January/February 2023 NARFE Magazine

A NARFE PUBLICATION FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYEES AND RETIREES

January/February 2023 VOLUME 99 ★ NUMBER 1

P. 22 Preserve the Memories, Dump the Junk

P. 32

NARFE’s Advocacy Positions for the 118th Congress

P. 36

NARFE Membership Survey Results

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Contents JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023 COVER STORY PAGE 22

FEATURE PAGE 36

PRESERVE THE MEMORIES, DUMP THE JUNK Declutter your home and downsize your belongings through ‘death cleaning’

2022 NARFE MEMBERSHIP SURVEY Protecting earned benefits, fighting for accurate COLA are among members’ top priorities

Special Feature

32 NARFE’s Advocacy Positions for the 118th Congress

Washington Watch

8 2023 COLA Is Highest in

Decades, but Shortchanges Many Retirees

9 House Passes Bill to Improve Federal Hiring Systems

10 NARFE Members Ready

for a Productive 2 Years of Grassroots Advocacy During 118th Congress

12 Workplace Safety Bill

Advanced by the House Oversight and Reform Committee

Columns

4 From the President 20 Benefits Brief

A NARFE PUBLICATION FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYEES AND RETIREES

January/February 2023 VOLUME 99 ★ NUMBER 1

P. 22 Preserve the Memories, Dump the Junk

42 Managing Money Departments

P. 32

NARFE’s Advocacy Positions for the 118th Congress

6 NARFE Online 16 Questions & Answers

P. 36

NARFE Membership Survey Results

ON THE COVER Illustration by TGD

17 Countdown to COLA 44 NARFE News 46 NARFE Perks 48 The Way We Worked

Connect with us!

Visit us online at www.narfe.org Like us on Facebook NARFE National Headquarters Follow us on Twitter @narfehq

Follow us on LinkedIn NARFE

NARFE MAGAZINE www.NARFE.org

1

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023 VOLUME 99 ★ NUMBER 1

REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENTS

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Jenn Rafael

REGION I Jeff Anliker

CREATIVE SERVICES MANAGER Beth Bedard ADDITIONAL GRAPHIC DESIGN TGD EDITORIAL BOARD William Shackelford, Kathryn E. Hensley, Johann De Castro

NATIONAL OFFICERS

CONTACT US NARFE Magazine 606 North Washington St. Alexandria, VA 22314-1914 Phone: 703-838-7760 Fax: 703-838-7781 Editorial: communications@narfe.org Advertising Sales: Kelly Klingman Advertising@narfe.org

KATHRYN E. HENSLEY Secretary/Treasurer; natsectreas@narfe.org

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 NFBNEWSLINE® service at 866-504-7300 or go to www.nfbnewsline.org.

WILLIAM SHACKELFORD President; natpres@narfe.org

INTERIM CHIEF OF STAFF JOHANN DE CASTRO jdecastro@narfe.org

(Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont) Tel: 413-813-8136 Email: jeff.anliker@outlook.com

REGION II Larry Walton (Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania) Tel: 443-831-1791 Email: rvp2@narfe.org

REGION III Lynn Harper (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina and Puerto Rico) Tel: 478-951-3260 Email: lynn_harper@msn.com

REGION IV Robert L. Helfrich (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin) Tel: 317-501-1700 Email: rlhelfrich@yahoo.com

REGION V Cindy Reneé Blythe

TO JOIN NARFE, RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP OR FIND A LOCAL CHAPTER: CALL (TOLL-FREE) 800-456-8410 OR GO TO www.narfe.org TO CHANGE YOUR ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER OR EMAIL LISTING:

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.

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

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.

EMAIL fedbenefits@narfe.org

TO REACH A FEDERAL BENEFITS SPECIALIST:

NARFE HEADQUARTERS

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

(Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota) Tel: 785-256-1450 Email: mrsdocbusyb@yahoo.com

REGION VI Marshall L. Richards (Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Republic of Panama and Texas) Tel: 903-660-2784 Email: pappysdad@cobridge.tv

REGION VII Sharon Reese (Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming) Tel: 575-649-6035 Email: rvp7@narfe.org

REGION VIII Robert H. Ruskamp (California, Hawaii, Nevada and Republic of Philippines) Tel: 703-628-3234 Email: ruskampr@gmail.com

REGION IX Steven Roy (Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington) Tel: 425-344-3926 Email: stevenroy1@yahoo.com

REGION X Robert Allen (Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia) Tel: 757-404-3880 Email: rvp10@narfe.org

NARFE Magazine (ISSN 1948-4453) is published monthly except in February and July 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 $48. 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 © 2023, NARFE. Advertisements in the magazine are not endorsements of products and/or services by NARFE, unless officially stated in the ad. We shall accept advertising on the same basis as other reputable publications: that is, we shall not knowingly permit a dishonest advertisement to appear in NARFE Magazine, but at the same time we will not undertake to guarantee the reliability of our advertisers.

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From the President NARFE’S MISSION STATEMENT To support legislation and regulations beneficial to federal civilian employees and annuitants and potential annuitants under any federal civilian retirement system and to oppose those detrimental to their interests.

To promote the general welfare of federal civilian employees and annuitants and potential annuitants, to advise and assist them with respect to their rights under retirement, health and other employee and retiree benefits laws and regulations, and to represent their interests before appropriate authorities.

To cooperate with other organizations and associations in furtherance of these general objectives.

With Your Help, We Can Move NARFE Forward

A

s I assume my duties as NARFE

national president, I want to assure all members that NARFE will continue its

history of success as an advocacy organization.

Chapters have played an important role in NARFE’s history by helping members connect and get involved in local and national activities.

Organizations must build on such traditions to evolve, survive and thrive.

NARFE is facing a big challenge in membership recruitment. As an organization, we must put a renewed emphasis on recruiting, retention, and reinstatement. If NARFE is going to attract more active federal employees into the organization, a change in the way we do business is vital.

After more than 100 years, it is appropriate for NARFE to move to a new model. We can accomplish this task by adjusting its direction, with emphasis on including chapter members and national-only members in recruitment and legislative events.

We can’t sit back and expect that the staff at headquarters will solve this crisis. Every one of us possesses the unique ability to speak from the heart and from experience. Word of mouth and personal experience are powerful tools that can attract federal employees to become new members. But this is not enough to conquer the challenge. I know that many of you will use the excuse that we can’t get access to federal buildings, but that does not mean that we should stop recruiting. We can’t become complacent or have the attitude that someone else can do it. We need you to tap into your can-do spirit and apply that to recruiting new members. I believe

4

NARFE MAGAZINE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023

we can do that and turn the tide on membership numbers, but only with your help.

Over the past two years, while serving as chair of the Membership Advisory Committee, I had the pleasure of working with Dave Bowman, NARFE’s former Senior Director for Membership Development. Dave was very instrumental in the development of FEDHub. He envisioned that FEDHub would be a “package deal” with NARFE NewsLine and other online communications to reach potential new members. Prior to his departure from NARFE, he and I spoke about FEDHub becoming the main conduit to gain access, albeit electronically, to the human resources offices of the various federal agencies. Through FEDHub, HR personnel would become aware of the various webinars offered by the Federal Benefits Institute.

Knowledge of the quantity and quality of these webinars can help NARFE expand brand awareness and tap into new member segments. I intend to make FEDHub work for us.

I appreciate all members and their work for NARFE over the years. We must work together to address the challenges that OUR organization faces. I am confident that I am prepared to meet these challenges. Members require someone who will listen and address their concerns, and the lines of communication between myself and the membership will always be open for both suggestions and constructive criticism. I will look to you for your support so that together, we can move NARFE forward.

WILLIAM SHACKELFORD NARFE NATIONAL PRESIDENT natpres@narfe.org

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NARFE Online STAY INFORMED WANT TO stay on top of key federal news and benefits information? Subscribe to NARFE Daily News Clips. This newsletter features breaking news and informative articles from various outlets curated just for NARFE members, as well as NARFE media statements, op-eds and more. Visit www.narfe.org/clips.

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TSP UPDATE ONLINE Get the most recent monthly and annual Thrift Savings Plan returns (G, F, C, S, I and L Funds) online at www.narfe. org/tsp-funds.

TRACKING RETIREMENT CLAIMS

READ NARFE MAGAZINE ONLINE

NARFE’s website now offers a digital flipbook of this and previous issues at www.narfe.org/ magazine-issues. Read the magazine online on your computer, phone or tablet, or download it to peruse later.

MISS A WEBINAR? CATCH UP on past NARFE Federal Benefits Institute presentations in NARFE’s webinar archive, where you’ll find videos, slides and transcripts of question-and-answer sessions for webinars dating to January 2019. Find them at www.narfe.org/ webinar-archive.

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NARFE MAGAZINE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023

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Throughout the ages, there have been many important advances in mobility. Canes, walkers, rollators, and scooters were created to help people with mobility issues get around and retain their independence. Lately, however, there haven’t been any new improvements to these existing products or developments in this field.

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Washington Watch

2023 COLA Is Highest in Decades, but Shortchanges Many Retirees

O

ver the last year, consumer prices have steadily climbed, setting highs for health care costs, gasoline prices, groceries and other consumer

goods. This record inflation has driven the automatic costof-living adjustment (COLA) for federal retirees to its largest increase since 1982.

Specifically, beginning in January 2023, Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) annuities and Social Security benefits will increase through an 8.7% COLA, while Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) annuities will receive a 7.7% COLA. As former NARFE National President Ken Thomas said

in response to the October announcement of the rates, “With inflation so high, the security of automatic COLAs for retirement benefits becomes even more evident. Without it, seniors would see the value of their retirement income erode drastically over time.” Unfortunately, FERS retirees do not receive the full increase.

Under current law, FERS retirees do not receive a full COLA if consumer prices increase by more than 2% annually. If consumer prices increase between 2% and 3%, FERS COLAs round down to 2%. If consumer prices are above 3%, FERS COLAs are always 1 percentage point less. This policy fails to protect the earned value of FERS annuities.

FERS retirees deserve full COLAs, and NARFE has urged Congress for years to address this inequity through the Equal COLA Act. This legislation would correct this longstanding, unfair policy and bring COLAs for the more than 1 million FERS retirees and

JANUARY/FEBRUARY ACTION ALERT: URGE YOUR REPRESENTATIVE TO SUPPORT THE REINTRODUCTION OF THE EQUAL COLA ACT IN THE 118TH CONGRESS. Dial NARFE’s toll-free number, 1-800-456-8410, and press Option 5 to get transferred to your representative’s office, or visit the Legislative Action Center at www.narfe. org to send a message. Cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) annuities are capped at 2% when consumer prices increase between 2% and 3%, and are reduced by 1 percentage point when consumer prices increase by 3% or more. This unfair policy fails to fully protect the earned value of FERS annuities, which decrease in value year after year—exactly what COLAs are intended to prevent. Beginning January 2023, Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) annuitants and Social Security beneficiaries will see a cost-ofliving adjustment of 8.7%, while FERS annuitants will receive a 7.7% COLA.

8

NARFE MAGAZINE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023

MYTH VS. REALITY MYTH: Members of Congress do not have to pay Social Security taxes.

REALITY: Members of Congress, just other taxpayers, must pay into Social Security. Prior to legislation passed in 1983, congressional members, as well as federal civil service workers, were not subject to Social Security taxes or eligible for Social Security benefits. Since 1984, all members of Congress are required to pay into Social Security.

survivors in line with the COLAs that their counterparts under CSRS and Social Security receive.

