May 2023 NARFE Magazine

A NARFE PUBLICATION FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYEES AND RETIREES

May 2023 VOLUME 99 ★ NUMBER 4

P. 26

Feds on Film P. 34 NARFE’s Guide to Buying Hearing Aids

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Contents MAY 2023

COVER STORY PAGE 26

FEATURE PAGE 34

FEDS ON FILM In Honor of Public Service Recognition Week, NARFE shines a spotlight on Hollywood’s portrayal of civil servants.

NARFE’S GUIDE TO BUYING HEARING AIDS What to look for, where to buy them and what features you should consider. Plus: How do you know if hearing aids are right for you?

Washington Watch

Columns

8 Join NARFE in Honoring

4 From the President

A NARFE PUBLICATION FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYEES AND RETIREES

May 2023 VOLUME 99 ★ NUMBER 4

Civil Servants During Public Service Recognition Week

24 Benefits Brief

P. 26

9 Legislation to Protect Merit

44 Managing Money

Feds on Film

10 Have You Registered to

Departments

System Reintroduced

Participate in NARFE’s Virtual LEGcon23?

11 Legislation Introduced to Expand Paid Leave

6 NARFE Online

P. 34 NARFE’s Guide to Buying Hearing Aids

Illustration by TGD

21 Countdown to COLA 46 NARFE News

11 Fair COLA for Seniors Act

50 NARFE Perks

14 Bill Tracker

P. 34

Feds on Film

to THE COVER 20 Questions & Answers NARFE’sONGuide

11 Equal COLA Act Reintroduced Reintroduced

P. 26

52 The Way We Worked

Buying Hearing Aids 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

MAY 2023 VOLUME 99 ★ NUMBER 4

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: Francine Garner 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.

ON DIGITAL AUDIO: Issues of NARFE Magazine are also available in audio format through the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS). For availability, call 202-727-2142 or your local NLS service provider.

The Association, since July 1970, has been classified by the IRS as a tax-exempt labor organization [not a union]; however, dues and gifts or contributions to the Association are not deductible as charitable contributions for income tax purposes.

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:

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

TO REACH A FEDERAL BENEFITS SPECIALIST:

(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

EMAIL fedbenefits@narfe.org

REGION IX Steven Roy

NARFE HEADQUARTERS

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

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

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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NARFE MAGAZINE MAY 2023

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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.

NARFE Partners With Other Groups When Possible to Support Feds

Q

uite frequently, I hear this question from NARFE members: “Why doesn’t NARFE combine efforts with other groups with

similar goals and objectives?”

My response to this question never varies: “We do coordinate efforts and have for a number of years.”

NARFE Advocacy Department staff members are regular participants in a series of coalitions. NARFE is a major force in uniting others and offering our cooperation in working for the common good. The department is engaged in regular coalition activities through the Federal-Postal Coalition, a coalition of more than 30 national organizations (unions, management associations, professional associations, retiree/ advocacy groups) that collectively represent 5 million federal and postal workers and retirees. Most recently, these groups joined forces to target the “evil twins”— Government Pension Offset (GPO) and the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP)—that delete or diminish the Social Security benefits of so many federal, state and local government retirees. John Hatton, NARFE’s SVP for Policy and Programs, served as chair of the Federal-Postal Coalition during the 117th Congress.

NARFE remains engaged in regular coalition meetings and coordinated advocacy with a group of national organizations, activists and leading congressional offices focused on repealing WEP and GPO. NARFE has also organized coalition letters in support of legislation to prohibit a return of Schedule F, a broad new exception to merit-based civil service rules, gaining support last October from nearly 70 national organizations (including federal workforce groups and pro-democracy groups) and prominent public policy professors. When alliances and coalitions may help advance goals, NARFE continues to look for opportunities to join forces with other organizations where possible.

4

NARFE MAGAZINE MAY 2023

Both of your national officers and many of the NARFE senior staff also are involved with various agencies and groups that serve active and retired federal employees. One such group is the Leadership Council of Aging Organizations (LCAO), a coalition of 66 prominent national aging advocacy organizations that represent millions of older Americans, working together to preserve and strengthen the well-being of America’s older population. LCAO meets monthly and unites to advocate on aging issues, such as support for Social Security, Medicare and other federal retirement and health benefit programs (including federal employee retirement and health benefits). NARFE has led LCAO committee activities. Currently, NARFE’s Director of Legislative and Political Affairs, Ross Apter, serves as a co-chair of LCAO’s Income Security Committee, which meets monthly and focuses on income security issues such as Social Security and pensions.

NARFE National Secretary/Treasurer Kathryn Hensley is the NARFE representative on the advisory council of the Thrift Savings Plan.

I also am on the board of the Federal Employee Education & Assistance Fund (FEEA), and thanks to your generous donations to Alzheimer’s research I represent NARFE with the Zenith Society of the Alzheimer’s Association.

The Partnership for Public Service has announced that Public Service Recognition Week will be celebrated from May 7-13 in Washington, DC, as well as in communities across the nation. We are proud of the work active federal employees do today for our nation.

And we also are proud of the work we or our loved ones did as federal employees.

At NARFE, we celebrate the service of federal employees, every day.

WILLIAM SHACKELFORD NARFE NATIONAL PRESIDENT natpres@narfe.org

CONTROL WHAT YOU CAN. INSURE WHAT YOU CAN’T. You can control many things in your life — diet, exercise, even on-demand TV — but life has its own plans.

A serious accident or illness can happen at anytime.

The high cost of a hospital stay, and the expense of home recovery afterward can take a serious toll on your personal and retirement savings.

NARFE Hospital Indemnity and Short Term Recovery Insurance Plan This plan can help you manage how life’s surprises affect what you’ve worked so hard for. It pays cash benefits to you, or anyone you choose, to use the money as you see fit. Use the cash benefits to stay more in control of your health care choices, maintain your self reliance, and receive the level of care you’ve earned and deserve.

Benefits include: Guaranteed Acceptance to NARFE Members and Spouses Age 65–99.*

• In-Hospital cash benefits paid to you starting the first day you’re hospitalized for a covered injury or illness.

• At-Home cash benefits paid to you after your physician prescribes home recovery treatments.

• Cash benefits paid in addition to any other coverage you may have.

• Coverage cannot be canceled because of your health or your age.

• Economical group rates specifically negotiated by NARFE for our members.

To learn more or enroll in the NARFE Hospital Indemnity and Short Term Recovery Insurance Plan, call 1-800-233-5764 or visit us at www.narfeinsurance.com *This policy is guaranteed acceptance, but it does contain a Pre-Existing Conditions Limitation. All benefits are subject to the terms and conditions of the policy. Policies underwritten by Hartford Life and Accident Insurance Company detail exclusions, limitations, reduction of benefits and terms under which the policies may be continued in full or discontinued.

Plans may vary by state.

The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc., (NYSE: HIG) operates through its subsidiaries, including Hartford Life and Accident Insurance Company under the brand name, The Hartford®, and is headquartered at One Hartford Plaza, Hartford, CT 06155. For additional details, please read The Hartford’s legal notice at www. thehartford.com.

Hospital Indemnity Form Series includes GBD-2800, GBD-2900 or state equivalent.

Program Offered by Association Member Benefits Advisors, LLC.

