social Security benefits. So do many CSRS Offset employees who worked for the federal government before the 1983 Social Security reforms, left government service and later returned. Although CSRS Offset employees pay FICA taxes on their wages, like CSRS employees, their Social Security benefits could be reduced because of their government annuity.

Social Security retirement benefits are based on your top 35 years of covered earnings up to the taxable wage base, which is $127,200 in 2017.

If you work longer than 35 years, your lowest earning years will be dropped from the benefit equation. If you work less, the zero-earning years included in the 35-year average lifetime earnings calculation could substantially reduce your future benefit. The maximum Social Security benefit for someone retiring at full retirement age this year is $2,687 per month.

Here are a few strategies to maximize your lifetime Social Security benefits, depending on your age and marital status.

YOUR AGE MATTERS

If you are eligible for Social Security retirement benefits, you can claim them as early as age 62, but if you do, your benefits would be reduced by 25 percent or more for the rest of your life compared to waiting until your full retirement age to file. If you are willing and able to delay claiming your benefits, your patience will be rewarded. Your benefits will increase by 8 percent per year for every year you delay claiming beyond your full retirement age up until age 70, potentially boosting your benefits by up to 32 percent.

If you were born between 1943 and 1954, your full retirement age is 66. The difference between claiming benefits at age 62, worth 75 percent of your full retirement age amount, and at age 70, when they would be worth 132 percent of your full retirement age amount, means a 76 percent increase in monthly benefits for the

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rest of your life.

Starting this year, the full retirement age is gradually increasing. If you were born in 1955 and turn age 62 this year, your full retirement age is 66 and 2 months. The full retirement age will increase in two-month increments until it reaches 67 for people born in 1960 or later.

Future retirees will still be able to claim Social Security benefits as early as age 62, but for those born in 1960 or later, it will mean a 30 percent cut in benefits compared to claiming at their full retirement age of 67. While they could still delay claiming until age 70, their maximum delayed retirement credit after three years would increase their benefit by just 24 percent compared with current retirees who can boost their maximum benefit by up to 32 percent by delaying their claim for four years.

In addition to claiming Social Security benefits on your own earnings record, it may be possible to maximize lifetime benefits — at least temporarily — and claim benefits on your spouse’s or ex-spouse’s work history. However, some of these rules have changed recently.

NEW CLAIMING RULES

In late 2015, Congress voted to eliminate two key Social Security claiming strategies for future retirees. The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, which authorized those changes, took effect last year.

One strategy, known as “file and suspend,” allowed a person who reached full retirement age to file for benefits and then immediately suspend them, triggering a benefit for a spouse, minor dependent child or disabled adult child while the worker’s own benefit continued to grow.

Although the file-and-suspend strategy has been eliminated, individuals who were at least 66 years old and who exercised this claiming option before the April 29, 2016, deadline are grandfathered under the old rules and so are their families.

The other strategy, known as “filing a restricted claim for spousal benefits,” is still available to people who were 62 or older by the end of 2015. Once they turn 66, they can claim only spousal benefits, assuming their mate is collecting Social Security or filed and suspended their benefits before the April 2016 deadline. In the meantime, their own

Social Security retirement benefit would conbenefit. And they can do so in either order. tinue to grow by 8 percent per year until age 70.

Survivor benefits are available as early as At that point, they would switch to their own age 60 but are worth just 71.5 percent of the larger benefit. deceased worker’s benefit compared to 100 Although the spousal benefit strategy is no percent if collected at full retirement age or longer available to anyone who was born after later. However, survivor benefits are frozen January 2, 1954, millions of married couples in time. They do not earn delayed retirement and eligible divorced spouses born before credits if the surviving spouse postpones that date can still use this strategy when they collecting them beyond full retirement age. turn age 66 to maximize their lifetime Social However, retirement benefits do grow larger Security benefits. Among married couples, only if postponed up to age 70. one spouse can claim spousal benefits on the In some cases, it may make sense to collect other’s earnings record. But among divorced reduced survivor benefits early and switch spouses, each ex-spouse can claim on the other to maximum retirement benefits as late as former spouse’s earning record, If you are eligible for Social Security retirement assuming they were born on or before the benefits, you can claim them as early as age 62, cutoff date of January but if you do, your benefits would be reduced by 1, 1954.

25 percent or more for the rest of your life compared Divorced spouses to waiting until your full retirement age to file. who were married at least 10 years and who If you are willing and able to delay claiming your are currently single benefits, your patience will be rewarded. can collect Social Security benefits as if they were still married. If the couple had been age 70. In other cases, when the survivor divorced at least two years and both ex-spouses benefit is bigger, it may make more sense to are at least 62 years old, one ex-spouse can collect reduced retirement benefits first and claim benefits on the other ex-spouse’s earning switch to maximum survivor benefits at full record —­even if the ex-spouse has not yet retirement age. claimed benefits. This is known as being an SOCIAL SECURITY AND “independently entitled spouse.”

SECOND CAREERS Married couples and divorced spouses born after January 1, 1954, will never be able to claim However, if you continue to work while collecting any type of Social Security benefit only spousal benefits. Whenever they claim Social before your full retirement age, your benefits Security, they will be paid the highest benefit to could be temporarily reduced or eliminated. which they are entitled at that age, whether on In 2017, you would forfeit $1 of benefits for every their own earnings record or as a spouse. $2 earned over $16,920 if you are under full SURVIVORS HAVE retirement for the entire year. FERS employees MORE OPTIONS who retire before age 62 are entitled to a The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 did not FERS Annuity Supplement that mimics Social change the claiming rules for surviving spouses Security. But the FERS Annuity Supplement, and surviving divorced spouses. Someone who which disappears at 62, is subject to the same is entitled to retirement benefits on their own earnings restrictions. earnings record and as a surviving spouse or In the year you reach full retirement age, surviving divorced spouse can still choose to during the months preceding your birthday, there collect on one type of benefit first and switch is a higher earnings limit. In 2017, you would lose to the other later if it would result in a bigger $1 in benefits for every $3 earned over $44,880.