Without passage of the Equal COLA Act, FERS retirees will continue to see their annuities, earned through committed service to the American people, decrease in value year after year, which is exactly what COLAs are intended to prevent. COLAs should be based on the actual measure of consumer prices, not arbitrarily constrained. FERS retirees deserve full protection to maintain their annuities’ purchasing power throughout retirement. This legislation would rectify the unfair policy of leaving FERS annuities unprotected from rising inflation.

Beyond the COLA disparity between retirement systems, annual COLAs for federal retirees fail to keep up with rising health care costs. Currently, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) calculates COLAs for federal retirees using the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), which measures how urban wage earners and clerical workers under age 62 spend their money. As a result, seniors continue to get shortchanged by the annual COLA. NARFE supports the Fair COLA for Seniors Act, which would address this inequity by adopting the Consumer Price Index for the Elderly (CPI-E) to calculate annual COLAs for

seniors. The CPI-E would better account for the inflation of goods and services like medicine, health care, housing and other essential living expenses seniors most often purchase. Estimates from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas last year indicate the rate of health care inflation could double by mid-2023, meaning it’s more important than ever to push this bill.

NARFE is pushing for the reintroduction of both bills in the 118th Congress and will include updates in NARFE Magazine and NARFE’s weekly email newsletter, NARFE NewsLine, as soon as new information on these bills is available.

—BY SETH ICKES, POLITICAL ASSOCIATE

House Passes Bill to Improve Federal Hiring Systems

I

n late September, the House of Representatives passed the Chance to Compete Act., H.R. 6967. The NARFE-endorsed bill, introduced March 8, 2022, by Reps. Jody Hice, R-GA, and Ro Khanna, D-CA, would reform the civil service hiring system by allowing agencies to share assessments with each other, expand use of subject matter experts in the hiring process, and focus primarily on skills- and competency-based hiring vs. degree-based hiring.

Recent government-wide hiring data suggest that more

than half of all competitive examining certificates have been returned without a hire being made. By improving candidate evaluation, the government should be able to increase hiring efficiency, ensuring agencies are able to recruit the employees needed to fulfill their missions.

The Committee on Oversight and Reform also acknowledged the decrease in quality of the federal workforce, arguing, “For years, quality hiring for the federal civil service has been undermined by overreliance on candidate’s paper

credentials and self-assessments of their abilities.” Enhancing candidate criteria during the hiring process is likely to have a positive impact on overall hiring efficiency, securing more knowledgeable and skilled civil service hires.

The Chance to Compete Act outlines four important measures to achieve skillsbased hiring reforms. First, skills-based assessments will give agencies the freedom to focus on select applicants who

SEE HIRING ON P. 13 NARFE MAGAZINE www.NARFE.org

9

Washington Watch

NARFE GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY LEARN MORE about how you can take action to protect your earned pay and benefits by reviewing NARFE Grassroots materials at www.narfe.org/advocacy.

NARFE Members Ready for a Productive 2 Years of Grassroots Advocacy During 118th Congress

W

elcome to the 118th Congress! It’s a new year, and the results of the 2022 midterm election bring more than 80 new lawmakers to the U.S. Capitol.

During the first week of January, we can expect primarily ceremonial activities in both the House and Senate chambers in accordance with long-standing rules, traditions and precedents. In the Senate, the day will begin with an opening prayer, recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance and swearing-in Senate-elect members. And before they can get to work, each newly elected Senator will present their certificate of election, given to them by their state’s governor after the election, and then take the prescribed oath of office.

The House of Representatives follows the same procedure, but with one caveat: The first order of business will be to elect a speaker followed by the adoption or readoption of rules (written by the majority) for the new Congress. The rules are agreed to by the House, usually by a simple majority.

PLANNING SUCCESSFUL ADVOCACY DURING THE 118TH CONGRESS

NARFE members can ensure a successful grassroots advocacy effort for the 118th congressional session by first learning more 10

about their Representatives and Senators. The best place to get started is by visiting www. house.gov and www.senate. gov to view their profiles, read biographies and learn about their committee assignments.

Committee assignments usually occur before the start of the new Congress and are finalized by the end of January.

CONGRESSIONAL RECESSES

Members should access the House and Senate congressional calendars to map out scheduled congressional recesses during the year. Congressional recesses are breaks when members of Congress leave Capitol Hill and head back to their districts and states to engage with constituents. The recesses give NARFE members opportunities to meet with them and discuss federal community issues and concerns. Also, they are great opportunities to invite them to speak at federation and chapter meetings. The House and Senate congressional calendars can be found on the websites of the House Speaker and Senate Majority Leader.

NARFE GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY RESOURCES

Members should visit the advocacy section of NARFE’s website at www.narfe.org to access the list of legislative

NARFE MAGAZINE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023

priorities (found in this issue on Page 32) along with issue briefs and other resources for the 118th Congress. These resources will inform them of new and reintroduced bills and prepare them to engage successfully with lawmakers and staff. Members should also become familiar with other congressional resources like https://www. congress.gov/ to access bill summaries, total cosponsors and other congressional actions on them.

NARFE ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS

In addition to calls-to-action in NARFE’s publications mobilizing members to meet, write and call lawmakers, NARFE also encourages members to engage in its 2023 legislative conference, LEGcon23, in June; and Grassroots Advocacy Month in August. Members should also participate in Federal Benefits Institute webinars throughout the year not only to gain vital information about their earned benefits but also to gain knowledge about policies that threaten them.

NARFE thanks you in advance for your advocacy and looks forward to a successful advocacy effort in the 118th Congress.

—BY MARSHA PADILLA-GOAD, DIRECTOR, GRASSROOTS PROGRAM

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Washington Watch LEGISLATIVE RESOURCES NARFE NewsLine – A weekly newsletter that goes out to NARFE members on Tuesdays and includes weekly recaps of legislative news, compiled by NARFE’s advocacy and communications teams.

LEGISLATIVE ACTION CENTER – A one-stop site to send a letter to Congress, and more, at www.narfe.org.

Workplace Safety Bill Advanced by the House Oversight and Reform Committee

I

n September, the House Committee on Oversight and Reform passed the Chai Suthammanot Remembrance Act, H.R. 8466. Introduced on July 21, 2022, by Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-VA, the NARFE-endorsed bill would require agencies to implement and publish safety plans within the workplace in the event of an infectious disease related public health emergency, such as COVID-19.

Suthammanot, a frontline federal worker, tragically passed away in 2020 after contracting COVID-19 at his place of work, a childcare facility on Marine Corps Base Quantico, VA. In response to this incident, Connolly introduced H.R. 8466.

The bill would reform agency safety planning by implementing more effective workplace safety protocols and providing open communication about those safety protocols.

Agencies would need to develop and maintain public health protocols that follow guidelines including testing, cleaning, occupancy limits and use of personal protective equipment, notification of individuals who were possibly exposed and protections for employees who travel off-site. Additionally, the guidelines would outline the requirements for visitors to federal facilities. Second, the safety protocol process would be published on the agency’s

12

website and communicated to agency employees, as well as contractors and subcontractors.

H.R. 8466 also requires each agency’s Office of Inspector General to report on whether the agency has published and formally implemented its safety plan. Finally, the bill would require that the Government Accountability Office issue a report on the lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic to improve future safety protocols within the workforce.

Rep. Connolly has attempted to pass similar versions of the current bill, passing in the House twice during the 116th Congress, and twice once more in the 117th Congress.

He reintroduced the current version of the bill September 22 with modern language to align with the Biden Administration’s technical input.

When discussing H.R. 8466, Connolly noted that Suthammanot was not alone, and that a variety of federal agencies have reported similar

NARFE MAGAZINE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023

accounts, mostly due to their employees’ dedication to their agency’s “mission … in the face of a pandemic.” He also argued that FedRAMP would provide cost-effective cloud services across the federal government sector to serve the public more adequately. Following the House passage, Connolly stated that the bill would “help ensure that government and the federal workforce are prepared to serve American communities no matter the context.” He went on to praise his colleagues for prioritizing the health and safety of the federal workforce.

Former NARFE National President Ken Thomas submitted a letter urging the House to support the bill.

Thomas noted that “Federal workers deserve to know how their employer intends to keep them safe in the event of a public health emergency” and that this bill is an effective chance to do so.

—BY HANNAH MCLAIN, GRASSROOTS AND PROGRAMS ASSISTANT

THE FIRST EDITION OF THE NARFE BILL TRACKER for the new 118th Congress will be published in the March 2023 edition of NARFE Magazine. Bills from the previous Congress that were not enacted must be reintroduced and given a new bill number following the start of the new Congress on January 3, 2023. NARFE will use the Bill Tracker to provide monthly updates on legislation important to the federal community throughout the 118th Congress.

HIRING FROM P.9

are able to properly display their ability to perform the job.

Second, these assessments will be administered by subjectmatter experts, allowing higher-ups within the agency to distinguish active performers among the group of candidates chosen. Third, agencies will be able to share these assessments with one another, providing the candidate with a higher likelihood of getting hired by an agency, so long as they prove they can perform well under another. Fourth, every human resource office of each agency must establish a specific group of staff who specialize in

supporting the new skills-based approach.

When asked about the bill, Hice stated, “Congress needs to make federal hiring more effective. Our bill will remove unnecessary barriers to entry, create a more efficient and transparent process, and expand economic opportunities for all Americans.” Khanna added that he is “committed to ensuring that everyone has a fair shot at building a strong economic future for themselves and their families.”

Additionally, both Representatives praised the record of bipartisan support for the bill and are hopeful for further advancement of H.R. 6967.

CONTRIBUTE TO

Former NARFE National President Ken Thomas voiced his support for the bill, sending a letter to the Committee on Oversight and Reform in April, noting that “Federal agencies currently suffer from missioncritical skills gaps.” Following the bill’s advancement, Thomas sent another letter in September arguing it would reform the current inefficiency of the federal hiring process by “expanding the eligible talent pool and ensuring that those with needed skills are brought into the federal fold in a transparent and efficient manner.”

—BY HANNAH MCLAIN, GRASSROOTS AND PROGRAMS ASSISTANT

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To comply with federal law, we must use our best efforts to obtain, maintain and submit the name, mailing address, occupation and name of employer of individuals whose contributions exceed $200 each calendar year. NARFE-PAC is for the benefit of political candidates and activities on a national level. NARFE members have the right to refuse to contribute without reprisal, and NARFE will neither favor nor disadvantage anyone based on the amount of a contribution or failure to make a voluntary contribution. The suggested amounts are only suggestions and not enforceable. Only members of NARFE may contribute to the PAC. Contributions from non-members will be returned. NARFE-PAC contributions are not deductible for federal income tax purposes.

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Questions & Answers

Q&A

THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS & ANSWERS were compiled by NARFE’s Federal Benefits Institute experts. NARFE does not provide legal, financial planning or tax advice or assistance.

EMPLOYMENT DIVORCE DECREES AND FEDERAL BENEFITS

Q

I plan on retiring in February 2023 after spending more than 30 years in federal service. I recently divorced. Can my retirement ever be garnished in any way due to a legal judgment made against me?

A

Title 5, United States Code, Sec. 8345, limits garnishment payments from annuities to those payments expressly provided for in the terms of a court order related to a divorce, separation or annulment and any court order to enforce a judgment against the retiree for child abuse.