In CA d/b/a Association Member Benefits & Insurance Agency CA Insurance License #0I96562 • AR Insurance License #100114462

99521 (5/23), 99834 (10/23) Copyright 2023 AMBA. All rights reserved.

NARFE Online TRACKING RETIREMENT CLAIMS FIND OUT how many retirement claims OPM Retirement Services receives and processes each month, with average processing times and total inventory, at www.narfe.org/ opm-processing.

Stay Informed About News That Matters to You

W

ant 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.

NARFE Daily News Clips is delivered to inboxes weekday mornings. To join the mailing list, visit www.narfe.org/clips.

READ NARFE MAGAZINE ONLINE Log in and read current and previous issues of NARFE Magazine on your computer, phone or tablet—or download it to peruse later. Visit www. narfe.org/magazine-issues.

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 questionand-answer sessions for webinars dating to January 2019. Find them at www.narfe. org/webinar-archive.

6

NARFE MAGAZINE MAY 2023

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.

SHARE NARFE MAGAZINE Interested in sharing NARFE Magazine with a friend to show them the value of membership?

Encourage them to request a digital download at www. narfe.org/communications/ narfe-magazine/.

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Washington Watch

Join NARFE in Honoring Civil Servants During Public Service Recognition Week

M

ost Americans don’t sit around wondering what life would be like without civil servants. It’s not because we are unappreciative of the services they provide.

As Americans, we are fortunate to live in a society that ensures our government, at all levels, provides the services we need to improve and manage our daily lives. These are services we have come to expect; therefore, we often don’t acknowledge the people who make it all happen.

Beginning in 1985, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), designated the first week of May as a time for celebrating civil servants and the invaluable contributions they make each day. Mayors, governors, agency leaders, communities and public service organizations participate in Public Service Recognition Week (PSRW) by issuing proclamations, hosting award ceremonies and special tribute events, and delivering messages about the value of public service. This year, PSRW will occur May 7-13.

Traditionally, NARFE joins with the Partnership for Public Service on related activities and engages members in a Letterto-the-Editor (LTE)campaign, allowing them to send letters

8

NARFE MAGAZINE MAY 2023

directly to their community newspapers and online media outlets. Whether it’s telling a story about their experience as a current or former civil servant, or simply honoring them, this activity has resulted in dozens of published letters throughout the country, successfully raising awareness

about PSRW and promoting the civil service as a career option.

Members can engage in NARFE’s LTE campaign again this year by visiting the Legislative Action Center. A sample letter is available for editing to reflect personal experiences as a civil servant and can be submitted directly to editors of local news media.

Throughout the year, and especially during the first full week of May, Americans should take a moment to acknowledge the people who significantly contribute to our daily lives. Learn more at www.narfe.org/psrw.

—BY MARSHA PADILLA-GOAD, DIRECTOR, GRASSROOTS PROGRAM

MAY ACTION ALERT: Visit NARFE’s Legislative Action Center at www.narfe.org to send a message to your representative urging him or her to cosponsor the Equal COLA Act, H.R. 866. This bill would correct the unfair policy that reduces Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) when consumer prices increase by more than 2%. The reductions, when compounded year after year, cost the average FERS retiree tens of thousands of dollars over the course of their retirement. To learn more about this issue, access NARFE’s issue brief in the advocacy section of the website.

MYTH VS. REALITY MYTH: Most federal employees are concentrated in the Washington, DC, area, and only a few live and work in other states.

REALITY: About 85% of federal employees live and work outside the Washington area, while only about 15% of Feds live and work near DC.

Legislation to Protect Merit System Reintroduced

L

egislation to preserve the merit-based civil service was reintroduced in the House and Senate by Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-VA, and Sen. Tim Kaine, D-VA. The Saving the Civil Service Act, H.R. 1002/S. 399, marks the latest attempt by lawmakers to prevent the return of Schedule F, a statutory loophole created by the previous administration that would have skirted the federal government’s merit-based hiring system and enabled tens, or even hundreds, of thousands of federal jobs to be converted into political appointments. NARFE stands firmly against Schedule F returning, as it would bypass the system of rules ensuring civil servants are hired and fired based on merit, not political affiliation and loyalty or lack thereof.

The Saving the Civil Service Act would block any position in the federal competitive service created after September 30, 2020, from being reclassified outside of merit system principles without the express consent of Congress. Additionally, per Connolly, the legislation would also install a cap on the number of conversions to the frozen excepted service schedule (Schedule C), with the cap not to exceed more than 1% of the

total number of employees at such agency as of the first day of such term, or five employees, whichever is greater.

The Saving the Civil Service Act also requires consent from both the employee and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) before a transfer to the excepted service occurs. Congress will also have additional oversight, with OPM required to present an annual report containing all positions that were transferred to the excepted service, including justifications.

In a statement, NARFE National President William Shackelford said, “The Saving the Civil Service Act provides a bipartisan, congressional check on misuse of executive powers by limiting the ability of any president to bypass the meritbased civil service framework through broad new exceptions to longstanding rules. The merit-based civil service system provides continuity through changing administrations, preserves institutional knowledge and expertise within the federal government, and protects the rule of law. It ensures federal employees are hired and fired based on their ability to perform the job—or not—and not based on political

connections. NARFE is grateful that Congressman Connolly and Senator Kaine are leading the way on this effort to preserve a critical institutional safeguard for democracy.”

Similar standalone legislation passed the House last Congress but was not taken up by the Senate. An amendment limiting the ability of the executive branch to bypass the framework of the merit-based civil service was also included in the House-passed National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023 in 2022. However, the amendment was not included in the final negotiated package between the House and Senate. That is why NARFE is continuing to work with lawmakers on this issue in the 118th Congress.

The House version of the legislation was introduced with two original cosponsors, Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-PA, and Abigail Spanberger, D-VA. The Senate legislation entered the upper chamber with 14 original cosponsors. NARFE will continue to grow support for blocking the return of Schedule F and educate lawmakers on the history and purpose of the merit-based civil service.

—BY ROSS APTER, DIRECTOR, LEGISLATIVE AND POLITICAL AFFAIRS 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.

Have You Registered to Participate in NARFE’s Virtual LEGcon23?

I

t’s not too late to participate in NARFE’s all-virtual legislative conference, LEGcon23, scheduled for June 20-22. Visit the conference webpage at https:// legcon.narfe.org to register today.

At LEGcon23, NARFE’s premier grassroots training event, NARFE members will learn to advocate for NARFE’s legislative priorities and be an active participant in protecting and defending their federal benefits. After virtual training over two days, the conference culminates with a virtual lobbying day, when you will talk directly to your lawmakers and/or their staff about NARFE issues. In addition to preparing you for those meetings, the trainings will help you implement bold ideas to improve your advocacy skills and become a more influential advocate by building and sustaining relationships with key decision-makers.

Before the official start of the conference, NARFE will host a Know Before You Go pre-conference session on Wednesday, June 14, from 1 to 3 p.m. ET. This pre-conference session will give an overview of the conference schedule and instructions for engaging on the Zoom webinar platform. Also, there will be an overview of the advocacy day platform, which will again be used for virtual group visits with lawmakers. Those

10

NARFE MAGAZINE MAY 2023

participating in group virtual visits with lawmakers will receive instructions on how to log into the platform and access lobbying materials, plus the lobbying schedule and background details for each lawmaker.