“

”

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

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Once you reach your full retirement age, any benefits lost to the earnings cap would be restored in the form of higher monthly benefits.

SPECIAL RULES FOR CSRS

If you receive a pension based on work where you did not pay FICA taxes, you generally are not entitled to Social Security benefits. But if in addition to your public service career, you worked as least 10 years in a job where you paid FICA taxes, including active duty military service, you would qualify for a Social Security benefit. However, the amount may not be a big as you expect.

There are two rules that can reduce Social Security benefits for federal employees. The first one, the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), affects workers who are entitled to both a public pension and a Social Security benefit.

The second rule, the Government Pension Offset (GPO), affects workers with public pensions who try to collect benefits as a spouse or survivor on their mate’s Social Security earnings record.

The WEP can merely reduce a worker’s retirement benefit, but not eliminate it. The WEP reduction is limited to up to half of the amount of the annuity, not to exceed $442.50 per month in 2017. For example, if your government pension

Full Retirement and Age 62 Benefit by Year of Birth At Age 623

Year of Birth 1

Full (normal) Retirement Age

Months between age 62 and full retirement age 2

A $1000 retirement benefit would be reduced to

The retirement benefit would be reduced by4

A $500 spouse’s benefit would be reduced to

The spouse’s benefit is reduced by 5

1937 or earlier

65

36

$800

20.00%

$375

25.00%

1938

65 and 2 months

38

$791

20.83%

$370

25.83%

1939

65 and 4 months

40

$783

21.67%

$366

26.67%

1940

65 and 6 months

42

$775

22.50%

$362

27.50%

1941

65 and 8 months

44

$766

23.33%

$358

28.33%

1942

65 and 10 months

46

$758

24.17%

$354

29.17%

1943–1954

66

48

$750

25.00%

$350

30.00%

1955

66 and 2 months

50

$741

25.83%

$345

30.83%

1956

66 and 4 months

52

$733

26.67%

$341

31.67%

1957

66 and 6 months

54

$725

27.50%

$337

32.50%

1958

66 and 8 months

56

$716

28.33%

$333

33.33%

1959

66 and 10 months

58

$708

29.17%

$329

34.17%

1960 and later

67

60

$700

30.00%

$325

35.00%

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

If you were born on January 1st, you should refer to the previous year.

If you were born on the 1st of the month, we figure your benefit (and your full retirement age) as if your birthday was in the previous month.

If you were born on January 1st, we figure your benefit (and your full retirement age) as if your birthday was in December of the previous year.

You must be at least 62 for the entire month to receive benefits.

Percentages are approximate due to rounding.

The maximum benefit for the spouse is 50% of the benefit the worker would receive at full retirement age. The % reduction for the spouse should be applied after the automatic 50% reduction. Percentages are approximate due to rounding.

Source: Social Security Administration, www.ssa.gov/retire/agereduction.html

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reduce or even wipe out a potential Social Security spousal or survivor benefit for a CSRS employee. For example, if a federal retiree received an annuity worth $900 per month, any Knowing the rules and strategies can help you potential Social Security benefit could be reduced get the most from your retirement benefits. by $600 per month—two thirds of the federal annuity.

The GPO does not affect CSRS Offset federal government before 1983, left governemployees.

Learn more about the GPO rules at ment service and were later rehired, pay FICA www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10007.pdf. taxes on their wages. The impact of the WEP Both the WEP and GPO reductions do not on their annuity is reduced if they have more come into play until you begin receiving your than 21 years of “substantial earnings” in federal annuity. In some cases, it may make employment covered by FICA, and the WEP is sense to claim Social Security benefits first eliminated after 30 years. Learn more about before you receive your annuity. the WEP at www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10045.

There are many considerations in deciding pdf. when to claim your Social Security benefit, but The GPO, which applies to benefits for knowing the rules and strategies can help you spouses, ex-spouses and survivors, reduces potential Social Security benefits by two-thirds get the most from your retirement benefits. amount of the government annuity with — MARY BETH FRANKLIN, CFP®, IS A CONTRIBUTING EDITOR AT www.FreedomPlaza.comof the (888) 467-5202 no dollar limit. That means it can substantially INVESTMENT NEWS. is $500 per month, the WEP reduction could not exceed $250 per month.

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Departs March 8, 15 or 22, 2018 Huge Savings Kick off your vacation with 2 nights of leisure in thrilling Las Vegas. Next, travel Inside! to stunning Death Valley National Park before arriving in sunny Los Angeles. In *Prices are per person, based on double occupancy and do not include taxes & government fees of 299 per LA, you will enjoy an exciting city tour, which includes Hollywood and the worldperson. Add-on airfare is available. Pricing is based on Inside Cabin, upgrades are available. Free Balcony famous Chinese Theater before you embark on Norwegian Cruise Line’s Star for upgrade with Ocean View Cabin purchase only; Free onboard credit with Balcony Cabin purchase only. Free Beverage Package (gratuity required) or internet applies to Ocean View or Balcony Cabins for the cruise your 7-night cruise. Enjoy plenty of dining and entertainment options as you sail portion of the tour only. All special offers apply to new bookings only made by 9/29/17 and are subject to to Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán, and Cabo San Lucas. Return to Los Angeles for availability. Seasonal charges and single supplements apply. Additional terms and conditions apply, visit ymtvacations.com/setsail offers or ask your Travel Consultant for details. additional sightseeing, including the iconic Santa Monica Pier. $

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Call TruHearing today and start saving 877-360-2432 | TTY 800-228-5480 Hours 8:00 am to 8:00 pm Monday–Friday | All appointments must be scheduled through TruHearing * Price shown does not include cost of comprehensive hearing exam. Examination and testing for prescribing of hearing aids is covered under the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association Federal Employee Program (FEP). The member should confirm that the provider rendering the hearing exam participates with their local Blue Cross Blue Shield plan. If the provider does not participate, the member may be charged a maximum fee of $75 for the exam, and the member may need to submit for reimbursement. Must be a FEP member to access TruHearing discounted pricing. † 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 FEP. 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 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.