If your divorce decree is already finalized and is either silent about federal benefits or explicitly states that he/she is not entitled to any portion of your annuity or any other federal benefits (such as TSP), then that means that your former spouse won’t be entitled to your government pension unless the divorce decree is amended. The following question is on the retirement application: “Do you have a living former spouse 16

to whom a court order gives a survivor annuity or a portion of your retirement benefits based on your federal employment?” If the answer is NO, then you would not need to provide OPM with a copy of your divorce decree.

If your final divorce decree does specify that your former spouse is entitled to a federal benefit of yours under CSRS or FERS, then that should be filed with OPM’s Court Ordered Benefits Branch once the divorce is finalized to ensure that the court order is acceptable for processing; if not, it could cause delays in the processing of your retirement. A copy of that decree should also be included with your retirement application that you submit to your agency.

A court order or administrative order that requires you to provide

NARFE MAGAZINE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023

health benefits coverage for your children would also need to be attached to your retirement application, if applicable.

OPM – Court Ordered Benefits Branch P.O. Box 17 Washington, DC 20044 If your divorce decree awards your former spouse a portion of your TSP (Thrift Savings Plan), that should be filed directly with TSP at the time of the divorce. This could also apply in separations and annulment proceedings. TSP has a web site for uploading court orders here: https://qoc.rk.tsp.gov/qoc/b/ CsHome010Home.htm

CSRS AND SOCIAL SECURITY

Q

I am a federal employee covered by CSRS. I plan to elect a spousal survivor benefit for my wife when I retire next year. My spouse always worked in the private sector. Is there any limitation on my pension or her Social Security benefits after we both retire? In other words,

would she collect a reduced amount from Social Security because of my CSRS pension, or vice versa?

Your spouse is not a government employee, so the Social Security benefit she earned for herself will not be affected by your receipt of a government pension. If she becomes entitled to spousal Social Security benefits based on your work record, she would be entitled to these benefits if they are larger than the benefit that she has earned for herself from Social Security.

However, once you retire under CSRS, your entitlement to Social Security retirement benefits that you may have earned for yourself may be reduced by the modified benefit calculation of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP). If you claim a spousal or a widow’s benefit based on your wife’s Social Security record, those benefits will be offset by twothirds of your CSRS retirement due to the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and, in most cases, completely offset any spousal benefits that your wife may have earned for you.

If you predecease your spouse and you elected to provide her with the maximum CSRS survivor annuity, she will receive the full benefit in addition to her own earned Social Security retirement benefit. If you outlive your spouse, then you should report her death to OPM so that your unreduced CSRS retirement can be restored, as you would no longer need the spousal survivor benefit election reduction.

If you retired under CSRS Offset, keep in mind that your CSRS retirement benefit may be reduced when you become eligible for Social Security benefits (generally at age 62) by the value of the Social Security benefit you earned while you

A

were employed under the CSRS Offset retirement coverage.

You can get more information on the WEP and GPO from these resources on the Social Security website, www.ssa. gov: Publication 05-10007, “Government Pension Offset,” and 05-10045, “The Windfall Elimination Provision.” You can also request these pamphlets from Social Security by telephone at 1-800-772-1213.

MID-CAREER SEPARATION AND MILITARY DEPOSITS

Q

I’ve been working as a federal employee with retirement coverage under FERS for seven years. I’m thinking about separating from federal service mid-career to pursue an employment opportunity in the private sector, although I might consider returning to federal service later. I’m in the middle of paying the military deposit for four years of active-duty service. If I don’t finish paying my military deposit before I separate, will I be allowed to finish paying it later?

A

Military deposits can only be paid to your agency payroll office while you are federally employed. If you don’t finish paying the deposit before you separate, you would only be allowed to finish paying the deposit if you returned to federal employment with FERS coverage.

It’s a good idea to finish paying your military deposit before you separate. It could save you money by not having to pay additional interest if you returned to federal service later.

Interest would continue to accrue on the deposit amount due even after you separate, even though you couldn’t finish paying the deposit until you returned to a FERS-covered position.

Second, if you don’t finish paying your military deposit before separation and you never return to a FERS covered position later, then the deposit amount that you previously paid would be refunded when you apply for your deferred retirement, and your military

COUNTDOWN TO COLA The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) increased 0.4% percent in October 2022. To calculate the 2024 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), the 2023 thirdMonthly % % Change MONTH CPI-W Change from 291.901 quarter indices will OCTOBER 2022 293.003 0.40 0.38 be averaged and compared with the NOVEMBER 2022 third-quarter DECEMBER average of 291.901.

JANUARY 2023 The percentage increase determines the FEBRUARY MARCH COLA. October’s index, 293.003, is up 0.38% APRIL percent from the base.

MAY The CPI represents purchases of food and beverages, housing, apparel, transportation, medical care, recreation, education and communication, and other goods and services.

JUNE JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER

For FECA COLA updates, visit narfe.org and search for FECA.

NARFE MAGAZINE www.NARFE.org

17

Questions & Answers service years would not count towards your FERS pension.

Finally, if you are married, paying the military deposit could preserve a spousal survivor benefit for your spouse if you were to predecease your spouse before returning to federal service or before applying for your deferred retirement. If a married FERS employee separates mid-career with a minimum of 10 years of creditable service under FERS, the spouse will be eligible to apply for a monthly spousal survivor benefit as early as what would have been the deceased individual’s FERS minimum retirement age if the Fed dies before returning to federal service or before applying for his/her retirement.

RETIREMENT FEDERAL TAXES AND YOUR PENSION

Q

How does the money that I put into the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund (which has already been taxed) affect the federal taxation of my annuity?

Since you already paid federal income tax on your retirement contributions while federally employed, you are entitled to receive an amount equal to those contributions as tax-free income. Under the IRS Simplified General Rule, a portion of each monthly payment is tax-free, and represents the recovery of your previously taxed contributions.

The remaining portion of each monthly payment is fully taxable.

You continue to claim this tax-free amount until the total tax-free amounts claimed equal your retirement contributions.

At that time, all your benefit becomes taxable. This amount

A

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is typically provided to you when you receive your final adjudication booklet from OPM shortly after you retire from federal service. The 1099R form that OPM provides to you each January should also include information regarding the total amount of annuity that was distributed to you during the previous tax year and the total amount that was taxable. Refer to IRS Publication 721 for more details regarding the federal taxation of your federal annuity.

OPM RETIREMENT PROCESSING TIMEFRAME

Q A

I retired on December 31, 2022. How long does it typically take for OPM to process my retirement application?

A good rule of thumb is to expect the best but prepare for the worst.

Typically, your agency has 30 days from the date of your separation from federal service to complete their portion of the retirement processing. Your payroll office also has a part in the processing of your retirement, as they will separate you from the rolls of your agency by paying out your unused annual leave lump-sum payment and then forwarding your Individual Retirement Record to OPM. OPM’s Retirement Services strives to complete retirement claims within 60 days from the date that they receive your retirement application package from your agency.

The process may take more time than average if, for example, your retirement claim has special circumstances (e.g., retirement under special provisions such as law enforcement retirement, evaluating a court order). It may also take more time if OPM needs to contact you to make a benefit election (e.g., a civilian service credit deposit). Delays may also

NARFE MAGAZINE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023

be due to missing information from your former employing agency or from another agency such as the Social Security Administration if a benefit from them affects your claim.

Sometimes delays occur due to the volume of work waiting to be processed at OPM. See the publicly available link that OPM updates monthly to review their rolling two-year window of average processing times at www. narfe.org/opm-processing.

SOCIAL SECURITY DUAL ENTITLEMENT

Q

Now that my spouse is drawing Social Security, can I apply for just my spousal benefit and delay filing for my own earned Social Security benefit to earn delayed retirement credits?

No, under current Social Security law, if you were not born prior to January 2, 1954, you are “deemed” to file for both your own retirement and for any benefits you are due as a spouse, no matter what age you are. Deemed filing means that when you file for either your retirement or your spouse’s benefit, you are required or “deemed” to file for the other benefit as well, and you would automatically receive the higher of the two.

An exception would apply if you were to outlive your spouse.

If you hadn’t started drawing a Social Security benefit upon the death of your spouse, you may restrict your application to the survivor benefit that your spouse earned for you while allowing your own work record to continue earning delayed retirement credits until you were ready to switch to your own larger benefit later.

Another example would be if your deceased spouse had a larger Social Security work

A

record and you haven’t yet reached your full retirement age; you could restrict your application to your own earned benefit first and later switch to your maximum survivor benefit upon reaching your Social Security full retirement age.

For more information regarding “Filing Rules for Retirement and Spouse’s Benefits,” refer to www.ssa.gov/ benefits/retirement/planner/ claiming.html

OPM AND STATE TAX WITHHOLDING

Q

I recently retired, and I’ve noticed that OPM did not withhold any deductions from my annuity for state taxes. What is the best method for me to contact OPM and have the proper amount of state taxes withheld from my monthly annuity payment?

A

If you have created your online account with OPM, you can login to your account and specify the dollar amount of state tax you want withheld from your monthly annuity payments. The withholding must be in whole dollars. The minimum amount cannot be less than $5.

Log in to your online account with OPM at www.servicesonline. opm.gov/ to start, change, or stop the withholding of state taxes from your annuity payment.

If you don’t use the internet or have online access to your account with OPM, you can call or write OPM to start, change or stop the withholding of state taxes from your annuity payment. If you write to OPM, be sure that your letter includes your CSA or CSF number.

1-888-767-6738 TTY: 711

ours: Monday through H Friday, 7:40am to 5:00pm ET OPM’s busiest time is between 10:30am and 1:30pm ET Retirement Operations Center U.S. Office of Personnel Management Post Office Box 45 Boyers, PA 16017 If you do not know the monthly amount that you should withhold for state tax purposes, you should contact your state tax office for information or assistance.

To obtain an answer to a federal benefits question, NARFE members should call 800-456-8410 and select option 2 for the Federal Benefits Institute; send the question by postal mail to NARFE Headquarters, ATTN: Federal Benefits; or submit it by email to fedbenefits@narfe.org.

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Benefits Brief

H

Check Your Elections and Contributions for the New Year appy New Year! With new contribution limits and Open Season changes, it may be necessary to adjust the amount of your contributions to a Health Savings

Account (HSA) and your Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) and verify those changes took effect properly.

OPEN SEASON ELECTIONS

Open Season elections for the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program and Federal Employees Dental & Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) for most employees and annuitants were effective January 1. Current employees also set up 2023 Flexible Spending Account (FSA) allotments.

Annuitants should review January statements from OPM to ensure elected changes and deductions took effect. Contact OPM at 1-888-767-6738 or email retire@opm.gov; if necessary, write to the Office of Personnel Management, Retirement Operations Center, PO Box 45, Boyers, PA 16017. When contacting OPM, provide your CSA or CSF number, full name, date of birth and description of the topic. Include your signature on written communications.

If employed, review your pay statement (i.e., Leave and Earnings Statement) to ensure your elected changes took effect. Contact your Human Resources Office if corrections are necessary.

If enrolled in a high deductible health plan (HDHP), now is the time to set up your 2023 health savings account (HSA)

20

contribution amount. Links to FEHB plan brochures and website are available at https://www. opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/ healthcare/plan-information/ plans/

COLA & PAY ADJUSTMENTS

Retirees covered under CSRS who have been receiving retirement benefits since December 2021 saw an 8.7% increase in their benefit payable on January 1 (the December 2022 payment).