THE TRAININGS WILL HELP YOU IMPLEMENT BOLD IDEAS TO IMPROVE YOUR ADVOCACY SKILLS AND BECOME A MORE INFLUENTIAL ADVOCATE BY BUILDING AND SUSTAINING RELATIONSHIP WITH KEY DECISION-MAKERS. The conference officially kicks off Tuesday, June 20, at 1 p.m.

ET. During the first two days, participants will interact with congressional and policy leaders and engage in advocacy training sessions. On the last day of the conference, Thursday, June 22, participants will be grouped geographically to meet with lawmakers and staff virtually throughout the day.

NARFE’s LEGcon is a biennial conference that has served as a premier event

for member advocacy skillsbuilding training and to cohesively bring attention to the issues and concerns facing the federal community.

There are many reasons why you should register to participate in LEGcon23. But it is especially important this year because the conference is happening during a new Congress and after the 2022 mid-year elections that brought dozens of new lawmakers to Capitol Hill. Also, reapportionment has made changes in many states, adding congressional districts in some and eliminating them in others.

LEGcon is an opportunity to meet with your district and state representatives in an organized group setting to discuss the issues and bring attention to how they affect the district and state.

After the success of the virtual conference in 2021, and based on popular demand and cost savings for NARFE, its leaders and chapters/ federations, we are returning to the virtual format for 2023.

NARFE hopes you will join your colleagues June 20-22 by adding your voice to LEGcon23.

Visit https://legcon.narfe.org and register today. The registration fee is $150, which will offset the costs of the virtual lobbying platform and other expenses.

See you in June!

—BY MARSHA PADILLA-GOAD, DIRECTOR, GRASSROOTS PROGRAM

Legislation Introduced to Expand Paid Leave

T

he Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act, H.R. 856/S. 274, was reintroduced in February by Rep. Don Beyer, D-VA, and Sen. Brian Schatz, D-HI. The legislation would expand paid leave options for the federal workforce, broadening the list of conditions where federal employees are eligible for paid leave, including paid family and medical leave.

Eligible employees in the United States are entitled under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for the birth, adoption or foster care of a

child, the care of an immediate family member with a serious health condition, the inability of an employee to work because of a serious health issue or conditions caused due to an immediate family member’s active-duty service in the military.

In 2019, NARFE-supported legislation was passed granting federal employees up to 12 weeks of paid leave in connection with the birth, adoption or foster care of a child, commonly referred to as paid parental leave. This legislation created a new benefit for federal employees that matched trends from leading

Equal COLA Act Reintroduced

I

n February, Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-VA, reintroduced the Equal COLA Act, H.R. 866, which would provide Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) retirees with full costof-living adjustments (COLAs).

Currently, FERS retirees receive inadequate annual COLAs that fail to keep pace with rising inflation, effectively cutting the long-term value of their benefits unfairly and arbitrarily.

NARFE National President William Shackelford called on lawmakers to support the Equal COLA Act in a statement, emphasizing that “FERS retirees are affected by inflation in the same way as all other retirees

living on fixed incomes, and they deserve full protection to maintain their annuities’ purchasing power throughout retirement.”

Currently, FERS retirees do not receive a full COLA if consumer prices increase by more than 2%. If consumer prices increase between 2% and 3%, FERS COLAs are 2%.

If consumer prices increase more than 3%, FERS COLAs are always 1 percentage point less.

This policy, enacted in the 1980s with the establishment of FERS, fails to protect the earned value of FERS annuities.

The Equal COLA Act would provide full COLAs to FERS

private-sector companies and the vast majority of industrialized nations.

Even with the passage of paid parental leave, federal employees are still currently only eligible for unpaid leave for the remaining FMLAcovered events.

The Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act would expand eligibility for paid leave for all the remaining conditions covered by the FMLA, and would create a new recruitment and retention tool for the federal government.

—BY ROSS APTER, DIRECTOR, LEGISLATIVE AND POLITICAL AFFAIRS

retirees, creating parity with Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and Social Security COLAs. Without this amendment to the current system, FERS retirees will continue to see their annuities, earned through years of dedicated public service, decrease in value annually—the very issue COLAs were designed to prevent.

You can visit NARFE’s Legislative Action Center at www.narfe.org/advocacy/ legislative-action-center to send a letter, make a phone call or tweet to your Representative in support of this bill.

—BY SETH ICKES, POLITICAL ASSOCIATE

Fair COLA for Seniors Act Reintroduced

W

ith NARFE’s support, Rep. John Garamendi, D-CA, reintroduced the Fair COLA for Seniors Act in February. The bill would provide more accurate cost-ofliving adjustments for federal retirees by calculating COLAs

using the Consumer Price Index for the Elderly (CPI-E), which better tracks the spending habits of seniors than the current methodology.

In a letter of endorsement, NARFE National President William Shackelford expressed

NARFE’s support for the legislation, noting that federal retirees should receive “fair and accurate” COLAs that keep pace with rising costs.

Under the current COLA calculation method, which is SEE FAIR COLA ON P. 12 NARFE MAGAZINE www.NARFE.org

11

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.

FAIR COLA FROM P.11

based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), retirees lose purchasing power due to underestimated inflation.

The CPI-W tracks the spending habits of the urban workforce, thus inadequately assessing the differences in costs for the goods and services seniors frequently purchase. For example, medical care costs for seniors are double the rate of the general population.

The CPI-E, in contrast, only tracks the spending habits of Americans age 62 and older, thus better representing federal retirees and the costs associated with living on a fixed income. When measuring costs experienced by seniors with the CPI-E, inflation is greater by an estimated 0.27% per year than what the CPI-W shows, highlighting the need for Congress to take up this key legislation.

You can visit NARFE’s Legislative Action Center at www.narfe.org/ advocacy/legislativeaction-center to send a letter, make a phone call or compose a tweet to your Representative in support of the Fair COLA for Seniors Act.

—BY SETH ICKES, POLITICAL ASSOCIATE

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NARFE BILL TRACKER

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

BILL NUMBER / NAME / SPONSOR H.R.159/S.59: Chance to Compete Act of 2023 Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-NC / Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, I-AZ Cosponsors: H.R. 159: 3 (D) 2 (R) S. 59 1 (D) 2 (R) H.R. 1002/S. 399: Saving the Civil Service Act / Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-VA / Sen. Tim Kaine, D-VA

FEDERAL PERSONNEL POLICY

Cosponsors: H.R. 1002: 8 (D) 1 (R) S. 399: 14 (D) 1 (I)

H.R. 1487: The Strengthening the Office of Personnel Management Reform Act / Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-VA Cosponsors: H.R. 1487: 1 (D)

H.R. 536/ S. 124: The Federal Adjustment of Income Rates (FAIR) Act Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-VA / Sen. Brian Schatz, D-HI

WHAT BILL WOULD DO Implements merit-based reforms to the civil service hiring system that replace degree-based hiring with skills- and competencybased hiring.

Passed the House under suspension of the rules 1/24/2023

Prevents any position in the federal competitive service, created after September 30, 2020, from being reclassified into the excepted service, outside the protection of merit system rules without the express consent of Congress.

The bill also requires the consent of an employee to be reclassified, mandates reporting of conversions to the Office of Personnel Management, and places caps on the number of employees converted to the excepted service via Schedule C.

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability 2/15/2023

Codifies several recommendations for OPM by the National Academy of Public Administration (NAPA), such as clarifying that OPM stands at the center of federal civilian human resource management and ensuring the director of OPM possesses human capital and leadership expertise.