All content ©2016 TruHearing, Inc. All Rights Reserved. TruHearing® is a registered trademark 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. ‡ Forty-five day money-back guarantee and hearing aid returns, repairs, and replacements subject to provider and manufacturer fees. For questions regarding fees, contact TruHearing customer service.

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Benefit (up to $2,500)†

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$5,700

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Starkey Halo i70

$4,790

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TruHearing Flyte 700

$3,700

$1,990

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$2,970

$2,300

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Managing Money

ROTH IRA VS. ROTH TSP: SAME NAME, KEY DIFFERENCES

A

lthough the Roth Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) and Roth individual retirement account (IRA) share a common name, they are two very different

animals. Yes, both are funded with after-tax dollars, and both offer the opportunity for tax-free withdrawals of contributions and earnings, but there are a few key differences you need to be aware of.

For starters, your income must be below certain limits — $118,000 for single filers and $186,000 for joint filers — to be eligible to make a full Roth IRA contribution. On the other hand, there are no income limits to the Roth TSP. The maximum amount you may contribute is also different. The contribution limit for a Roth IRA is $5,500, or $6,500 for those over age 50; whereas, the Roth TSP contribution limit is $18,000, or $24,000 for those over age 50.

While you may contribute to more than one Roth IRA (or traditional IRAs, for that matter), the most you may contribute to any of your IRAs is still $5,500, or $6,500 for those over 50. Contributing the maximum to the Roth TSP doesn’t prohibit you from contributing the maximum to a Roth IRA. It’s also important to note that even if you contribute to the Roth TSP, the agency automatic (1 percent) contribu40

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tion and any agency matching contributions are made to the traditional TSP. Required minimum distributions (RMDs) mark another difference between the Roth TSP and a Roth IRA. More specifically, there is no RMD requirement with Roth IRAs. Once the money is in a Roth IRA, it may stay there for the life of the owner. The Roth TSP, however, is subject to RMDs, which typically begin at age 70-½.

Roth contributions may be distributed tax-free at any point, but a withdrawal must be qualified for any earnings to be distributed tax-free. A withdrawal is considered qualified if five years have passed since January 1 of the year the first Roth contribution was made, and you are at least 59-½ years old, permanently disabled or have died. In addition, a first-time home buyer exemption applies to Roth IRAs, but not to the Roth TSP. Once you have satisfied the

BY MARK A. KEEN,

CFP®

five-year rule for one Roth IRA, you are considered to have satisfied the five-year rule for all Roth IRAs you may have. However, satisfying the five-year rule for a Roth IRA does not satisfy the five-year rule for your Roth TSP. Likewise, satisfying the five-year rule for the Roth TSP does not satisfy the five-year rule for a Roth IRA. In other words, even if your Roth TSP withdrawals are qualified, you’ll need to satisfy the five-year rule again if you transfer money from a Roth TSP to a Roth IRA (unless, of course, you have already satisfied the five-year rule for a Roth IRA). If you plan on transferring your Roth TSP balance to a Roth IRA, you may want to consider opening and funding a Roth IRA before you make that transfer to ensure the five-year rule for the Roth IRA is satisfied prior to, or shortly after, the transfer from the Roth TSP. If that’s not possible, taking a nonqualified distribution may not be as dire as it sounds.

The reason is that when you take a distribution from a Roth IRA, IRS ordering rules state the money to come out first is considered to come from contributions, followed by taxable conversions and rollover amounts, then nontaxable conversions and rollover amounts,

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

and finally, earnings. Remember, you may always take out your contributions tax-free and penaltyfree, but to avoid any adverse tax consequences, don’t withdraw more than you’ve contributed.

Interestingly, the IRS ordering rules do not apply to Roth TSP withdrawals. Instead, Roth TSP withdrawals must be a prorated share of contributions and earnings. In other words, if a participant begins withdrawals from a Roth TSP, and

those withdrawals are considered to be nonqualified, there will be taxes, and possibly penalties, on the part of the withdrawal that constitutes earnings.

You may be thinking that you’ll simply take distributions from your traditional TSP balance until you have satisfied the five-year rule. Unfortunately, you don’t have a choice: Any withdrawal you take from the TSP will come proportionately from traditional and Roth TSP balances.

Although the Roth TSP shares many of the same beneficial characteristics as a Roth IRA, you need to be aware of the differences to maximize the tax-free potential.

MARK A. KEEN, CFP®, IS PARTNER, KEEN & POCOCK, 10300 EATON PLACE, FAIRFAX, VA, AND AN INVESTMENT ADVISER REPRESENTATIVE AND REGISTERED PRINCIPAL OF THE STRATEGIC FINANCIAL ALLIANCE, INC. (SFA). SECURITIES AND ADVISORY SERVICES ARE OFFERED THROUGH SFA. EMAIL: MKEEN@KEENPOCOCK.COM.

NARFE NATIONAL LIFE MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION National Life Membership offers a hedge against future dues increases and affirms a member’s ongoing support of NARFE’s mission to serve federal employees and retirees. National dues are paid for life; applicable chapter dues are billed annually.

CONTACT INFORMATION o Mr. o Mrs. o Miss o Ms. Full Name _____________________________________________ Street Address _________________________________________ Apt./Unit ______________________________________________ City _______________________ State _____ ZIP _____________ Phone (__________) ____________________________________ Email ________________________________________________ Date of Birth _____ /_____ /_________ dd

mm

yyyy

Recruiter ID # (if applicable) _______________________________ Chapter Number (if applicable) ____________________________ (call 800-456-8410 for chapter information) MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION Member Number: _______________________________________ (New members) Membership is open to civilians in any agency of the federal or D.C. (before Oct. 1, 1987) governments eligible for a federal annuity.

Thank you for becoming a National Member for Life. You will receive a membership card, certificate and special lapel pin.