Eligible FERS retirees received a 7.7% cost of living adjustment on January 1. Retirees under FERS younger than 62 on December 1 did not see any of the increase in their 2023 FERS retirement benefit due to the delayed COLA that applies to most FERS retirees. FERS retirees who turned 62 before December 2022 received the full 7.7%. There are exceptions for FERS disability annuitants, those retiring under special provisions covering law enforcement officers, firefighters and air traffic controllers, and survivor annuitants.

This year’s COLA will increase Social Security retirees’ benefits by approximately 8.7%, although the actual amount is based on an individual’s “primary insurance amount,” which is the amount

NARFE MAGAZINE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023

of their benefit that is payable at their normal retirement age (NRA). The NRA for those born in 1960 or later is 67. For those who retire before their normal retirement age, the benefit will be lower than the primary insurance amount. Those who retire after attaining their normal retirement age will receive a benefit higher than their PIA. It was expected that there would be an average of a 4.6% raise for the pay of civilian federal employees under the General Schedule (GS) beginning January 1 (at the time of this writing, this amount was not confirmed).

THRIFT SAVING PLAN CONTRIBUTIONS

January/February is a good time to set up your TSP elections for the year if you did not do so in December. The 2023 maximum for regular contributions is $22,500 and $7,500 for catch-up contributions for those turning 50 in 2023 or older. You may contribute to either traditional (pre-tax contributions and growth) or Roth (after tax contributions with tax-free growth). The government’s contributions are not counted as part of this annual limitation.

If you are separating before the end of the year, you may contribute up-to the annual limit by increasing your payroll allotment.

—MICHELE BOLLIER IS A RETIREMENT AND BENEFITS SPECIALIST WITH RETIRE FEDERAL.

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Preserve the Memories,

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Declutter your home and downsize your belongings through ‘death cleaning’

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NARFE MAGAZINE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023

NARFE MAGAZINE www.NARFE.org

23

“S

wedish death cleaning” (in Swedish, döstädning), sounds ominous, but it’s a concept well-known to Swedes of all ages.

In her short book The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family From a Lifetime of Clutter, author Margareta Magnusson explains the term simply: “You remove unnecessary things and make your home nice and orderly when you think the time is coming for you to leave the planet.”

But death cleaning is not only for those toward the end of their lives. Its basic goal, decluttering your living environment, is something people of all ages should do.

“Everyone with too much stuff, wherever they are, needs to death clean,” Magnusson tells NARFE Magazine in an interview. “My book is a way of helping people get organized, scale down and feel relief. I don’t think it matters if you live in a big house or a small flat, like me. Too much stuff always makes you feel cramped.”

expected to wear again and removed those that needed dry cleaning or alterations, and gave away all the clothes she no longer felt she needed.

When her husband died, Magnusson moved from a “roomy” home into a two-room apartment with a balcony. “I would have loved to clean with my husband Lars,” she explains. “Going through our lives, remembering things together. Suddenly, it was too late.”

She realized she needed to find a new home, where there would be fewer memories and that would be easier for one person to look after— preferably without a big garden or too many stairs to climb or rooms to clean. Once her children took the things they wanted, many items still remained.

Downsizing tips

“If you decide to downsize your home,” she writes, “it is a good thing not to be in a hurry. If possible, To begin, Magnusson suggests looking at your you should take your time and proceed at a pace basement or attic or “the cupboards by your front that suits you. It will be absorbing but also tiring door.” Many of the things stored there have probably sometimes, but it is important that you don’t been there for a long time, and you may not even overdo it.” remember what you have in those places—which is Magnusson had an appraiser review things she good, because you know you won’t miss those things wanted to get rid of and put some up for sale. Then when you get rid of them. she asked her friends and neighbors to see if they Next, she counsels, divide your possessions into wanted anything. Once that was done, she made a categories—furniture, clothes, books, linens, and list of everything that was left and used the list to others, depending on what you have accumulated note what should be done with each item. Some in your life. Choose a category that’s easy for you things she gave to relatives or friends, others she to deal with. Clothes were her first choice, because gave to a charity. Every item she had was labeled she owned many pieces of clothing she rarely or “give away,” “throw,” “stay” or “move.” never wore.

Finally, she gave herself a week to clean up Magnusson removed her entire wardrobe from each room, so she wouldn’t need to rush, and her closet and made two piles: one for clothes she took a break after each was done. Before moving, wanted to keep, the other for those she wanted to she carefully measured the space in her new get rid of. She then went through the clothes she apartment, determined what would fit and what

Getting started with death cleaning

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“I don’t think it matters if you live in a big house or a small flat, like me.

Too much stuff always makes you feel cramped.”

— Margareta Magnusson, author of The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family From a Lifetime of Clutter

Paxton’s Tips for FEDCon22 Attendees Matt Paxton, a downsizing and cleaning expert, is the host of the public television program Legacy List with Matt Paxton. The show highlights families who are downsizing or settling the estate of a loved one. Matt and his team of experts sort through homes and decades of memories to uncover important items a family can no longer find. In August 2022, Matt was a featured speaker at FEDcon22, NARFE’s premier training conference for the federal community.

At FEDcon22, Paxton offered attendees downsizing tips. “There’s not happiness in stuff. There’s happiness in the things you do with the stuff, and the people you do those things with,” he explained.

“Our stuff is just not that important for our kids. It’s not that they don’t care about us. They just don’t care about specific items.”

Paxton provided five rules for decluttering: STEP 1 is “know your finish line.

Know where you’re going, and why you need to downsize. Write that reason down.”

STEP 2 is to start small. “Set your expectations low,” he said. “You are better off starting at 10 minutes a night than trying to do everything at one time. You’ll be amazed at how far you get. If you tackle too much, you will fail.”

STEP 3 is to focus on your legacy: identify five or six items that tell your family’s story. “It doesn’t matter what [the items] cost,” he says. “Share the stories with others. Then you can get rid of things like Grandpa’s shoes that no one has worn in 40 years, because you’ve already celebrated Grandpa appropriately.”

STEP 4 is to “tell and document the stories. The more you share, the easier it is to get rid of that item. If you’re not here, you can’t tell the stories, and someone will get rid of the item anyway.”

STEP 5, the final step, is to choose donating items over selling them.

“You will not be happy if you try to sell many of these items. You’re likely to only get ten percent of what you think they are worth. When you factor money into the equation, you’re never going to be happy.”

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would not, and used graph paper to lay out her new space—so she did not have to ask for help to move things around once she had settled in.

Although she did this by herself, she believes “men are just as capable of death cleaning as women. The reason women usually end up doing the death cleaning is simply due to the fact that they tend to live longer. Also, sadly, women are usually more inclined to think of their surroundings, the people around them. Women often do not want to ‘be in the way’ of others.

Usually, men do not mind this.”

Books, she notes, are tough to get rid of.

Magnusson suggests allowing family and friends to take the ones they want before trying to sell yours. It may be easier to sell a number of books on a specific subject, she believes, because a buyer may be interested in all of them.

Here in the United States, many homeowners have set up little libraries on their properties where people can give books away or take new ones if they looks interesting. Also, many local library systems accept book donations and hold regular book sales, raising money for the library and giving the tomes new readers.

Kitchenware is another area where downsizing can be difficult. Magnusson recommends keeping one set of dishes that match the number of guests you can fit at your table, and the same number of knives, forks, glasses and cups. Instead of multiple plates and cloth napkins of every color, she suggests using flowers or brightly colored paper napkins.

Cookbooks and recipes associated with personal stories or people should be kept; others can be gotten rid of.

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Finally, the hardest part of downsizing, according to Magnusson, is dealing with photographs, many of which bring back “memories you will want to keep,” she writes.

“Maybe give them to your family. But sometimes, your memories and your family’s are not always the same.” She suggests the process of sorting through photographic memories is much easier once you have made progress in other areas.

She recommends creating albums to organize photos, and shredding those that are either badly composed or if someone in the photo does not look good. “Now that I am the oldest in my family,” she writes, “if I don’t know the names of the people in the photos, nobody else in the family is likely to. More work for the shredder.”

USB memory sticks are a good way to preserve a lot of photos without taking up much space. She reminds readers who find this task daunting that photos don’t take up much space, and children and grandchildren may enjoy taking part in the reviewing process.

What about personal things you can’t get rid of, like old love letters, theater programs and travel memories? Magnusson suggests keeping these things in a box, marked “throw away.” “This box,” she writes, “is for small things that are just valuable to me, as they remind me of special days and happenings. It is very important that you do not choose a huge box. A shoe box should do.”

When she is gone, her children should do what the box suggests: just throw it away.

Decluttering Strategies

Barbara H. Jacksier, a long-time decorating magazine editor who now provides consulting decorating services for clients, agrees with much of Magnusson’s advice. “I always recommend decluttering on a regular basis,” she tells us, “and advise starting small when beginning any decluttering project.”

“Nothing succeeds like success,” she continues.

“If you can devote even 10 minutes twice a week to choosing items to get rid of, or if you can declutter a single shelf or cabinet top, you’ll be encouraged to keep going.”

“One of the things Magnusson does extremely well is to convince the reader of the importance of not burdening those you love with an avoidable

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Swedish Death Cleaning: Where to Start Margareta Magnusson, author of The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family From a Lifetime of Clutter, has tips for tackling clutter, one room at a time. She says that “death cleaning” is not only for those facing death: When you can’t close a stuffed drawer or fit another item in your crammed closet, it’s probably time to start decluttering.

Those resolving to get organized in the new year can benefit from Magnusson’s strategies.

Here’s a look at steps to take around your home:

BEDROOM

BATHROOM

STUDY

Tackle clothes and shoes.

This is the time to get rid of all the things you have been holding on to “just in case.”

For example, you may no longer need careerwear after retiring or changing jobs. If you have not worn it within the last year, donate or sell it, Magnusson says.

Check bathrooms for expired prescriptions and excess toiletry items you may no longer use— you may not even remember what you have in those drawers and cabinets.

Sorting through family photos is much easier once you have made progress in other areas, Magnusson says.

She recommends involving children and grandchildren in the process, setting aside and shredding photos that are blurry or unflattering and creating albums to organize those pictures you want to keep. Even better, scan images and store them on USB memory sticks, which let you preserve more in very little space.

KITCHEN

LIVING ROOM

Downsize your dishes, cutlery and glassware by keeping only enough for the maximum number of guests who can be seated at your table.

Magnusson recommends sorting your largest possessions, including furniture, first. Donate or sell pieces that don’t fit your space or lifestyle.

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“I have seen how getting rid of accumulated belongings can make someone who feels overwhelmed by life slowly feel in control.”

—Barbara H. Jacksier job—getting rid of what you’ve left behind at a time they are most likely not able to cope with the task.”

Jacksier believes the concept of death cleaning is a harder sell for Americans to adopt than for Scandinavians. “Americans don’t like to think about dying,” she explains. “Did you know that between 50 and 68 percent of Americans over 55 years of age haven’t yet created a will?”

She also notes that, unlike most Scandinavians, many Americans don’t embrace minimalist décor. “To get them on board, I suggest making room for truly important—to them—furnishings and accessories. I often phrase this to my clients as ‘giving their most precious possessions breathing space so they can be fully appreciated—instead of being lost in a crowd.’ ” In her magazines, she suggests any decluttering project should start with declutterers visualizing what they hope a room, closet or even a drawer will look like when the work is done.