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability 3/9/2023

H.R. 856/ S. 274: Comprehensive Paid Leave for Federal Employees Act / Rep. Don Beyer, D-VA / Sen Brian Schatz, D-HI

Extends paid leave to federal and postal employees for all conditions covered by the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability, Veteran’s Affairs and House Administration 2/7/2023 Referred to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 2/7/2023

NARFE’s Position:

NARFE MAGAZINE MAY 2023

Referred to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 2/14/2023

Referred to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 1/26/2023

Cosponsors: H.R. 856: 26 (D) 1 (R) S.274: 9 (D) 0 (R) 1 (I)

14

Referred to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 1/24/2023

Provides federal employees with Referred to the House an 8.7 percent average pay raise Committee on Oversight and in 2024.

Accountability 1/26/2023

Cosponsors: H.R. 536: 52 (D) 1(R) S. 124: 19 (D) 1 (I) FEDERAL COMPENSATION

LATEST ACTION(S)

Support

Oppose

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NARFE BILL TRACKER

THE NARFE BILL TRACKER IS YOUR MONTHLY GUIDE TO LEGISLATION NARFE IS FOLLOWING. CHECK BACK EACH ISSUE FOR UPDATES. BILL NUMBER / NAME / SPONSOR

ISSUE

H.R. 82: The Social Security Fairness Act Rep. Garret Graves, R-LA SOCIAL SECURITY

Cosponsors: H.R. 82: 142 (D) 61 (R) H.R. 716: The Fair COLA for Seniors Act / Rep. John Garamendi, D-CA Cosponsors: H.R. 716: 22 (D) 0 (R)

FEDERAL ANNUITIES

H.R. 866: The Equal COLA Act Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-VA Cosponsors: H.R. 866: 12 (D) 1 (R)

WHAT BILL WOULD DO

LATEST ACTION(S)

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

Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means. 1/9/2023

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

Referred to the House Committees on Ways and Means, Veterans’ Affairs, Oversight and Accountability, and Armed Services 2/1/2023

Provides Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) retirees with the same annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) as Civil Serve Retirement System (CSRS) retirees.

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability 2/8/2023

NARFE’s Position:

Support

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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 PREPARING FOR RETIREMENT

Q

I currently live in DC and plan to retire next year. If I move to another part of the country, say Florida (which would be a lower locality pay), does my retirement annuity (locality pay) get adjusted to the area that I am moving to?

A

Your CSRS or FERS retirement benefit will be computed using your high-three average salary. This is the largest annual rate resulting from averaging your rates of basic pay in effect over any period of three consecutive years of creditable civilian service, with each rate weighted by the number of months and days it was in effect. Usually this is your last three years of federal service.

Basic pay includes locality pay. If you retire to a lower locality area, your retirement benefit won’t change since your high-three average was based on your salary rates while employed. Once you are retired, your CSRS or FERS retirement will receive cost-ofliving adjustments. However, these adjustments are not linked to locality, and they are computed differently for CSRS and FERS. 20

NARFE MAGAZINE MAY 2023

Q

I am thinking of retiring when I am 61 and will have more than 20 years of creditable service. Is that a good idea?

A

You will be eligible to retire when you meet the minimum age and service requirements. Under FERS, to be eligible for an immediate, unreduced retirement benefit, you must be at the FERS minimum retirement age (MRA) with at least 30 years of service; 60 with at least 20 years of service or 62 with at least 5 years of service.

Once you have completed 20 years of service you will meet the requirement for an immediate unreduced FERS benefit since you will already be past 60.

Whether this is a good idea is a question that would require much more information! The first thing to consider is your financial

readiness. Request an estimate of your FERS retirement benefit at 60 and at 62 to compare your benefit amounts. There is a more generous computation under FERS at 62 with 20 or more years of service. In addition, there are no cost-of-living adjustments under FERS prior to age 62 (there are exceptions for certain special category retirees as well as disability and survivor annuitants). Consider other sources of retirement income, including your Social Security benefits, your retirement savings in the TSP and other IRAs, etc. and any other retirement benefits you may be qualified for from other work. Be sure that all of your federal service is properly documented and creditable for retirement eligibility and computation. How will your retirement income compare to your current income while working? Will you elect a survivor benefit for your spouse? Do you have a former spouse who is entitled to a portion of your retirement or survivor benefits?

Once you are financially prepared, then it is also a good

idea to consider your life after retirement! What will you do with your extra time? Do you plan to work or pursue volunteer activities, travel, or leisure? Do you have caregiving responsibilities? How much will your spending change after you retire? Have you had the opportunity to participate or view the educational and informative webinars archived at the NARFE Federal Benefits Institute at www. narfe.org? This might be a good place to start.

Q A

How do annual leave and sick leave hours get credited in retirement?

You will receive a lump sum payment for your unused annual leave balance after you separate from federal employment. This payment comes from your payroll provider and indicates that you have been separated from your agency rolls. The payment is subject to tax withholding (federal, state—if applicable— FICA and Medicare), but not retirement, TSP or insurance withholdings. Your annual leave is paid at the rate of basic pay you would have earned if you could have stayed on the rolls to use up the balance of leave.

Your unused sick leave balance will be converted to service credit and added to your length of creditable service to calculate your CSRS or FERS retirement benefit. Deferred retirements will not receive credit for unused sick leave; however, an immediate or a postponed MRA + 10 FERS retirement will be entitled to sick leave credit. Unused sick leave also counts towards meeting the 20-year service requirement for the 1.1% FERS benefit formula if you retire at 62 or later. Sick leave credit cannot, however, be used to meet the service requirement for eligibility. To learn how unused sick

leave is converted to service, you may use the chart in this pamphlet which is the same for both CSRS and FERS: https://www.opm.gov/ retirement-center/publicationsforms/pamphlets/ri83-8.pdf

TSP CONTRIBUTIONS

Q A

Can my unused annual leave go to my TSP account?

You may only contribute your basic pay into the TSP. Your lump sum annual leave payment is not considered basic pay (one way to tell is because there are no retirement contributions withheld from this payment).

Your rate of basic pay includes the locality adjustment, so you will receive the 5% agency automatic and matching contributions on your basic pay if you make contributions of 5% or greater each pay period. If you retire before the end of the year, you may increase your TSP allotment to maximize your contributions prior to retirement.

RETIREMENT FERS BASIC BENEFIT

Q A

Does the 1.1% for the FERS Basic Benefit apply for a deferred retirement?

Generally, your FERS benefit is 1% of your high-three average salary multiplied by your years and months of service. If you are at least 62 at separation and have at least 20 years of service, your annuity will be computed at 1.1% of your “high3” average salary multiplied by your years and months of service. This more generous formula is used for those who retire on an immediate annuity at 62 or older with at least 20 years of service. Deferred FERS benefits are always computed using the 1.0% factor. An immediate annuity is one that begins within 30 days of the date of your separation. Under FERS, an immediate MRA + 10 annuity may be “postponed”

COUNTDOWN TO COLA The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) increased 0.5% in February 2023. To calculate the 2024 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), the 2023 third-quarter indices Monthly % % Change MONTH CPI-W Change from 291.901 will be averaged and OCTOBER 2022 293.003 0.40 0.38 compared with the 2022 third-quarter NOVEMBER 292.495 -0.17 0.20 average of 291.901.