Please allow six weeks for processing. Dues payments & gift contributions to NARFE are not deductible as charitable contributions for income tax purposes.

I am a (check all that apply)

o Active Federal Employee o Active Federal Employee Spouse

o Annuitant o Annuitant Spouse o Survivor Annuitant

Life Membership Fee Schedule Ages 30-39 40-50 51-55 56-60 61-65 66-70 71-75 76-80 81-90 91-100+

Single or Quarterly Payment Installments $1,796 $450.25 1,408 353.25 1,127 283.00 960 241.25 801 201.50 653 164.50 514 129.75 392 99.25 251 64.00 127 33.00

PAYMENT INFORMATION o Single Payment or o Quarterly Installments (4 payments) Life Membership fee amount: $ _____________________ PAYMENT OPTIONS o Check or Money Order (Payable to NARFE) o Charge my: o MasterCard o VISA o Discover o American Express Card No. _________________________________________ Expiration Date _____ /_______ Security Code (CVV) ____ mm

yyyy

Name on Card _____________________________________ Signature ________________________ Date ___________ MAIL THIS APPLICATION TO NARFE Member Records 606 N. Washington St. / Alexandria, VA 22314-1914 W W W. N A R F E . O R G

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41

2017

G FUND

F FUND

C FUND

S FUND

I FUND

JUNE

0.19%

-0.09%

0.62%

2.33%

-0.18%

MAY

0.19%

0.81%

1.41%

-0.77%

3.76%

APRIL

0.20%

0.81%

1.03%

1.15%

2.62%

YTD

1.17%

2.48%

9.34%

7.41%

14.10%

1 YEAR

2.06%

-0.03%

17.92%

21.67%

20.65%

3 YEAR*

2.06%

2.86%

9.67%

7.18%

1.48%

5 YEAR*

1.98%

2.61%

14.68%

14.46%

9.03%

10 YEAR*

2.51%

4.73%

7.24%

7.91%

1.30%

L INCOME

L 2020

L 2030

L 2040

L 2050

JUNE

0.26%

0.35%

0.46%

0.52%

0.58%

MAY

0.55%

0.86%

1.22%

1.38%

1.51%

APRIL

0.50%

0.76%

1.07%

1.21%

1.34%

YTD

3.07%

4.95%

7.01%

8.01%

8.93%

Increasing confidence in broad-based global economic growth following better corporate earnings helped support equity markets after a strong first few months of the year. The C and S Funds gained for the month of June. The I Fund declined a small amount, although it was aided by the weakening dollar. The F Fund experienced a slight loss after the Federal Reserve raised its target federal funds rate again.

—BY SEAN MCCAFFREY, DEPUTY CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER, THRIFT SAVINGS PLAN

2017

*ANNUALIZED

1 YEAR

5.22%

8.92%

12.61%

14.53%

16.40%

3 YEAR*

3.27%

4.21%

5.28%

5.75%

6.09%

5 YEAR*

4.32%

7.57%

9.39%

10.52%

11.55%

10 YEAR*

3.69%

4.49%

5.16%

5.42%

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

2016

2017

For the Record

CONFIDENCE IN GLOBAL GROWTH SUSTAINS TSP IN JUNE

THRIFT SAVINGS PLAN FUND RETURNS

Claims Received

Inventory

Avg # of Days (Steady State % Processed in to Process Case in is 13,000) 60 Days or Less (FYTD) More Than 60 Days

MAY 7,210 14,035 JUNE 5,929 13,529 JULY 9,238 15,562 AUGUST 6,818 16,334 SEPTEMBER 6,946 15,146 OCTOBER 7,326 16,677 NOVEMBER 5,065 16,019 DECEMBER 5,483 15,097 JANUARY 15,317 23,087 FEBRUARY 9,114 23,916 MARCH 7,216 20,530 APRIL 6,581 18,932 MAY 5,548 16,140

80% 79% 79% 78% 77% 58% 60% 56% 51% 56% 61% 56% 54%

103 115 110 112 100 91 94 95 89 104 105 80 89

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/. Source: OPM 42

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2 0 17

COUNTDOWN TO COLA

T

he Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) increased 0.07 percent in May 2017. To calculate the 2018 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), the indices of July, August and September 2017 will be averaged and compared with the 2016 third-quarter average of 235.057. The percentage increase, if any, determines the COLA. May’s index, 238.609, is up 1.51 percent from the base.

Benefits awarded under the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA) to individuals suffering work-related injuries or illnesses are adjusted according to each calendar year’s percentage change in the CPI-W. May’s index is 1.37 percent higher than the December 2016 base index of 235.390.

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 235.057

OCTOBER 2016

235.732

+0.10

+0.29

NOVEMBER

235.215

-0.20

+0.06

DECEMBER

235.390

+0.07

+0.14

JANUARY 2017

236.854

+0.62

+0.76

FEBRUARY

237.477

+0.26

+1.03

MARCH

237.656

+0.08

+1.11

APRIL

238.432

+0.33

+1.44

MAY

238.609

+0.07

+1.51

JUNE JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER

Donate to NARFE Programs Support Alzheimer’s Research

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

WRITE YOUR CHAPTER NUMBER ON CHECK; MAKE IT PAYABLE TO: NARFE-Alzheimer’s Research

Enclosed is my NARFE-Alzheimer’s contribution: $ Every cent that is contributed is used for research.

Please circle: Mr. Mrs. Miss Ms. AND MAIL TO: Name: Alzheimer’s Association Address: 225 N. Michigan Ave., 17th Floor City: State: ZIP: Chicago, IL 60601-7633 Chapter Number: Credit Card Information:

MasterCard VISA NARFE MEMBERS CONTRIBUTED FOR If you have any questions, write to:

Discover AMEX ALZHEIMER’S RESEARCH: $13 Million Fund NATIONAL COMMITTEE CHAIR Card Number: Merv Stuckey, 2272 E. Buster Mountain Dr. Expiration Date: (mm)/ (yy) Oro Valley, AZ 85755-4709 *Total as of May 31, 2017 3-Digit Security Code: 100% of all contributed funds go to Name: (please print) EMAIL: narferoadrunner@comcast.net

$12,317,736* Alzheimer’s research.