Then, they should remove any items that get in the way of that vision.

“Getting no-longer-wanted or -needed stuff out of the house and to its eventual destination is key—whether it’s to the trash bin, a library, a charity shop or a person who really wants the items you no longer need.” Once a batch is dispatched, she suggests, “you’ll feel more inclined to create a new pile of discards—plus, you don’t want time to change your mind.”

She believes giving away or donating all but the most valuable items is preferable, as it speeds up the process and “makes you feel virtuous.”

A few years ago, Jacksier recalls, she helped a friend who was a self-acknowledged hoarder regain control of her home. Together, they made a list of things her friend truly couldn’t live without or had strong emotional ties to. These included a

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set of science fiction books, an extensive collection of crochet hooks, a number of animal figurines and a dining room set she inherited from her parents. Those were off-limits. After that, the clean-out began!

“I truly believe,” she concludes, “that living in a well-organized, tidy home can be life-changing, and not just for the person or persons who are decluttering. I have seen how getting rid of accumulated belongings can make someone who feels overwhelmed by life slowly feel in control, improve the ways a family interacts with each other, and give hope and joy to those who have far less.”

Death-Cleaning TV

In 2023, the Peacock streaming channel will begin airing episodes of an hourlong home-makeover show based on Magnusson’s book. Each episode, according to the network, will feature a different person at a crossroads in their life who will be visited by someone (not Magnusson) familiar with the principles of Swedish death cleaning to help them organize their homes. Episodes will feature interviews with the homeowner and his or her friends, neighbors and family.

“Of course, I am excited,” Magnusson tells us.

“I think it is really great. Everyone should death clean! I hope my book (and the new TV show) will help you get organized.”

“When I started writing,” she concludes, “I thought no one would read my book. But I guess my generation has just accumulated too much.

Hopefully, we will slow down our consumerism.“ —EVERETT A. (EV) CHASEN, IS A WRITER AND COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT IN THE WASHINGTON, DC, AREA. HE IS RETIRED FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AFTER 35 YEARS OF SERVICE.

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NARFE ADVOCACY

NARFE’S ADVOCACY POSITIONS FOR THE 118th CONGRESS (2023-2024)

N

ARFE’s Advocacy Positions for 2023-24 provides an extensive and specific enumeration of NARFE’s member-endorsed positions on legislative and administrative policies. In pursuing these, NARFE will defend the earned pay and benefits of federal and postal civilian employees and retirees. NARFE advocacy primarily focuses on the following priorities: • Defend and advance the earned pay and benefits of America’s current and retired civil servants.

• Protect the viability, stability and standards of service of established federal government functions.

• Promote understanding of, and trust in, the government.

Positions followed by a star H require legislation. New language appears in italics.

RETIREMENT FEDERAL RETIREMENT BENEFITS NARFE SUPPORTS: ✔Cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for all federally administered retirement programs on a regular annual schedule, computed on the same basis and paid at the same time, regardless of age and/or income level. ✔COLAs determined by a Consumer Price Index (CPI) based on the objective analyses of Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) professionals. ✔Changing the CPI-W (Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers) to the CPI-E (Consumer Price Index for the Elderly) as the standard for determining the annual COLA. H ✔Providing Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) annuitants with an annual COLA equal to the relevant CPI increase. H

✔Extending equitable treatment to federal retirement annuities in legislation increasing Social Security benefits. H ✔Legislation to provide equitable tax treatment of federal government retirement benefits comparable with Social Security. H ✔Equitable relief for federal employees and retirees in any legislation providing widespread emergency relief or economic stimulus. H ✔Legislation to repeal the increase in pension contributions of new federal employees, enacted in February 2012 and December 2013. H ✔Legislation to temporarily suspend required minimum distributions (RMDs) from qualified retirement plans, such as the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), during significant national economic downturns. H ✔Ensuring the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) discharges its responsibilities solely in the best interests of participants and beneficiaries of the TSP. ✔Legislation to conform the TSP regulations to Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regulations on

DEVELOPING THE POSITIONS An Advocacy Committee, appointed by the National President, developed the Advocacy Positions based on past NARFE’s past positions, member, chapter and federationboard submitted proposals, staff recommendations and pursuant to its own review. It recommended the positions to the National Executive Board, which approved them unanimously in August 2022.

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118th CONGRESS other qualified retirement savings plans, such as 401(k) plans. H ✔Legislation to eliminate required minimum distributions (RMDs) from Roth 401(k)-type accounts, such as Roth TSP accounts. H ✔Legislation to permit tax-free, qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) from employer-sponsored retirement accounts, and to allow those QCDs to satisfy RMD requirements. H ✔Legislation or regulations that require financial advisors to provide advice regarding retirement investments that is in their clients’ best interests, not their own. ✔Legislation to provide retiring federal employees the option of electing and paying the actuarial cost of additional survivor annuity amounts in 5 percent increments, up to 75 percent of an unreduced annuity. H ✔Legislation that would allow the recalculation of retirement annuities for federal employees who have retired since 1994 and who worked in Hawaii, Alaska or the U.S. Territories and who pay the contributions to the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund (CSRDF), and income taxes that they would have paid had locality pay been available to them prior to their retirement. H ✔Full public disclosure of the fiscal stability and financial obligations of the CSRDF. ✔Measures to ensure accurate, reliable, and timely customer service from the Retirement Services division of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), including congressional oversight to ensure transparency, funding to ensure adequate resources, and efforts to modernize technology and improve processes.

NARFE OPPOSES: ✘ Across-the-board reductions in COLAs not required in all federally administered retirement programs. ✘ Using the Chained CPI to determine annual COLAs. ✘ Any action that erodes the solvency of the CSRDF. ✘ Increasing federal employee contributions towards retirement without any corresponding benefit increase.

SOCIAL SECURITY NARFE is guided by the following six Social Security principles to provide: 1. A benefit people can depend on; 2. Financial security for the disabled, survivors and dependents (i.e., social insurance); 3. Universal and fair coverage; 4. Deliberate redistribution of benefits to lower income beneficiaries; 5. Efficient administration of the program (less than 1 percent overhead costs); and 6. Full cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs).

NARFE SUPPORTS: ✔Repeal or reform of the Social Security Government Pension Offset (GPO) and the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP). H ✔Legislation that would require the Social Security Administration to report annually the amount of WEP penalty to affected individuals. H ✔Legislation regarding Social Security that improves the solvency of the trust fund and increases benefits for all beneficiaries. H ✔Raising the cap on Social Security payroll taxes to improve the solvency of the Trust Fund. H ✔Indexing the income threshold for taxation of Social Security benefits. H NARFE OPPOSES: ✘ Investment of the Social Security reserves in investments other than Treasury securities. ✘ Replacing any portion of Social Security benefits with private individual accounts.

FEDERAL PAY AND WORKFORCE POLICIES NARFE SUPPORTS: ✔A merit-based civil service secured through competitive hiring processes and due process protections. ✔Implementation of federal employee pay parity as reflected in the Federal Employees Pay Comparability Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-509).

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NARFE ADVOCACY

✔Sufficient pay levels to attract and retain a federal workforce with the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities to carry out their jobs and fulfill agency missions. ✔Legislation that would afford federal employees serving in combat zones the same tax treatment as their military counterparts. H ✔Legislation to provide reasonable and equitable compensation to federal employees, retirees or their families who face significant risks to life and limb and/or suffer adverse consequences due to a service-related illness, injury, or death. H ✔Providing all federal employees with paid family and medical leave, in addition to paid parental leave. H

1. Their share of FEHB and other employersponsored health insurance premiums with pretax annuities; H and 2. Health care costs not covered by traditional health insurance and child and adult dependent care with pretax annuities deposited by annuitants in Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs). H ✔Legislation and efforts by OPM and FEHB plans to contain FEHB costs, including initiatives to rein in prescription drug expenses, such as ensuring access by FEHB plans to any prescription drug pricing negotiated by the Department of Health and Human Services for the Medicare program. H

NARFE OPPOSES: ✘ Proposals that would privatize inherently governmental functions. ✘ Legislation to arbitrarily decrease Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA) benefits. ✘ Policies on contracting out of federal jobs that put employees at a disadvantage in the competitive process. ✘ Contracting out the processing and maintenance of federal personnel records.

TO PROTECT THE PROGRAM, NARFE OPPOSES: ✘ Reductions in government contributions toward FEHB premiums. ✘ Adding conditions, such as a requirement to enroll in Medicare Part B, to the continued receipt of FEHB benefits for current retirees and their spouses. ✘ Forcing participants into Health Savings Accounts, Medicare Savings Accounts, Medical Savings Accounts, “customer-driven,” “consumer-driven” or “patient-directed” plans in the FEHB. ✘ Broadening participation in FEHB, unless separate risk pools are created. ✘ Requiring federal agencies to prefund the government/employer’s share of postretirement FEHB premiums for their current employees. ✘ Risk segmentation of FEHB participants based on age or Medicare enrollment.

HEALTH CARE FEDERAL EMPLOYEES HEALTH BENEFITS PROGRAM The Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program is the nation’s most efficiently administered and cost-effective employersponsored health insurance plan, providing coverage to employees, retirees and their spouses and dependents. As such, NARFE will continue to actively participate in discussions with the OPM regarding premiums, coverage, terms, conditions and marketing of FEHB Program plans.

TO MAINTAIN AFFORDABILITY AND THE INTEGRITY OF THE PROGRAM, NARFE SUPPORTS: ✔Providing incentives for enrollment in Medicare Parts A and B for those eligible, including improved coordination of benefits that would reduce out-of-pocket health care costs, and reimbursement for Part B premiums, providing premium relief for those enrolled in Part B. ✔Legislation to amend Section 125 of the tax code to allow federal retirees and survivors to pay: 34

NARFE’S ADVOCACY POSITIONS

NARFE MAGAZINE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023

MEDICARE NARFE SUPPORTS: ✔Protecting Medicare’s guarantee of basic health security for older Americans at affordable and predictable prices. ✔Applying the effect of the hold harmless provision to all Medicare beneficiaries permanently. H ✔Preserving the current Medicare fee-for-service program, including the ability to select the physician of your choice. ✔Repeal of means-testing of Medicare premiums. H ✔Eliminating or reducing the penalty imposed on those who do not enroll in Medicare Part B at the time they become eligible. H

FOR THE 118th CONGRESS (2023-2024) ✔Enhancing Medicare prescription drug coverage, including authority for the federal government to negotiate drug prices for the entire program; simplify and stabilize coverage; and provide equal coverage throughout the United States and its territories. H NARFE OPPOSES: ✘ Means-testing cost-sharing requirements. ✘ Increasing the Medicare eligibility age. ✘ Proposals that would give private Medicare plans an unfair competitive advantage over the current Medicare fee-for-service program and undermine the present program’s ability to share health care costs over a wide community of coverage. ✘ Proposals that limit the government’s share of Medicare premiums through a formula that does not accurately reflect the costs of providing health care to beneficiaries. ✘ Changes to Medicare’s fee-for-service model that undermine patient outcomes and threaten the solvency of the program.