DECEMBER 291.051 -0.49 -0.29 The percentage JANUARY 2023 293.565 0.90 0.57 increase determines FEBRUARY 295.057 0.50 1.10 the COLA. February’s MARCH index, 295.057, is up 1.10% from the base.

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

MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST SEPTEMBER

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

NARFE MAGAZINE www.NARFE.org

21

Questions & Answers avoiding the 5% age reduction for retiring under 62 with less than 20 years of service or under 60 with less than 30 years.

SURVIVOR BENEFITS

Q

I am a CSRS retiree who elected a survivor benefit for my wife upon my demise. My wife has been receiving Social Security retirement payments based on her own work history for a few years now. When I die, will her CSRS retirement survivor annuity be reduced because of receiving her own earned Social Security benefits?

A

If you elected a CSRS survivor annuity for your spouse and you predeceased her, she is eligible for the full CSRS survivor benefit of 55 percent of your unreduced CSRS retirement with no reduction based on her earned Social Security benefit.

If your wife were to pass away first, your entitlement to a widow’s benefit based on her Social Security benefit would be reduced by two-thirds of your CSRS retirement and would most likely be eliminated.

This is called the Government Pension Offset and is one of the two “evil twins” (phrase coined by the late Mike Causey) that also includes the Windfall Elimination Provision. To learn more visit https://www. ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/ planner/fedgovees.html

Q

I elected a survivor benefit for my spouse when I retired so that my retirement benefit was reduced to provide this benefit.

My spouse recently passed away and I would like to know how I can stop the reduction?

22

NARFE MAGAZINE MAY 2023

I am sorry for your loss.

You may elect to have your retirement restored to the unreduced amount starting the first day of the month after the death of your spouse. Contact OPM and they will ask for a copy of the death certificate.

A

as the lines are generally very busy. The phone lines are open Monday through Friday 7:40 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET excluding federal holidays. Try to call early in the morning or on Thursday or Friday, when the lines are less busy.

Q

COLLECTING SOCIAL SECURITY

What happens if my annuity or my spouse’s survivor benefit does not cover the cost of the health benefit premiums?

A

There are options available if your annuity benefit is not large enough to cover your FEHB withholding. OPM will send you a notice with the option to change to a lower cost plan or to make direct payments to cover the premium. OPM’s pamphlet Information for Retirees and Survivor Annuitants (FEHB) provides additional details.

Be sure to keep your address updated with OPM. You may change your address using OPM’s Services Online (https://www. opm.gov/support/retirement/ how-to/getting-started-withopm-retirement-services-online).

You may also email retire@ opm.gov or write to Retirement Operations Center (ROC) U.S. Office of Personnel Management Post Office Box 45 Boyers PA 16017 Be sure to include the old and new address with effective date of the move, you and your spouse’s (if applicable) first and last name, Civil Service Active or Final (CSA or CSF) number, phone number and email address. Sign your request.

You may contact OPM’s Retirement Office by phone at 1 (888) 767-6738; however, be prepared to wait on hold,

Q

As a retired Fed (CSRS), I also worked part-time in a private job for 28 years, paying into Social Security. Will I be able to receive any benefit from Social Security?

A

As long as you have earned 40 quarters of coverage, you are eligible for a Social Security retirement benefit at age 62 or later. The amount of earnings required for a quarter of coverage (QC) in 2023 is $1,640. “Quarter of coverage” is a legal term, but you may also see the term “Social Security credit” used. One cannot earn more than 4 credits in a given year. For years before 1978, an individual generally was credited with a quarter of coverage for each calendar quarter in which wages of $50 or more were paid. Beginning in 1978, employers began reporting wages on an annual, instead of quarterly, basis. Starting in 1978, a quarter of coverage was credited for each $250 of wages (up to a maximum of 4 quarters of coverage for the year). After 1978, the amount of earnings needed for a quarter of coverage changed automatically each year with changes in the national average wage index. To see if you have earned 40 quarters, login into my Social security at www. ssa.gov.

Although you may have earned a retirement benefit, your Social Security benefit

may be calculated using a different formula that will result in a reduced benefit amount.

This is known as the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and may apply if you receive a pension from work not covered

by Social Security (i.e. CSRS) and have less than 30 years of substantial earnings. To learn more, visit https://www.ssa.gov/ benefits/retirement/planner/ wep.html.

Q

I am considering applying for Social Security. I’ll be 67 in 2023 and am receiving my retirement consisting of CSRS and FERS components.

I also receive a survivor benefit from my husband who retired under CSRS. He did not qualify for Social Security. I understand

that I am affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) based on the CSRS portion of my retirement; however, will the Government Pension Offset (GPO) affect my Social Security benefits as well?

A

It does not appear you will be affected by the Government Pension Offset since you will not be entitled to a widow’s benefit based on your husband’s Social Security record. You can find additional information on the GPO at https://www.ssa.gov/ benefits/retirement/planner/ gpo-calc.html. When you apply for Social Security, you will be asked to report that you are receiving a government pension from work not covered by Social

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Security. Depending on how many years of substantial wages you have that were covered by Social Security, you may be exempt or partially exempt from the WEP reduction.

Although you may have earned a retirement benefit, your Social Security benefit may be calculated using a different formula that will result in a reduced benefit amount. See the previous question and answer for details.

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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23

Benefits Brief

H

Getting Your Affairs in Order

ave you thought about the people you will leave behind someday? What have you done to prepare them for claiming benefits as well as taking care of any final wishes you may have? If you are married, does your spouse understand what they would need to do to continue receiving health insurance coverage, file for a survivor benefit and claim your remaining Thrift Savings Plan assets and federal life insurance?

Once I met a widow who shared with me that her husband was so cheap that he only left her a six-month survivor annuity. I shared with her that a survivor annuity is payable for the life of the surviving spouse, and she assured me that hers stopped six months after her husband passed away—four years before this. After contacting OPM, she was able to update her new address and bank information to restore her survivor annuity and provide her payments back to the time the payments stopped—when she closed her bank account.

This is an important reminder to all annuitants: Keep your address, along with bank information, up to date with OPM, SSA and TSP! This can easily be done online with all three agencies if you have an account (OPM: Services Online; SSA: mySocialSecurity; TSP: My Account). You may also call (early in the morning is best for the shortest wait time): OPM: 1-888767-6738; SSA: 1-800-772-1213; TSP: 1-877-968-3778.

As a federal retirement benefits specialist, I’ve had the opportunity to assist survivors of federal retirees with the “business of death.” Recently, I met with a widow who was overwhelmed 24

NARFE MAGAZINE MAY 2023

with the passing of her husband and didn’t know what to do with the stack of files he left behind.

She had received her CSF (Civil Service Final) claim number as a survivor annuitant, and she filed the applications and made copies of what she submitted. I chatted with her over tea while I sorted through the stack to organize into separate topics: • Office of Personnel Management (OPM) documents and Your Federal Retirement Benefits, a small blue and white booklet sent by OPM describing your monthly retirement benefits, along with essential information • Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) • Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) • Agency communications from his retirement • Social Security statements • Thrift Savings Plan statements Along with filing for benefits with OPM, we also contacted the TSP. I explained to her that as the spouse beneficiary of a deceased participant’s TSP account, the TSP will establish a beneficiary participant account in her name.

Social Security had already been notified of his passing by the funeral home, but it doesn’t hurt

to contact them just to be sure.