Signature

Join the Silver CIrcle CLIP THIS CONTRIBUTION FORM AND MAIL TO: NARFE Silver Circle 606 N. Washington St. Alexandria, VA 22314

•For a contribution of $25 or more, you will receive a Silver Circle pin, and your name will be listed in narfe magazine with other contributors.

•For a contribution of $1,000 or more, your name will be placed on the “Wall of Fame” at NARFE Headquarters.

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

/

Enclosed is my Silver Circle contribution: $ ID # (ID # may be found on your narfe magazine label or your NARFE membership card)

Name: Address: City: State: ZIP: Silver Circle contributions are NOT deductible for federal income tax purposes.

INSTALLMENT PLAN Wall of Fame 12-month installment plan

Give to the Scholarship and Disaster Funds

PLEASE MAIL COUPON AND CHECK TO: FEEA 1641 Prince St. Alexandria, VA 22314

/

All donations go to the NARFE General Fund to support NARFE programs and operations.

My check is enclosed

(Please make check payable to NARFE Silver Circle.)

Please charge my credit card Card type MasterCard VISA

Discover AMEX Card Number: Expiration Date: (mm)/ (yy) Name: (please print)

Signature

MAKE CHECK PAYABLE TO: NARFE-FEEA Disaster Fund or NARFE-FEEA Scholarship Fund.

Date

YES!

Date

/

/

I would like to help with my contribution.

Please check appropriate box(es). To make credit card contributions, call 800-338-0755. Scholarships are available to children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of federal civilian retirees and current federal employees who are NARFE members.

NARFE-FEEA Disaster Fund

Amount: $

NARFE-FEEA Scholarship Fund

Amount: $

Name: Address: City: State: ZIP:

NARFE News

NEW MEMBER PERK PARTNER! MINI MOVES

PICTURE PERFECT

NARFE is pleased to announce our newest Member Perk Partner, MiniMoves, Inc. MiniMoves is celebrating 25 years as America’s only national mover exclusively focused on small shipments: a piece, a room, a full apartment or condo.

There’s no minimum weight and the binding price quote helps you plan your move with confidence.

Check out the Member Perks page to take advantage of a great offer for NARFE members.

Up, Up and Away

Jim Little • Woodbridge, VA • Chapter 1270

T

he 2017 NARFE Calendar, featuring the winners of the association’s annual photo contest, will arrive in your mailbox soon. Not only does the calendar showcase the talents of our members, it is a source of revenue for NARFE programs.

This year’s winning photographers are: Michael Bryant, TucY175004-RFE-CAL-front Cover.indd 1

son, AZ, Ch. 55; Carol Driver, Glenwood, MD, Ch. 1734; Steve Ferguson, Port Orchard, WA, Ch. 181; James M. Hamilton, Colorado Springs, CO, Ch. 241; David Harrah, Bel Air, MD; Ann C. Holbrook, Hanover, NH, Ch. 1693; Jim Little, Woodbridge, VA, Ch. 1270; Phyllis Maguire, Burke, VA, Ch. 893; 6/16/17 12:39 PM

Carol Moyer, Riva, MD, Ch. 251; Marcia Socolik, Henderson, NV, Ch. 2031; Margaret Willis, Novi, MI, Ch. 1163; Deborah Hayes Zimmerman, Sturgis, SD, Ch. 1635.

The 2018 contest deadline is April 2, 2018. Find contest rules at www.narfe.org log in and click on “Special Programs.”

What Every Fed Ought to Know About Their Benefits FREE for NARFE Members in the NARFE Federal Benefits Institute

You are just a click away from expert guidance on the confusing issues surrounding federal benefits and retirement. Access these online resources, exclusively for NARFE members.

READY-TO-VIEW WEBINARS TO HELP YOU: PREPARE FOR RETIREMENT What You NEED to Know

FREE FE R for NAbers m e M

MANAGE YOUR HEALTH BENEFITS Understand the Options and Save!

AVOID FINANCIAL PLANNING PITFALLS Get Smart About the TSP and Social Security

Not a member? Join NARFE today to

access all NARFE Federal Benefits Institute resources and events: www.NARFE.org/join.

NARFE Federal Benefits Institute

44

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From Federal Employee to Annuitant Thursday, August 24 at 2 p.m. ET

You may be ready to retire ... but are you ready for the paperwork? Get insider tips from federal benefits expert Tammy Flanagan that will ensure a smooth transition.

Get a handle on the federal retirement process and the documentation needed in this one-hour webcast with BONUS Q&A session.

Tammy Flanagan, nationally recognized

federal benefits expert and NARFE member, helps you take control of your future with straightforward guidance on complex federal benefits.

www.NARFE.org/Institute

NOW you can replace your old unsafe tub with a

Designed For Seniors Shower ®

in as little as a day.

“I’ve even had people at work comment on my personality changing. They said ever since you got that shower, you are happier now. Well… probably because there’s less stress now and less pain. I really enjoy it because it puts me more in a comfort zone.”

– Chuck Clemons Four gentle massaging jets focus on the neck, back, hips, knees and may help ease the pain and discomfort of:

As we age, the occasional aches and pains of everyday life become less and less occasional. Most of us are bothered by sore muscles, creaky joints and general fatigue as we go through the day– and it’s made worse by everything from exertion and stress to arthritis and a number of other ailments. Sure, there are pills and creams that claim to provide comfort, but there is only one 100% natural way to feel better… hydrotherapy. Now, there’s a better way. It’s called the Designed For Seniors® Shower, and it can truly change your life.

Innovative engineers created a system that can fit in the space of your existing bathtub or shower and give you a lifetime of safety, comfort and pain-relief.