LONG-TERM CARE NARFE SUPPORTS: ✔The integrity and affordability of the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP). ✔Legislation or administrative action by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) that would provide FLTCIP enrollees with the option to receive a partial refund of their premiums as an alternative to accepting a premium increase. ✔Proposals to develop and coordinate a comprehensive long-term care policy that would include public and private initiatives that address financing, choice, and quality service. H ✔ Tax relief for the purchase of long-term care insurance, family caregiving and other long-term care expenses. H ✔Proposals that would help individuals who cannot afford long-term care insurance or have a need for long-term care to receive such services without impoverishing themselves or their spouses. H ✔Nursing home reform, including efforts to ensure that long-term care facilities are adequately staffed with experienced professionals in the medical disciplines of gerontology and nursing, and that such individuals continue to receive training and are adequately compensated. H ✔The guarantee of long-term care benefits for individuals presently eligible for Medicaid, adequate state and federal contributions to Medicaid to finance

program needs, and standards of care and safety that all providers must follow in order to receive reimbursement.

NARFE OPPOSES: ✘ Further limitations on, and supports easing of, asset rules which prevent severely disabled persons from qualifying and receiving Medicaid long-term care benefits. H

U.S. POSTAL SERVICE REFORM NARFE SUPPORTS: ✔Legislation to maintain quality postal service standards, including to-the-door delivery at traditional levels. H ✔Legislation to keep small post offices open throughout the United States. H ✔Legislation to allow the Office of Personnel Management to make payments for any refund due to the USPS from the CSRDF, on the condition that such payments would not result in the reduction of federal annuities paid to retirees and survivors. H

OTHER PROVISIONS NARFE SUPPORTS: ✔Legislation permitting drugs made in the United States or other industrialized countries, and exported to third-party industrialized countries, to be reimported, or imported, to the United States, and preventing pharmaceutical manufacturers from limiting the sale of drugs to other countries for the purpose of discouraging reimportation. H ✔Legislation that would provide comprehensive patient protections to consumers enrolled in health plans regulated by federal and state law, and would also allow such individuals to sue their plans for wrongful denials of care. H ✔The reauthorization of, and adequate annual appropriations for, the Older Americans Act to ensure the continuation and enhancement of community services for senior citizens of all income levels. H ✔Providing residents of the District of Columbia voting representation in Congress. H ✔Campaign finance reform legislation that would increase the effect of small-dollar individual contributions on political campaigns and grassroots-based political action committees relative to high-dollar individual contributions. H NARFE MAGAZINE www.NARFE.org

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2022 NARFE Membership Survey Protecting Earned Benefits, Fighting for Accurate COLA Among Priorities

BY JENN RAFAEL Director, Communications and Marketing

N

ARFE asked, and you answered. In January 2022, a survey was mailed to all NARFE members asking for feedback on NARFE

programs, resources and priorities.

“Federal employees play an important role in keeping the country running effectively, and federal annuitants deserve to feel secure in their retirement,” former NARFE National President Ken Thomas wrote in a letter introducing the survey. “As a member of the federal community, NARFE needs your help in gaining a better understanding of what is important to YOU.” NARFE may use survey results to better tailor Federal Benefits Institute resources or gauge interest in future participation in advocacy initiatives.

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Some 6,100 completed surveys were returned by mail to NARFE, with another 137 responses recorded online.

The survey was anonymous. Not all respondents answered every question; total responses for individual questions may not match the number of total respondents. Views of respondents do not necessarily represent those of the wider membership.

NARFE is grateful to the more than 6,000 members who took the time to answer the survey. Here’s a look at what members told NARFE about what matters to them:

QUESTION 1: Please indicate whether you are a: Retired federal employee 71.99% (4,429) Retired postal employee 13.77% (847) Current/Surviving/Former spouse of a federal/postal employee 11.93% (734) Current federal employee 1.38% (85) Former federal or postal employee (not retired) 0.55% (34) Current postal employee 0.21% (13) TOTAL 6,142

Most NARFE members who responded to the survey are retired public servants.

QUESTION 2: NARFE has influenced and supports many bills affecting the federal community that are active on Capitol Hill. Please rank the issues in order of importance to you.

More than 6,000 members provided feedback on NARFE’s priorities: • Nearly half of respondents, 2,536, said their No. 1 priority for NARFE was “Protecting your earned federal benefits—pensions, health insurance—from cuts.”

“NARFE’s advocacy efforts over the past several years have focused on defeating proposals that threatened to cut billions from earned federal benefits, and we’ll continue to do so if and when these wrongheaded proposals return,” said John Hatton, NARFE’s staff vice president for policy and programs.

• Another 1,542 respondents said their top priority was “Accurate cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) calculations.”

“For years, NARFE has urged Congress to address the inequity of COLAs that don’t keep up with rising health care costs by passing legislation requiring the BLS to calculate COLAs based on the consumer price index for the elderly (CPI-E) instead

of the consumer price index for workers (CPI-W),” former NARFE National President Ken Thomas said in October 2022. He added: “We also continue to push for full COLAs for FERS retirees, who receive 1% less than the increase in consumer prices when inflation is high.”

• A quarter of respondents, 1,242, said their top priority for NARFE was to work to “Repeal or reform of the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP).”

“Both the WEP and the GPO have unfairly penalized federal retirees for decades,” Hatton said. “In some cases, GPO completely eliminates Social Security survivor benefits for widows.”

• Nearly 10%, 488, wanted NARFE to focus on “Protecting all employee and retiree benefits during the debate on legislation to reform the Postal Service.” The Postal Service Reform Act of 2022, which was signed into law April 7, 2022, ended the NARFE MAGAZINE www.NARFE.org

37

pay rates will still lag private-sector rates, this raise ensures they will not fall further behind.”

overly burdensome mandate to prefund future postal retiree health benefits, a requirement NARFE long worked to repeal.

And, thanks in part to NARFE’s advocacy, “this law preserves choice for current postal retirees regarding Medicare Part B enrollment and protects all postal and federal employees and retirees from unintended premium increases resulting from the creation of the Postal Service Health Benefits program,” Thomas said in April 2022.

• A small number of respondents, 119, said their No. 1 issue was “Market-based pay raises for federal employees.” The 4.6% average federal pay increase for 2023 tracks with increases in private-sector and military pay.

“Keeping up with private-sector pay growth is essential to maintaining the federal government’s ability to recruit and retain a highly qualified and effective workforce,” Thomas said of the increase. “While federal

REGARDLESS OF THEIR RANK ON THE SURVEY, THESE ISSUES ALL ARE PART OF NARFE’S ADVOCACY POSITIONS FOR 2023-2024, FOUND ON PAGE 32 OF THIS ISSUE. BUT NARFE WILL KEEP THE RESULTS IN MIND AS WE DEVELOP OUR TOP PRIORITIES FOR THE NEW CONGRESS.

QUESTION 3: In your opinion, is NARFE doing enough to address your concerns on Capitol Hill?

Yes 90.11% (4,740) No 9.89% (520) TOTAL 6,142

More than 90% of those who answered Question 3 said NARFE is adequately addressing federal employees’ and retirees’ concerns in Washington.

NARFE has extensive experience doing just that: Since NARFE’s founding in 1921, the association’s mission has been to defend and advance the earned pay and benefits of America’s civil servants. Supported by thousands of grassroots activists, NARFE is a leading force in Washington, working tirelessly on behalf of the federal community.

More than 1,000 also shared additional comments, urging action on specific issues

38

NARFE MAGAZINE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023

or thanking NARFE for representing their interests. One member shared they “really appreciate your continued involvement to protect our benefits!” Another wrote, “We need to deal with the high cost of medications. Even with insurance coverage, cost is ridiculous. Keep up the good work!” And one member shared that “the GPO and WEP were the most unfair cut in my retirement income. Hope they will be REPEALED for future retirees.”

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

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 NARFE?

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

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

• Get NARFE Magazine with news and insights for the federal community.

• Save time, hassle and money with NARFE Perks.

• The opportunity to get involved at the local level by joining a chapter in your area.

1Q6

NARFE MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION YES. I want to join NARFE for the low annual dues of $48.

q

q Mr. q Mrs. q Miss q Ms.

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

______________________________________________

Full Name

______________________________________________

Street Address

______________________________________________ ______________________________________________

City

State

ZIP

______________________________________________

Phone

______________________________________________

Email

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

q Active Federal Employee Spouse

q Annuitant Spouse

q VISA

q Discover

q AMEX

___________________________________________ Card No. Expiration Date _____ /________ mm

Apt./Unit

q Annuitant

PAYMENT OPTIONS

yyyy

___________________________________________ Name on Card ___________________________________________ Signature ___________________________________________ Date

TOTAL DUES $48 Annual Dues X ___________ = ___________ Per Person # Enrolling Total Dues Dues payments are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes.

q Survivor Annuitant

q Please enroll my spouse _________________________________________

Spouse’s Full Name

LOOKING TO MEET OTHERS in the federal community and participate in NARFE at a local level? Call 800-456-8410 to learn about a NARFE chapter in your area.

_________________________________________

Would you like to receive a FREE one-year chapter membership? Choose one: q Chapter closest to home OR q Chapter #____________

THREE EASY WAYS TO JOIN

MAY WE THANK SOMEONE? Did someone introduce you to NARFE? Please provide their Name and Member ID.

Spouse’s Email

1. Complete this application and mail with your payment to NARFE Member Services / 606 N Washington St / Alexandria, VA 22314-1914.

2. Join online at www.NARFE.org.

3. Call 800-456-8410, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET.

___________________________________________ Recruiter’s Name ___________________________________________ Recruiter’s Membership ID 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.

(01/21)

QUESTION 4: Which of these member benefits would you like to learn more about?

Nearly 4,000 members provided feedback on what programs and resources interest them: • Six in 10, 2,415, said they are interested in learning more about NARFE’s federal employee/ retiree benefits webinars and information.

Webinars are exclusively available to NARFE members. The schedule of upcoming webinars is available online at www.narfe.org/webinars, and archived webinars can be accessed on demand through a link on that page.

• Half of respondents, 2,032, said they wanted more details on FEHB and other information related to federal health benefits. Thousands of members tuned in to NARFE’s Open Season webinars and tens of thousands more accessed NARFE’s Federal Benefits Open Season Resources webpage to help them make coverage decisions for 2023.

• More than 40%, 1,681, said they most want to learn more about the NARFE Perks discount program; the list of affinity partners and details for each perk can be found at the back of every issue of NARFE Magazine and online at www. narfe.org/perks.

• More than a third, 1,420, expressed the most interest in learning more about NARFE member resources. One of the best places to learn about all NARFE has to offer is on FEDHub, NARFE’s online community, where members can make connections and ask and answer questions.

• Some 30% of respondents, 1,217, said they are most interested in getting financial planning information related to federal retirement savings and taxes. NARFE members have access to a special resource through our partnership with Keen & Pocock, which offers services customized for federal employees and retirees in several key areas, including retirement planning, investment analysis and financial planning.

NARFE members receive a free 30-minute session to discuss financial goals and get $250 off the regular fee for Keen & Pocock’s financial planning program. Visit www. narfe.org/keen-pocock to get started.

• More than 15%, 632, said they were interested in learning more about NARFE advocacy. Members can take action by contacting their lawmakers, stay abreast of important updates about NARFE’s advocacy activity and ways to make your voice heard in Washington, and learn about NARFE-PAC at www.narfe.org/advocacy.