Social Security benefits issued after the retiree’s death (as well as CSRS or FERS retirement benefits) must be returned to the Treasury Department. Often, they will be taken back from the bank account once OPM and/or SSA learns of the death. Any money owed will be reissued.

While some survivors have had the survivor benefits finalized within a few months, it is good to be prepared for it to take nine months or longer.

This could be for any number of reasons, including incomplete documentation, waiting for a valid death certificate or if a former spouse may be entitled to benefits. It is important to keep a “rainy day” fund, even in retirement. A good rule of thumb is to keep three to six months of living expenses supplemented by access to a line of credit so that your spouse doesn’t panic if it takes a while to have everything fall into place.

The NARFE Federal Benefits Institute provides a valuable resource titled “Affairs in Order: Benefits Guidance for Survivors of Federal Annuitants.” To help you organize your personal and financial information in one place, NARFE has prepared an essential guide, “Be Prepared for Life’s Events, What Your Survivors Should Know” (F-100). You can find both of these guides, along with additional resources, at www. narfe.org/white-papers.

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

JUNE 20-22 2023

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The three-day program includes two days of interactions with congressional leaders and policy experts and training to build advocacy skills. On the third day of the conference, stakeholders will participate in virtual group meetings with their legislators to discuss the issues affecting the federal community.

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Hear directly from congressional leaders who will address the status of legislation to repeal or reform the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset, provide equal COLAs for federal retirees, and combat potential threats to critical federal benefit programs.

Hear from congressional staff on the most effective ways you can communicate with them.

Caucus with your NARFE federation and chapter groups to participate in virtual visits with your legislators to help put a face on federal community issues, enabling them to make a better connection between them and the financial well-being of their constituents and districts.

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Feds on Film 26

NARFE MAGAZINE MAY 2023

BY DAVID TOBENKIN

In Honor of Public Service Recognition Week, NARFE Shines a Spotlight on Hollywood’s Portrayal of Civil Servants

I

n 2011’s blockbuster movie Contagion, staff of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps race against the clock to stop the spread of a budding global pandemic.

In Ghostbusters, the heroes fought bureaucrats as well as the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man. NARFE MAGAZINE www.NARFE.org

27

The plot featured federal employees as highly skilled, fast-moving and compassionate heroes and presciently foretold the actual work that Feds would do during the COVID-19 pandemic. It may be a high-water mark for positive and accurate portrayals of federal civil servants in film.

On the other hand, 1984’s Ghostbusters featured the character of Walter Peck, played

by William Atherton, as an Environmental Protection Agency employee who, suspicious of the ghoul-fighting Ghostbusters, endangers their work to save the New York City from spirits.

Worried about the environmental impact of their ghost-fighting equipment, Peck demands to see their contamination units and later turns law enforcement against them, leading the Ghostbusters to face federal prosecution for at least half a dozen environmental violations. While it’s a silly movie, it certainly was not a flattering portrayal of Feds.

Welcome to civil servants in the movies and TV, where depiction of rank-and-file civil servants is, if not uncommon, often somewhat obscure. While a few agencies, mainly law enforcement, intelligence services and NASA, are frequent silver- and small-

screen stars, many the other agencies employing the nation’s 2.1 million civil service employees receive scant recognition on screen.

As the nation salutes its dedicated government employees May 7-13 during Public Service Recognition Week, NARFE decided to take a look at how Feds are portrayed in popular culture.

We’ve excluded the President, cabinet secretaries, members of Congress and their immediate staffs— who are depicted quite frequently—and focus on rank-and-file civilian employees. We’re also throwing out federal military officers and enlisted service members—there are certainly lots of depictions of them.

Should federal civil servants care about how they are depicted? Yes, says Michelle Pautz, a professor and associate dean at the University of Dayton who has studied such depictions.

“Film is the most accessible art form for most Americans, and it has the power to both entertain and influence our culture, especially young people,” Pautz said. “We should think about the images and portrayals of government and civil servants we take in, often even subliminally, and take a step back and ask, ‘are these portrayals justified?’”

The movie Avatar features some unflattering depictions of civil servants and bureaucratic processes. image © VIEW press / Contributor / Getty

28

NARFE MAGAZINE MAY 2023

“Usually federal bureaucrats are portrayed as competent and doing what they are supposed to be doing.”

—Michelle Pautz, author, Civil Servants on the Silver Screen: Hollywood’s Depiction of Government and Bureaucrats.

Where to Watch It Could Be Worse

If there is good news about depictions of civil servants, it is that, despite not-infrequent attacks on civil servants as unnecessary, lazy or somehow bad by some on Capitol Hill, Feds generally come off relatively well on the big screen, Pautz says. In 2018, Pautz published a book examining civil service depictions in US blockbuster films from 2000 to 2015, Civil Servants on the Silver Screen: Hollywood’s Depiction of Government and Bureaucrats.

Pautz identified 635 government employees, mostly civil servants, as characters in the films, which included blockbusters such as Avatar, The Dark Knight, Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith and Toy Story 3. Of the government characters depicted, 49% were positively portrayed, 26% were negatively portrayed, 9% had a neutral portrayal and 15% were not rated due to insufficient screen time.

Pautz says that she focused on the most popular films, given the likelihood those blockbusters would disproportionately influence the public’s perception of civil servants.

“I looked at what are the mainstream things that people are exposed to,” says Pautz. “And the overriding conclusions, I found, is that government’s actually very common in the film but usually in the background. And usually federal bureaucrats are portrayed as competent and doing what they are supposed to be doing.”

Several movies portraying federal employees or civil servants are available for streaming on popular subscription platforms as of March 1, 2023:

Disney+ Avatar Hidden Figures Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith Toy Story 3

HBO Max Argo Armageddon Contagion The Dark Knight The Fugitive The Silence of the Lambs

Netflix The Dark Knight

TNT Ghostbusters

NARFE MAGAZINE www.NARFE.org

29

Who’s Featured and Who’s Not Among civil servants, federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies are, among federal agencies, stars of the cinematic show. Investigations and court proceedings can be packed with drama, so it is not surprising Department of Justice employees are often depicted. The Department of Justice’s FBI, US Attorneys, US Marshals Service and Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) have been featured in such movies as The Silence of the Lambs, Donnie Brasco, The Fugitive and Narcos, to name just a few.

US Marshals were depicted less than favorably in The Fugitive TV show and then feature film, which featured a vascular surgeon framed for, and then convicted of, murder. In the movie, protagonist Dr. Richard Kimball professes he was innocent, to which US Deputy Marshal Samuel Gerard memorably responds, “I don’t care.”

In Narcos, the rigorously factual Netflix series on American efforts to fight Colombian and Mexican drug lords, the DEA was portrayed in depth. Rankand-file DEA agents are seen negotiating corrupt foreign government systems and frequently being frustrated by domestic US drug policy swings. In the show, the CIA is featured in a far less flattering role, often aiding and abetting drug lords to use them as tools for larger geopolitical aims. The unfortunate fact for Feds is that, as mentioned, Narcos is a highly factual show.

Depictions of the federal intelligence agencies also abound. Two featured prominently in one of Pautz’s studies.

Zero Dark Thirty depicted members of the CIA trying to track down 9-11 mastermind Osama Bin Laden. The 2012 film is a generally positive portrayal of an agency proceeding competently but challenged by a job much akin to finding a needle in a haystack. On the other hand, part of the drama is CIA analyst Maya Harris (played by Jessica Chastain) and her fight against a CIA leadership that doubts her conviction and evidence that Bin Laden is in a compound in Pakistan.