They’ve thought of everything. From the high-gloss acrylic surface, slip-resistant flooring, a hand-held shower wand, a comfortable and adjustable seat, to strategically-placed grab bars and lots of storage, this shower has it all.

Why wait to experience the Designed For Seniors® Shower? Call now… it’s the first step in getting relief from those aches and pains.

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The Designed For Seniors® Shower provides a lifetime of comfort and relief… safely and affordably.

• Arthritis • Circulation Issues • Aches and pains • Neuropathy • Sciatica • Inflammation

NARFE News

NARFE Staff Promotions

N

ARFE announces the promotion of thee talented professionals on our staff, and the addition of a new staff member in the Marketing Department. Please join us in celebrating their achievements.

Sandra Lawing Ross Apter Tierra Sherman Cherry Ung SANDRA LAWING has been promoted to the position of Director of Member and NARFE members, draft press tative. Her civil service experience Services. In this capacity, Lawreleases and other communicaincludes seasonal employment with ing will focus on growing and tions, assist in the grassroots pro- the United States Postal Service.

Sherman is a graduate of the Year improving membership services, gram management, and support Up, Inc. program in Washington, outreach, recruitment and retenpreparation for congressional DC, which supports talented young tion as well as service and dues meetings. Under Apter’s manageadults, and she holds a diploma related issues. She brings to the ment, the NARFE Facebook page in Medical Office Administration position more than 23 years of has grown to 10,000 likes, and from Technical Learning Centers in experience in membership. Lawthe engagement and reach of the Washington, DC. Facebook page have increased ing joined NARFE in 1994 as a significantly.

Apter joined NARFE receptionist and then moved to CHERRY UNG has joined NARFE as the Member Services Department in June 2016 after previously Manager of Membership Recruitworking at Herman & Associates, as a specialist with the 800 telement and Retention. She has over phone line. She was later promot- a motor fuel regulation consulting 10 years of experience in marketfirm. He also volunteered with a ed to Section Leader/Supervisor ing, sales and event planning from and Manager of Member Services senatorial campaign and interned nonprofit associations to residenwith the Centers for Disease Con- tial real estate. Her experience prior to assuming her current position. Her experience includes trol and Prevention. Apter holds includes direct marketing cama bachelor’s degree’s degree in working with members, providpaigns, email marketing, media ing accurate information as well government and politics from the relations, social media strategies, as supplying excellent customer University of Maryland. contract and vendor negotiations, service regarding dues, chapTIERRA SHERMAN has been promot- client prospecting and event/meetter reports and various online ed to full-time Dues Withholding ing planning. She holds a bachreports. Prior to joining NARFE, Representative. Sherman believes elor’s degree in business marketing she worked at Credit Union in excellent customer service to from Virginia Commonwealth National Association, AARP and all members, and is available to University and an associate’s the DC Lottery as a Membership respond to questions or support degree in business administration Representative. members in the dues withholdfrom Northern Virginia CommuROSS APTER has been promoted to ing application process. She has nity College. She’s also a successful the position of Legislative Associ- 7 years of experience in the retail Realtor® providing a wide range ate. In this capacity, Apter will industry. Prior to joining NARFE, of real estate services to assist her serve as the main point of contact she worked at Perot Systems and clients with buying and selling with the Legislative Department Comcast as a Call Center Represen- residential properties.

46

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Round-the-clock monitoring with a Medical Alert system not only provides you with peace of mind, it also assures you and your loved ones that you’ll never be alone. With the Medical Alert system, a simple button device can be worn anywhere—even in the shower. If emergency help is needed (medical, fire or police), push the button and a certified operator responds immediately.

No Long-Term Contracts

Easy to Set Up & Use

No Equipment Charges

Sales and Monitoring Agents Based in the USA

No Activation Fee

How We Stack Up Against The ‘Other Guys’† The Other Guys NO Long Term Commitments

Contracts Up to 3 Years

NO Activation/Installation/ Termination Fees

Activation/Installation Fees up to $80.00

NO Equipment Charges

Equipment Charges up to $149.00

Low prices on Mobile System

High Fees on Monthly Mobile Service

Exclusive Products and Services

Standard Products and Services

†Based on February 2017 internal review of competitors.

Special Offer for NARFE Subscribers FREE Locking Keybox* & NO CHARGE for a 2nd Button** When You Order Now! *With annual rate plan. **Free second button applies to certain products, substitutions may apply.

Equipment Included (At no extra cost!)

• Base Unit • Waterproof Pendant or Wristband

Active and Retired Federal Employees ...

Join NARFE Today!

The only organization dedicated solely to protecting and preserving the benefits of all federal workers and retirees, NARFE informs you of any developments and proposals that affect your compensation, retirement and health benefits, AND provides clear answers to your questions.

Who Should Join the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association?

If your future security is tied to federal retirement benefits – federal retirees, current employees, spouses and individual survivors – you should join NARFE.

NARFE MEMBER BENEFITS

• Get monthly issues of narfe magazine with news and insights for the federal community.

• Access the NARFE Federal Benefits Institute for powerful resources to help you fully understand and manage your benefits.

• Visit the Legislative Action Center to contact your representatives about bills affecting federal benefits.

• Visit the Member Perks page for a full listing of the many time-, money- and hassle-saving benefits available only to NARFE members.

NARFE MEMBERSHIP APPLIC ATION q YES. I want to join NARFE for the low annual dues of $40. q Mr. q Mrs. q Miss q Ms.