• Finally, about 8% of respondents, 323, wanted to hear more about the FEDHub online member community. NARFE designed FEDHub to support members on their federal journey, leveraging the knowledge and value of our entire community. To get started today, visit fedhub. narfe.org/quick-start-guide.

QUESTION 5: Please rank these NARFE resources and topics in order of importance to you.

Being a NARFE member has many advantages, and we wanted to hear what one resource or topic was most important to each respondent. Here’s what they told us: • More than half of respondents, 2,554, said the NARFE-provided resource they were most interested in was “Access to the latest news and information to keep me current on issues affecting me as a federal employee/

40

NARFE MAGAZINE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023

retiree.” Members should update their records to include an email address so they can receive NARFE NewsLine by email each week.

NARFE’s Daily News Clips provides a roundup of news important to feds every weekday, as well; sign up at www.narfe.org/clips.

• Nearly a quarter, 866, were most motivated by “Strengthening NARFE’s advocacy efforts in Washington through my membership.” One of the

best ways you can add to NARFE’s impact is by sharing your story with your lawmakers. Learn how at www.narfe.org/grassroots.

• More than 15% of respondents, 637, said the NARFE resource that interested them the most was “In-depth analysis and information about Open Season and other changes to the FEHB program to help me make good decisions about my federal health benefits and coverage.”

Every year, NARFE produces informative Open Season webinars and gathers resources online and in NARFE Magazine to help members make the best possible coverage decisions. Find benefits webinars on demand at www.narfe.org/ webinar-archive/.

• More than 10%, 433, chose “Expert advice about taxes, the Thrift Savings Plan, etc. to

help me manage my federal benefits as part of an effective financial plan” as the NARFE resource that interested them the most.

Turn to NARFE’s Federal Benefits Institute webinars for information you can use to firm up your financial foundation. Find them at www.narfe.org/webinar-archive/.

The remaining respondents expressed the most interest in learning more about “Saving money on travel, health services, insurance through NARFE Perks” and “Connecting with other federal employees and/or retirees,” such as on FEDHub. Visit www.narfe.org/perks or turn to Page 46 for details on this useful member benefit. And if you haven’t checked out FEDHub yet, what are you waiting for? Visit fedhub.narfe.org/quick-start-guide to get started.

QUESTION 6: What other ways do you feel that NARFE could serve YOU better?

Finally, NARFE provided respondents the opportunity to chime in on what matters to them most, so the association can improve and enhance services for you, our members. Many told us they want more resources devoted to a specific advocacy or benefits issue. Others just wanted to let us know we’re doing a good job. Here’s a sample of some of the hundreds of responses to the last question: • “I am quite pleased with the articles in the magazine and NARFE-PAC activities on behalf of federal retirees.”

• “All my years as a federal employee, I felt NARFE has always worked to ensure retirees and current employees receive all the benefits they have earned. Please keep up the good work you have always done for us!!”

• “You are doing an excellent job! Your service and help to us is wonderful. Thank you!”

• “An individual like me has no power with our Congressman unless I give them a million dollars for their campaign. I have contacted both Colorado Senators and not one of them will answer my questions about the Medicare Part B penalty. I think NARFE is very important because you can get their attention.”

• “Fight harder to change the basis on which COLAs are calculated to take seniors better into account.”

• “Continue the fight for the protection of our earned benefits as promised to us when we began our careers with the federal government.”

• “Just be aware we all need the help you provide.”

• “Doing the best job you can! Thank you for your service!”

• “Watch our politicians, keep them honest. Keep us informed. Fight for our earned benefits.”

NARFE APPRECIATES THE VALUABLE FEEDBACK THIS SURVEY WILL PROVIDE. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO TOOK PART, AND THANKS TO ALL MEMBERS FOR BEING A PART OF NARFE. NARFE MAGAZINE www.NARFE.org

41

Managing Money

What Safeguards Are in Place to Protect Your Assets?

A

ccording to Wikipedia, “Keep it simple, stupid” is a design principal noted by the Navy in 1960 based on the premise that most systems work best if they are

kept simple rather than made overly complicated. Albert Einstein had a similar philosophy, and it’s one that can be applied to everyday life, not just engineering or manufacturing. In fact, I have long encouraged clients to follow the KISS mantra when structuring their investment assets. Keeping the KISS philosophy in mind when placing your savings in banks or investments can pay dividends, especially as we age and what once seemed simple suddenly becomes unwieldy.

I often work with clients who have created a complex asset structure with savings spread across multiple banks, brokerage firms and other financial instruments. When I ask why they have so many accounts, the most common response is, “I don’t want to lose all my money if a bank, mutual fund company or brokerage firm goes bankrupt.”

It’s important to understand that there are checks and balances in place to protect savers and investors from losing their money in the event of a bankruptcy or fraud.

Banks are the basic financial institution used by people of all ages to safeguard their money.

Many depositors know that the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) offers up to $250,000 of FDIC insurance at a single bank, but many folks don’t realize with some planning, it’s possible to get far more coverage.

Obtaining more than $250,000 of FDCI coverage in a 42

single bank is possible, because FDIC provides separate insurance for deposits held in different “ownership categories.” For example, ownership categories include single accounts, joint accounts, revocable trust

THERE ARE CHECKS AND BALANCES IN PLACE TO PROTECT SAVERS AND INVESTORS FROM LOSING THEIR MONEY IN THE EVENT OF A BANKRUPTCY OR FRAUD. accounts, and irrevocable trust accounts to name a few.

This means that with proper planning, you can obtain FDIC insurance on your deposits in a single bank for far more than $250,000. For example, in a

NARFE MAGAZINE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023

single bank a married couple could have one account in spouse one’s name, a second account spouse two’s name, and a third account owned jointly by spouse one and spouse two. In this case, spouse one’s account is insured up to $250,000; spouse two’s account is insured up to $250,000; and because the joint account is a different ownership category, it’s insured for up to $500,000 (each owner in the joint account is insured for $250,000).

With this ownership setup, the total FDIC insurance is up to $1,000,000 compared to only $500,000 of FDIC insurance if the couple left the entire $1,000,000 in one joint account.

Another way to extend FDIC coverage beyond $250,000 in a single bank is to title the account in a trust or use a Payable on Death (POD) designation, the latter of which falls into FDIC’s revocable living trust ownership category. A POD provides the account owner the ability to name a beneficiary on a nonretirement account so that the account will pass to the named beneficiary directly at death without going through probate.

In the case of trust accounts and accounts with a POD, FDIC coverage is based on the named beneficiaries of each owner.

For example, a jointly owned account with two owners and a POD designation pointing to two beneficiaries will be insured for up to $1,000,000.

Going back to the previous example, if the couple adds a

BENEFITS RESOURCES NARFE OFFERS MEMBERS a wide range of information on federal benefits. Visit www.narfe.org/federal-benefits-institute.

second jointly owned account, but this one having a POD designation naming two beneficiaries, the couple can extend the possible FDIC insurance to $2,000,000. Recall the FDIC insurance limits apply separately to the FDIC ownership categories and the joint account with the POD falls into the revocable trust category, not the joint ownership category.

The rules for trust accounts are changing beginning April 1, 2024, so be sure to check out FDIC’s website, www.fdic.gov, for more information.

FDIC insurance rules are complex, and the FDIC’s website provides information on how they work.

FDIC’s website also features the Electronic Deposit Insurance Estimator (EDIE), which lets consumers and bankers know, on a per-bank basis, how the

insurance rules and limits apply to a depositor’s specific group of deposit accounts.

In subsequent columns, we will discuss how you what protections are in place for investors using mutual funds, brokerage firms and insurance products.

MARK A. KEEN, CFP®, PARTNER, KEEN & POCOCK. SECURITIES OFFERED THROUGH THE STRATEGIC FINANCIAL ALLIANCE INC. (SFA), MEMBER FINRA/SIPC. ADVISORY SERVICES OFFERED THROUGH STRATEGIC BLUEPRINT LLC AND SFA. MARK KEEN IS A REGISTERED PRINCIPAL OF SFA AND AN INVESTMENT ADVISER REPRESENTATIVE OF SFA AND STRATEGIC BLUEPRINT LLC. SFA AND STRATEGIC BLUEPRINT ARE AFFILIATED THROUGH COMMON OWNERSHIP BUT OTHERWISE UNAFFILIATED WITH KEEN & POCOCK. NEITHER STRATEGIC BLUEPRINT NOR SFA PROVIDE TAX OR LEGAL ADVICE.

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2/12/20 9:51 AM

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NARFE News

NARFE PHOTO CONTEST DEADLINE IS FEBRUARY 10

Local Action, National Impact: Get Involved in Federations and Chapters

W

elcome to 2023! New year, new you—and new ways to get the most out of your NARFE membership. Start the year off right by getting more involved in local

activities of NARFE Federations and Chapters, joining grassroots efforts to spread our advocacy priorities far and wide, and exploring volunteer opportunities through leadership roles. Want to learn more? Read on to find out!

FEDERATIONS AND CHAPTERS

NARFE has 54 federations representing all U.S. states, U.S. territories such as Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands, and international members in Panama and the Philippines.

Federations are composed of members of chapters and National-only NARFE members who reside within states and jurisdictions.

The best place for NARFE members to get the latest and greatest news on their federation is through FEDHub (fedhub. narfe.org), our online member community. FEDHub launched in November 2021 and continues to grow in popularity, becoming the go-to resource not only for important insights and answers to all your federal benefits questions, but also to connect with NARFE members in your area, engage with your federation 44

and generate interest in the activities of local chapters.

To find your federation community, just go to fedhub. narfe.org, log in with the same username and password you use for the NARFE website, click on “Communities” in the menu bar, and go to “My Communities.” You have automatically been assigned to your federation’s community, so it will show up in your list of communities. Any FEDHub questions can be directed to communitymanager@narfe.org.

Nearly 800 chapters across the nation (and overseas) help NARFE members connect and get involved in community activities.

You can learn more about NARFE chapter activities in the “Federation/Chapter Spotlight” area on our website (www.narfe. org/federations-chapters).

If you have a recent chapter or federation activity you’d like to have featured on our

NARFE MAGAZINE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023

Submit entries to the 2023 NARFE Photo Contest through February 10. Capture the image that conveys your interpretation of “Colors of America.”

For more information, visit www.narfe.org/photocontest.

website, please visit www. narfe.org/spotlight to submit your information, or contact communications@narfe.org.

Every NARFE member can join a NARFE chapter.

These local organizations within NARFE offer a host of benefits and opportunities for their members, including local advocacy activities, informative meetings and connections with other Feds in your community.

If you aren’t currently a chapter member and are interested in learning more, use the “Find a Chapter” tool on our website (www.narfe.org/chapters) to search by city and state, or reach out to our membership team at membership@narfe.org or by phone at 1-800-456-8410 (select option 1).

GRASSROOTS ADVOCACY

As a NARFE member, local grassroots activity is one of the most effective ways that you can support and defend both the earned pay and benefits of America’s current and retired civil servants and protect the viability, stability and standards of service of the federal government.

NARFE’s grassroots advocacy activities are a fundamental part of its day-to-day strategy to influence lawmakers and

policymaking decisions. Therefore, NARFE turns to members to advance our legislative priorities with their lawmakers through meetings, emails, phone calls, community events and other activities. But to perform these tasks, a member volunteers his or her time, must learn how the issue affects them or their loved ones, and needs to be willing to commit to the cause.