30

NARFE MAGAZINE MAY 2023

Among civil servants, federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies are stars of the cinematic show.

“Jessica Chastain as Maya Harris is fighting the system, and I use the word ‘system’ pejoratively, to convince her colleagues and superiors at CIA that Osama bin Laden is in that compound,” Pautz says.

Argo, a 2012 film depicting the CIA rescue of US diplomats from Tehran, Iran, after the 1979 Iranian revolution, featured both State Department staff and the intelligence communities. The CIA team, led by CIA technical operations officer Tony Mendez, is depicted as compassionate and creative in engineering a filmmaking cover story for the rescue team, who are humanized as dedicated civil servants.

Not surprisingly, NASA’s depictions in film are both frequent and positive. If any federal agency is glamorous and camera-ready, it is NASA, packed with spaceships, scientific prowess, physical action and drama. The agency has been depicted in such movies as The Right Stuff, Apollo 13, Armageddon, Hidden Figures and Space Cowboys.

On the less favorable end of things, there are a number of unflattering portrayals of civil servants as inefficient paper pushers and micromanagers.

In addition to Ghostbusters, a whole host of movies takes a few choice shots at bureaucrats in general. In the 1985 movie Brazil, which featured several members of the British Monty Python comedy troupe, the film centers around Sam Lowry, a low-ranking bureaucrat trying to find a woman who appears in his dreams while working in a mind-numbing job. While set in the United Kingdom, the Harry Potter movies are also replete with jabs at those working at the Ministry of Magic, which regulates wizards and witches.

Its leaders are portrayed as petty micromanagers

The degree to which movies and television accurately and fully depict civil servants varies, often depending on a film’s or show’s focus.

who are concerned about preserving their own power and who frequently promulgate inefficient or harmful rules.

Making Sense of It All Part of the problem for federal civil servants is that day-to-day actions at many federal agencies are just not dramatic enough to move the plot needle in movies. Developing and issuing a blockbuster new regulatory rule may be a big deal to the agency promulgating it and the industry or industries being regulated, but that often won’t register in the minds of the general public—even, ironically, in cases where it actually does affect them.

And that, indeed, is a problem for civil servants and their advocates like NARFE more generally — Feds do not get credit for the good things they do.

The fact that air traffic safety is ensured by Federal 32

NARFE MAGAZINE MAY 2023

Aviation Administration air traffic controllers, the nation’s air and water remain relatively clean thanks to the EPA, federal highways remain serviceable and safe due to the Department of Transportation, and other orderly functioning of the country is assumed to happen all by itself, notes Pautz.

The degree to which movies and television accurately and fully depict civil servants varies, often depending on a film’s or show’s focus. In those that do pay attention to detail, such as House of Cards and The West Wing, there tend to be at least some depictions of federal civil servants, as they are the ones who get a lot of things done, though they often get far less screentime than the President, the Cabinet, Congress and the Supreme Court.

Feds can be forgiven if they are frustrated that often even the more accurate movies and television shows come tantalizingly close to discussing their work and giving credit where due but stop short.

In House of Cards, Machiavellian Vice President Francis Underwood threatens to attack political rival and energy baron Raymond Tusk with a FERC investigation. Unfortunately, few viewers probably knew he was referring to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the small federal agency that helps set the national’s energy policy and regulates energy sales, the electric grid, and the natural gas industry.

Likewise, in Contagion, few viewers will ever realize that a germ-fighting senior government leader wearing a Navy-like uniform, Rear Adm. Lyle Haggerty (played by Bryan Cranston), was not a Navy admiral, but rather a senior officer of the US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, a uniformed civilian agency dedicated to a public health mission.

It would take an explicit explanation of agencies, what they do and civil servants in the movie to know these facts. And most movies never seem to get there.

In such cases, Americans viewers will just have to read the book…if there is one.

—DAVID TOBENKIN IS A FREELANCE WRITER BASED IN THE GREATER WASHINGTON, DC, AREA.

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NARFE’s Guide to Buying Hearing Aids

34

NARFE MAGAZINE MAY 2023

What to look for, where to buy them and what features you should consider

BY EVERETT A. CHASEN

A

re you having difficulty hearing others in crowds, or on the telephone? Are your friends and family telling you you’ve turned up the volume of your television set too loud, but you still can barely hear it? If so, a hearing aid may be in your future.

And if you will be in the market for a hearing aid soon, the process may be different from what you expect.

On Aug. 16, 2022, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a regulation to improve Americans’ access to these devices, as well as lower their cost for millions of people.

The FDA established a new category of over-thecounter (OTC) hearing aids, enabling those with perceived mild to moderate degree hearing loss to buy those instruments from brick-and-mortar or online stores without a medical examination, a prescription, or a fitting adjustment by an audiologist or other hearing health professional.

“Hearing loss is a critical public health issue that affects the ability of millions of Americans to effectively communicate in their daily social interactions,” FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf said in a statement. “Establishing this new regulatory category will allow people with mild to moderate hearing loss to have convenient access to an array of safe, effective and affordable hearing aids from their neighborhood store or online.”

Audiologists and hearing aid users NARFE consulted in preparing this article agreed, however, that despite the FDA’s new rule, those who believe they may benefit from a hearing aid should first consult a licensed audiologist or other hearing professional. The American SpeechLanguage-Hearing Association (ASHA) says that while you may be able to ask staff for help with your purchase in a store that sells hearing aids, audiologists can explain the reason for your hearing loss and help you find the device that’s best for your personal needs.

What do hearing aids do, and when, if ever, should you consider purchasing them yourself instead of asking an audiologist for help? And if hearing aids are right for you, what kind should you buy?

NARFE MAGAZINE www.NARFE.org

35

This new regulatory category will allow people with mild to moderate hearing loss to have convenient access to an array of safe, effective and affordable hearing aids from their neighborhood store or online.

Types of Hearing Aids

Hearing aids are designed to make sounds louder so adults with difficulty hearing are better able to listen, communicate and participate fully in daily activities. The FDA currently estimates that nearly 30 million adults in the United States could benefit from hearing aid use—but only about one-fifth of those in that group actually use them.

Most hearing aids have microphones that pick up sound; amplifier circuitry that makes the sound louder; miniature loudspeakers that bring the amplified sound into the ear canal; and power sources, like batteries, for the electronic parts.

Varieties of hearing aids include: Behind-the-ear aids, in which most of the mechanism’s parts are contained in a small plastic case resting behind the ear.

The case is connected to an ear mold or an earpiece by a piece of clear tubing. They are relatively sturdy, and easy to clean and handle.

Receiver in canal aids also fit behind the ear, but are usually smaller in size than other behind-the-ear aids. A narrow tube connect the aid to the ear canal. This style offers increased comfort, less sound feedback and addresses cosmetic concerns many people have.

36

NARFE MAGAZINE MAY 2023

In-the-canal and completely-in-the-canal aids are tiny cases that fit partly or completely in the ear canal. They are the smallest hearing aids available and, according to the FDA, “offer cosmetic and some listening advantages.” However, the agency continues, their small size may make them difficult to handle and adjust.