____________________________________________________

Full Name

____________________________________________________

Street Address

PAYMENT OPTIONS q Check, Money Order or Bill Pay (Payable to NARFE) q Bill me (NARFE membership will start when payment is received.) q Charge my: q MasterCard

q VISA q Discover

q AMEX

________________________________________________ Card No. Expiration Date _____ /_________

____________________________________________________

Apt./Unit

____________________________________________________

City

State

ZIP

____________________________________________________

Phone

____________________________________________________

Email

I am a (check all that apply) q Active Federal Employee q Active Federal Employee Spouse q Annuitant

1Q6

q Annuitant Spouse q Survivor Annuitant

q Please enroll my spouse _______________________________________________

Spouse’s Full Name

_______________________________________________ Spouse’s Email

THREE EASY WAYS TO JOIN 1. Complete this application and mail with your payment to NARFE / Member Records / 606 N. Washington St. / Alexandria, VA 22314-1914

2. Join online at www.narfe.org.

3. Call 800-627-3394, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET.

mm

yyyy

________________________________________________ Name on Card ________________________________________________ Signature ________________________________________________ Date

TOTAL DUES $40 Annual Dues X ___________ = ___________ Per Person # Enrolling Total Dues Dues payments are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes.

MAY WE THANK SOMEONE? If applicable, please provide the name, membership and chapter number of the member who introduced you to NARFE: ________________________________________________ Recruiter’s Name ________________________________________________ Recruiter’s Membership ID ________________________________________________ Recruiter’s Chapter Number Looking to meet others in the federal community and participate in NARFE at a local level? Call 800-627-3394 to learn about a NARFE chapter in your area.

Or, if known, add Chapter # _________________________

NARFE respects the privacy of our members. Personal information is used to provide content and relevant communications to our members, and will not be sold or rented to third parties without your express permission.

NARFE’s Dues Withholding Program What is dues withholding?

It is a dues-payment method that gives NARFE members (retirees) the option of having their annual NARFE membership dues deducted from their annuities on a monthly basis.

Advantages • Save 15% off your annual NARFE dues!

• Sign up your spouse and double your savings!

• You’ll never get another dues reminder from us!

• Your monthly payment is affordable and convenient!

• You may cancel your dues withholding at any time!

How does it work?

One-twelfth of your total dues is automatically deducted from your monthly annuity. Your monthly deduction is determined by the following formula: (NARFE dues ÷ 12) + (Chapter dues - if applicable ÷ 12) = Total Monthly Deduction How do I sign up?

It takes 60-90 days to process your application. Once the process is complete, you will receive a special membership card distinguishing you as a NARFE dues-withholding member.

To learn more about dues withholding, call 800-627-3394.

Retirees, spouses of retirees and annuitant survivors are eligible for dues withholding.

NARFE Dues Withholding Application for Retirees YES. I want to enroll in NARFE’s Dues Withholding Program (Annual NARFE dues of $34 and, if applicable, Chapter dues of record to be withheld annually.)

Social Security Number (9-digit number)

– Mr.

Mrs.

Civil Service Annuity Number

– Miss

C S

Ms.

–

–

–

(Include prefix, CSA or CSF) (Include any applicable suffix)

Full Name ______________________________________

NARFE MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

Street Address __________________________________

NARFE Membership ID ____________________________________

Apt./Unit _______________________________________

NARFE Chapter # (If applicable) _______________________________

City _________________________ State _____ ZIP _____ Phone (__________) ______________________________ Email __________________________________________ Date of Birth _________ /_________ / ____________________ dd

mm

yyyy

YES. I Also Authorize My (NARFE Member) Spouse’s Dues To Be Withheld From My Annuity. (Additional annual dues of $34 and, if applicable, chapter dues to be withheld annually.)

If YES, enter spouse’s information below.

Spouse’s Name ___________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ Spouse’s Membership ID ___________________________________

AUTHORIZATION (Withholding will begin in 60-90 days). No payment should be forwarded with application.

I authorize the United States Office of Personnel Management to make appropriate deductions from my annuity payments, not to exceed the amount certified by the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association as the amount of dues for which I am annually obligated, in accordance with elections I made above, and to pay the deducted sum to the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE). This authorization shall also apply to any and all dues changes certified by NARFE membership in accordance with elections I made above: Please allow 60-90 days for processing.

I understand that this authorization shall be valid until NARFE receives and processes my written notice of cancellation in accordance with its agreement with the Office of Personnel Management and that any disputes regarding this authorization shall be a matter between NARFE and myself. I hold the Office of Personnel Management harmless for any erroneous allotment deduction made pursuant to this authorization. ___________________________________________________________________________

______________________________

Signature of Annuitant or Survivor-Annuitant

Date

Dues payments and gifts or contributions to NARFE are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes.

MAIL THIS FORM TO: NARFE, ATTN: Member Records, 606 N. Washington St., Alexandria, VA 22314-1914 www.narfe.org 800-627-3394 rr@narfe.org Do not send money with this form

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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.

INSURANCE

MiniMoves 800-300-6683 GEICO 800-368-2734 www.geico.com/fed/narfe GEICO offers a special discount opportunity for NARFE members. To find out how much you could save, visit our website or call today and mention that you are a NARFE member. Have your current coverage information available in order to secure a comparable quote. Your completed quote will help benefit NARFE! For complete terms and conditions, visit www.narfe.org/memberperks.

NARFE Insurance Services 800-233-5764 www.narfeinsurance.com Designed and administered by Mercer Consumer, exclusively for NARFE members: senior age whole life, term life, Medicare supplements, hospital income plan, short-term recovery insurance, pet insurance, accidental death and dismemberment, cancer care, enhanced dental insurance and longterm care.

MOVING SERVICES

Bekins Van Lines 800-456-6832 narfe@bekins.com All NARFE members will receive contracted pricing for all interstate shipments. This will apply to packing, transportation and full-value coverage against damages. Please mention you are a NARFE member.

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NEW

MiniMoves is America’s only national mover exclusively focused on small shipments; a piece, a room or a full condo. There’s no minimum weight charge. Our binding quote helps you plan your move with confidence. Member discount - $25 off 500 pounds; $50 off larger moves. Use code 1292.

Wheaton World Wide Moving 800-248-7960 narfe@wvlcorp.com At Wheaton, we know interstate relocating is much more than trucks and boxes. Moving is not simply an address change. It’s a life change. With a network of top-quality agents throughout the United States, Wheaton provides peace of mind with every relocation.

We offer you, as a NARFE member, benefits to help you have a positive interstate relocation experience. Call today and mention you are a NARFE member to start the moving process.