Be a voice for NARFE and your earned benefits by joining our network of volunteer advocates. If you have advocacy experience, consider serving as an advocacy leader like a Congressional District Leader (CDL) or Senatorial Leader (SL), or simply engaging in grassroots advocacy activities. View NARFE’s grassroots advocacy resources on our website at www.narfe.org/grassroots to educate yourself about NARFE’s legislative priorities and how you can make a

difference, or reach out to advocacy@ narfe.org for more information.

NARFE’s Legislative Action Center is an easy way to send letters to your members of Congress, search for your legislators, report your congressional meetings, and much more. You can view key pieces of legislation, find out how local officials voted, and write personalized letters and emails on issues that matter to the federal community. Visit www.narfe.org/ action to get started!

LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES We’re looking for a few good leaders!

NARFE federations and chapters are run by volunteer officers who, after selflessly serving NARFE for many years, look to other members to step into these leadership roles. Volunteer roles allow NARFE members to hone their special skills in event

planning, financial management, legislative activity, communications, public speaking, and website and technology management, to name a few. Involvement in your local federation and chapter is the first step to pursuing a National Officer role with NARFE as well. The sky is the limit!

Federations and chapters are encouraged to use FEDHub to promote open roles within their leadership and solicit volunteers.

NARFE members interested in pursuing local volunteer leadership roles can reach out to federation and chapter officers directly (using the FEDHub or the “Find a Chapter” tool), or contact NARFE Federation & Chapter Services at fedchpsrvcs@narfe.org.

—BY MARISSA ESGUERRA, CAE, MANAGER, MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

NARFE Magazine Statement of Ownership, Management and Circulation 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Publication Title: NARFE Publication Number: 4632-60 Filing Date: November 3, 2022 Issue Frequency: Monthly Number of Issues Published Annually: 10 Annual Subscription Price: $48 Address of Known Office of Publication: 606 N. Washington Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-1914 8. General Business Office of the Publisher: 606 N. Washington Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-1914 9. Full Names and Complete Mailing Addresses of Publisher, Editor, and Managing Editor: Publisher: National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, 606 N. Washington Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-1914 Editor: Jennifer Rafael, Director of Communications and Marketing, 606 N. Washington Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-1914 Managing Editor: Jennifer Rafael, Director of Communications and Marketing, 606 N. Washington Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-1914 10. Owner: National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, 606 N. Washington Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-1914 11. Known Bondholders, Mortgagees, and Other Security Holders Owning or Holding 1 Percent or More of Total Amount of Bonds, Mortgages or Other Securities: None 12. Tax Status: Has Not Changed During Preceding 12 Months

13. Publication Title: NARFE 14. Issue Date for Circulation Data Below: November 2022 15. Extent and Nature of Circulation:

Average No. Copies

Each Issue During

Preceding 12 Months A. Total Number of Copies (Net Press Run) 148,706 B. Paid Circulation 1. Mailed Outside-County Paid Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541 144,792 2. Mailed In-County Paid Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541 N/A 3. Paid Distribution Outside the Mails including Sales Through Dealers and Carriers, Street Vendors, Counter Sales, and Other Paid Distribution Outside USPS 191 4. Paid Distribution by Other Classes of Mail Through the USPS 300 C. Total Paid Distribution 145,283 D. Free or Nominal Rate Distribution 1. Free or Nominal Rate Outside-County Copies included on PS Form 35410 684 2. Free or Nominal Rate In-County Copies included on PS Form 3541 N/A 3. Free or Nominal Rate Copies Mailed at Other Classes Through the USPS 2,402 4. Free or Nominal Rate Distribution Outside the Mail N/A E. Total Free or Nominal Rate Distribution 3,086 F. Total Distribution 148,369 G. Copies Not Distributed 1,525 H. TOTAL 149,894 I. Percent Paid and/or Requested Circulation 97.92% 16. Publication of Statement of Ownership: January/February 2023 17. I certify that all information furnished on this form is true and complete.

Jennifer Rafael, Director of Communications and Marketing /November 3, 2022

No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date 144,407 139,959 N/A 197 300 140,456 1,050 N/A 1,503 N/A 2,553 143,009 1,350 144,359 98.21%

NARFE MAGAZINE www.NARFE.org

45

USE YOUR NARFE PERKS AND YOUR MEMBERSHIP WILL MORE THAN PAY FOR ITSELF!

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Answer a few simple questions online or over the phone with our licensed insurance experts to compare multiple options that meet your specific needs. To review and choose what’s best for you, go to the link above or call 833-378-8224.

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TRAVEL, TRANSPORT & ENTERTAINMENT...................................................................................

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With over 160 tours to all 7 continents and travel styles varying from small group to river cruising, Collette offers something for everyone. As a NARFE member, you receive an additional $50-$100 off all tours including sales and offers! Just use your member benefit code NARFESAVE or let our reservation agent know you are a NARFE Member when booking.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car® | Book Now! | https://partners.rentalcar.com/narfe

When you’re ready to go, Enterprise Rent-A-Car makes it easy. We offer everyday low rates on a great selection of cars, trucks and vans and customers are picked up at no extra cost*. See website for exclusions.

Hotel Engine | https://members.hotelengine.com/join/narfe175

Hotel Engine, a private booking platform, connects organizations and their members to deeply discounted hotel rates.

Member Deals | https://memberdeals.com/narfe/?login=1

MemberDeals is your one stop for great discounts on nationwide travel and entertainment! Find exclusive discounts, special offers, preferred seating, and tickets to top attractions, theme parks, shows, sporting events, hotels, and much more. Visit MemberDeals and find savings such as up to 40% on top theme parks nationwide and preferred access tickets to your favorite concerts, sports & more!

National Car Rental® | 800-CAR-RENT | www.nationalcarrental.com

NARFE members receive great rates with National Car Rental! At National, we pride ourselves on always providing you with unsurpassed convenience and choice. https://partners.rentalcar.com/narfe

WELLNESS....................................................................................................................................................

Brookdale Senior Living Communities | 877-713-2762 | www.brookdale.com/narfe

As the largest operator of senior living communities in the US, Brookdale has over 1,000 locations all across the country. Members are eligible for 7.5% discount at Brookdale Independent Living, Assisted Living and Memory Care communities and 10% discounts on Brookdale Private Duty Home Care.

Discounts are for new move-ins/customers only.

Life Line Screening | 800-324-9906 | www.lifelinescreening.com/NARFE R

Life Line Screening, America’s leading provider of community-based preventive health screenings, will conduct health screenings using state-of-the-art ultrasound technology in your neighborhood.

Operator code BKHN075.

ADDITIONAL PERKS................................................................................................................................

SEE HOW MUCH YOU CAN SAVE AT

www.NARFE.ORG/memberperks

The Way We Worked

Ensuring Skiers’ Safety A snow ranger with the U.S. Forest Service checks lift facilities in 1970 with a ski patrolman at the former Alpine Meadows ski resort near Lake Tahoe, CA. The Forest Service, part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, administers all national forest land, including slopes used for skiing and snowboarding. In partnership with private companies, the Forest Service ensures safe and enjoyable downhill recreation. Today, there are 122 ski areas on national forest land, providing about 60 percent of the total capacity for downhill skiing in the United States.

PHOTO from the Records of the Forest Service, National Archives, courtesy of the National Archives History Office, in collaboration with the Society for History in the Federal Government (SHFG), bringing together government professionals, academics, consultants, students and citizens interested in understanding federal history work and the historical development of the federal government. To join, visit www.shfg.org.

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NARFE MAGAZINE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023

DID YOU KNOW? Congress passed the Forest Reserve Act of 1891, authorizing the president to designate public lands in the West into what were then called “forest reserves.”

Learn more at www.fs.usda.gov/ learn/our-history

5 Great Reasons

Why Oticon MoreTM could be the answer to your hearing problems.

1 Oticon More with Brain HearingTM technology

A revolutionary hearing aid that gives the brain more of the relevant information it needs to make better sense of sound. So you can get better speech understanding with less effort and the ability to remember more.

2

3

Connectivity made easy

Never change a battery again

Simple, wireless connectivity to your favorite devices via Bluetooth®. Make hands-free calls, stream music, connect to smart devices and more!

A trouble-free rechargeable solution allows you to recharge at night for a full day of hearing. FREE charger included!1

4

5

The hearing aid with built-in intelligence

Take advantage of your $2500 benefit

Works more like how the brain works because it learned through experience. Clinical studies prove Oticon More delivers 30% more sound to the brain and increases speech understanding.2

Exclusive pricing for NARFE members. Your insurance may cover all or part of the cost. Call for more information.3

This special offer for federal employees and retirees is available only at Your Hearing Network locations. To find your location call

877-696-5335

Lithium-ion battery performance varies depending on hearing loss, lifestyle and streaming behavior. 2Compared to Oticon Opn STM, Santurette, et al. 2020. Oticon More clinical evidence. Oticon Whitepaper. 3Your out-of-pocket costs may vary depending on plan benefits, eligibility, deductible, co-insurance, and model of device chosen.

This is not a guarantee of coverage or payment. Benefit is not available through all insurance plans. Please call us to verify your coverage.

1

Members, Pay $0 out-of-pocket!

Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan members may be eligible for two fully covered hearing aids with zero out-of-pocket cost on many models when applying your hearing aid benefit*. HearUSA offers all these features and follows all safety protocols for our customers and employees. Call 1-855-252-0025 to discover more or visit www.blue365deals.com/fep.

EXPERIENCE - HearUSA has been changing lives through better hearing since 1987 and a proud NARFE Circle Sponsor since 2016.

CHOICE - All major hearing aid brands and styles available, including completely-in-the-canal, the smallest custom hearing aids on the market.

Three-year manufacturer’s warranty covers repairs Three-year loss and damage coverage provides peace of mind One-year of FREE batteries eliminates an extra expense One year of FREE in-office service will get you off to a great start!

TECHNOLOGY - Smart technology helps you hear more clearly and eliminates annoying feedback “whistling”.

RECHARGABLE - Most models have rechargeable options; no need to ever replace batteries! Plus, many models connect with your cell phone!

TELEHEALTH - Take advantage of HearUSA Telehealth Services where you obtain quality care at home.

Telehealth appointments are available.

Book a Complimentary Hearing Evaluation Today.

855-252-0025 HearUSA.com

*The Service Benefit Plan will pay a hearing aid benefit for Standard and Basic Option up to $2,500 total every 5 calendar years for adults age 22 and over, and up to $2,500 total per calendar year for members up to age 22.

FEP Blue Focus does not have a hearing aid benefit.

Do not rely on this communication piece alone for complete benefit information. All benefits are subject to the definitions, limitations, and exclusions in the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan brochure. Blue365® offers access to savings on health and wellness products and services that members may purchase from independent vendors, which are not covered benefits under the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Federal Employee Program, Blue Cross Blue Shield FEP Dental and/or Blue Cross Blue Shield FEP Vision. These products and services will be offered to you through the entire benefit year.

During the year, the independent vendors may offer additional discounts on these products and services. To find out what is covered under your policy, contact the customer service number on your member ID card. Any disputes regarding your health insurance products and services may be subject to your plan’s grievance process. BCBSA may receive payments from vendors providing products and services on or accessible through the Site.

Neither BCBSA nor any Blue Company recommends, endorses, warrants, or guarantees any specific vendor, product or service available under or through the Blue365 Program or Site.