PRODUCTS

Omaha Steaks 800-228-9055 www.omahasteaks.com/ NARFE Since 1917, Omaha Steaks has been delivering customers the finest gourmet steaks, seafood, poultry, pork, sides and desserts. Omaha Steaks make memo-

rable gifts for any holiday, or you can enjoy a gourmet meal right at home.

NARFE members can enjoy FREE SHIPPING on select combos and an additional 10% DISCOUNT at checkout! If calling, use promo code YTZ.

NEW

Purchasing Power 866-670-3479 purchasingpower.com/NARFE With Purchasing Power, thousands of brand-name products are within reach.

As members of NARFE, you can buy today and pay over time through payroll or annuity allotment. Choose from the latest computers, appliances, vacation packages and more. Never worry about hidden fees, credit checks or interest.

Pay over 6 or 12 months, and you’re done. Save 5% with code NARFEVIP.

ELECOMMUNICATIONS

Verizon FiOS www.narfe.org/memberperks NARFE members can save up to $10 a month on a new qualifying Triple Play bundle with Verizon Fios Internet, TV and home phone service – savings of up to $120 per year. This exclusive onlineonly savings is only available to new Verizon customers or those upgrading to the Triple Play Package.

TRAVEL

Alamo 800-462-5266 www.alamo.com Drive Happy® with Alamo® where

NARFE members receive year-round discounts. Call or visit our website today and reference Contract ID 262544.

Avis Car Rental 800-633-3469 www.avis.com Avis Car Rental is one of the world’s best-known car rental brands with approximately 5,500 locations in more than 165 countries. Avis has a long history of innovation in the car rental industry and is one of the world’s top brands for customer loyalty. Call or book your reservation now at Avis.com using the NARFE AWD number A701900.

Budget Car Rental 800-218-7992 www.budget.com Budget Car rental was founded in 1958 for the “budget-minded” renter. Today, with approximately 3,500 locations around the world, Budget is a leading rental car supplier now offering discounts to members of NARFE. Call or book your reservation now at Budget. com using the NARFE BCD number D871500.

Choice Hotels International 800-258-2847 www.choicehotels.com With 6,200 hotels in the United States and throughout the world, Choice Hotels® offers something for everyone. As a NARFE member, receive 20% off your next stay at participating hotels when you use Special Rate ID 00801967. This offer is subject to availability and cannot be combined with any other offer.

Advance reservations required through phone number or website above; cannot be redeemed at individual hotels.

Choice Hotels brands are: Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Sleep Inn, MainStay Suites and more.

WELLNESS

National 800-CAR-RENT www.nationalcarrental.com You Drive A Hard Bargain. Receive up to 20% off rentals at National Car Rental. To make a reservation, call National Car Rental at 1-800-CARRENT® and reference Contract ID 5282909. For complete terms and conditions, visit www.narfe.org/ memberperks.

Wyndham Hotel Group 877-670-7088 NARFE members receive up to 20% off the “Best Available Rate” at participating locations. Call and give the agent your special discount ID number, 8000002694, at time of booking to receive discount. Call to reserve your room today at one of these fine hotels: Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, Days Inn, Ramada Inn, Microtel Inns and Suites and more. Advance reservations required through phone number above; cannot be redeemed at individual hotels.

NEW HearUSA www.hearusa.com/narfe The Nation’s Most Trusted Name in Hearing Care. Choose from 250+ hearing aids from 11 manufacturers with $0 co-pay for many plans. Wireless. Bluetooth. Smartphone compatible. Nearly invisible. Risk-free 60-Day trial. Free follow-up care. Free 3-Year warranty. Call 1-855-845-2706 to see if you qualify for 2 FREE hearing aids.

Life Line Screening 800-324-9906 www.lifelinescreening.com/ NARFE Life Line Screening, America’s leading provider of community-based preventive health screenings, will conduct health screenings using state-ofthe-art ultrasound technology in your neighborhood. To schedule an appointment, please call the number above and give the operator code number BKHN075 or visit the website.

NEW

Wyndham NEW Extra Holidays 800-428-1932 www.extraholidays.com Excellent service and the finest comforts are standards you can always rely on with Wyndham Extra Holidays. With more spacious floor plans than a regular hotel, you can enjoy a One-, Two- or Three-Bedroom suite with separate living areas and partial or fully equipped kitchens. Please use promo code 8000002694 when calling or booking online.

Sunrise Senior Living www.SunriseSeniorLiving.com Sunrise Senior Living, a leading provider of high-quality, individualized, senior living services, offers NARFE members a special, discounted rate. Mention code: NARFE-discount during your visit and receive a one-time 5% off of suite/room rates at any of Sunrise’s U.S. communities for one year. For a complete list of Sunrise locations, visit www.SunriseSeniorLiving.com. For a complete list of any restrictions, visit www.narfe.org/ memberperks.

NARFE Member Perks are designed to provide NARFE members with a quality option in their search for commonly used products and services. NARFE makes no guarantee on any products and services listed and encourages its members to shop and compare before making a decision on any financial matter.

Check out Member Perks in the NARFE website for more details!

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The Way We Worked

A NOSE JOB In this 1963 photo, climbing pioneer Herb Conn conducts preservation work on Mount Rushmore. Completed between 1934 and 1939, the Mount Rushmore National Memorial sculptures of Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln were carved into the granite face of Mount Rushmore in the Black Hills of South Dakota, which is overseen by the National Park Service (NPS).

PHOTO from the records of the National Park Service, Mount Rushmore, SD; courtesy of 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 http://shfg.org.

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DID YOU KNOW? Over the years, Herb Conn worked to fill in cracks on all four faces to finance his climbing and caving adventures.

Today, the Mount Rushmore Sculpture Preservation Team is the only trained industrial ropes team in the NPS. Recently, a 3-D laser scan of the entire memorial was completed, according to the NPS website at www.nps.gov.

B Bu igg tt er on s

ts o N rac

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