Finally, in-the-ear aids have all parts of the hearing aid contained in a shell that fills the outer part of the ear. They are larger than in-the-canal and completely-in-the-canal aids, and may be easier to handle than these smaller instruments.

Features of Hearing Aids

Hearing aids are divided into two types of electronics: analog and digital. Analog hearing aids make continuous sound waves louder by amplifying speech and noise in the same way.

Some analog hearing aids have a microchip to store multiple program settings used in different listening environments, such as quiet places like libraries or noisy places like sports events. Pushing buttons on the hearing aid changes their settings.

Digital hearing aids are more common than analog, according to the FDA. They convert sound waves into digital signals and produce a better duplication of sound. Digital hearing aids have microchips that analyze speech and other sounds and store a number of program settings. They allow for more complex sound processing during the amplification of sound that may improve their performance over analog aids. They also can be programmed to match an individual’s specific hearing loss issues.

How Do You Know if Hearing Aids Are Right for You? How do you decide if you are among those who might benefit from hearing aids? The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) says the first step to take if you have concerns about your hearing is to get tested by a licensed audiologist.

Audiologists check for common medical causes of hearing loss, like too much earwax or fluid in the ears. They perform hearing evaluations to check for your hearing loss. Then, they’ll tell you how severe your loss is, where the problem is located in your ear (inner, middle or outer), and what options you have to treat it, including over-the-counter (OTC) hearing aids. They may tell you what to look for when you’re buying a hearing aid, or sell you one themselves based on your personal prescription.

The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), suggests you might have mild to moderate hearing loss if: • Speech or other sounds seem muffled.

• You have trouble hearing when you’re in a group, in a noisy area, on the phone or when you can’t see who is talking.

• You have to ask others to speak more slowly or clearly, to talk louder, or to repeat what they said.

• You turn up the volume higher than other people prefer when watching TV or listening to the radio or music.

Trouble hearing conversations in quiet settings or loud sounds such as cars and trucks, noisy appliances or loud music are signs you might have more severe hearing loss, and over-thecounter hearing aids won’t work for you.

There are some ear problems, NIDCD explains, that require medical treatment, not hearing aids. If you have any of the following issues, NIDCD suggests you see a licensed physician promptly: • Fluid, pus or blood coming out of your ear within the previous six months.

• Pain or discomfort in your ear.

• A history of excessive ear wax or a suspicion that something is in your ear canal.

• Episodes of vertigo with hearing loss. (Vertigo is a sensation of feeling off balance, often described as dizziness.)

• Sudden hearing loss or quickly worsening hearing loss.

• Hearing loss that has gotten more and then less severe within the last six months.

• Hearing loss or tinnitus in only one ear, or a noticeable difference in how well you can hear in each ear.

Only Americans 18 years of age and older can purchase hearing aids over the counter.

Those younger than 18 must be prescribed such aids from a hearing professional.

— Ev Chasen NARFE MAGAZINE www.NARFE.org

37

Different hearing aids have different features.

These may include: • Directional microphones that amplify sound coming from a specific direction to a greater level than sound from other directions. When this feature is activated, sound in front of you, such as that coming from a face-to-face conversation, is amplified to a greater level than sound behind you.

• Noise reduction features reduce the level of background noise compared to the sounds you are trying to hear.

• Feedback suppression helps prevent the hearing aid from producing an uncomfortable squealing sound.

• T-coils, also known as telephone switches, allow you to switch from the aid’s normal microphone setting to a T-coil setting to hear better on the telephone. The Federal Communications Commission requires all traditional “wireline” telephones (telephone service provided over copper wires or fiber cables) to be hearing-aid compatible. In the T-coil setting, environmental sounds are removed, and sound is picked up only from the telephone. Also, the microphone on your hearing aid is turned off so you can talk without hearing feedback.

• Wireless connectivity allows a hearing aid to receive streamed audio like music and allows the user to adjust the hearing aid settings remotely, often through smartphones.

Despite the FDA’s new rule, those who believe they may benefit from a hearing aid should first consult a licensed audiologist or other hearing professional, according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA).

38

NARFE MAGAZINE MAY 2023

• Direct audio input enables you to plug in a remote microphone or an assistive listening system, or connect directly to a television, computer or radio.

While each of these features can help you hear better, all are likely to increase the cost of the hearing aid.

How to Buy Them

Once you’ve decided you might benefit from a hearing aid, the next question is where, and how, to purchase one.

Today, local pharmacies and large retail chains sell OTC hearing aids, as do online sellers like Amazon. ASHA recommends reading all the information that comes with the device before you buy it, because you may not be able to return it. Many audiologists will be able to help you to maintain the device for a service fee.

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Old Way

Purchasing hearing aids in-store or online means you are not going to get the same amount of support you’ll get from audiologist-prescribed equipment.

The Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA) suggests it’s important to look for a good return policy so you can bring the product back if it doesn’t work right. (Many states require vendors to offer a mandatory trial period.) Make sure you have enough time to truly test the device to see if it works for you.

Many OTC devices require a smartphone, app or computer to install, operate and customize—so if you don’t own a smartphone or a computer, don’t purchase aids with that feature. If you have a smartphone or cellphone and use it frequently, be sure the hearing aid is compatible with your device.

HLAA also suggests you check whether the hearing aid’s amplification can be easily adjusted; whether the device is water- and sweat- resistant; how long the device’s battery will last and whether it can be recharged; and how well the device you’re considering controls or reduces background or wind noise.

Price is another consideration. According to Consumer’s Checkbook, which publishes an annual guide to health plans for federal employees, “only in recent years have (Federal Employee Health Benefit, or FEHB) plans begun to cover the cost of hearing aids to compensate for deafness. Coverages vary widely … with differing qualifications based on age, frequency of replacement varying, and big differences in the cost amount the plan will cover.”

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NARFE MAGAZINE MAY 2023

In its FEHB guide, Consumer’s Checkbook compares these coverages for all plans. They write that NARFE Magazine and others often carry ads for OTC aids from that promise to provide high-quality hearing aids “at no cost to enrollees in specific plans.” ASHA estimates the cost of an OTC hearing aid should be about $1,500 before insurance—although some retailers are selling basic models for significantly less.

Veterans should note if they are enrolled and eligible for health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), they can schedule an appointment at the Audiology and Speech Pathology clinic of the VA medical center of their choice for an evaluation of their hearing. If hearing aids are recommended and fit, the devices, repairs and future batteries are all provided at no charge to them, as long as they maintain eligibility for care from VA.

Veterans should note if they are enrolled and eligible for health care from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), they can schedule an appointment at the Audiology and Speech Pathology clinic of the VA medical center of their choice for an evaluation of their hearing.

Donate

to NARFE programs

Join the Silver Circle

Enclosed is my NARFE Silver Circle Contribution: $ ________

MAKE CHECK PAYABLE TO: NARFE (write Silver Circle on memo line)

Name: ___________________________________________________________

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

PLEASE MAIL COUPON AND CHECK TO: NARFE / 606 N. Washington St. / Alexandria, VA 22314 or donate online at www.narfe.org/ silvercircle With NARFE’s thanks, you will receive: • A Silver Circle pin and recognition on narfe.org with a donation of $100 or more.

• A Silver Circle pin, your name plate placed on the Silver Circle plaque at NARFE Headquarters, recognition on narfe.org and recognition at the NARFE yearly conference with a donation of $1,000 or more.

Address: _________________________________________________________

Silver Circle contributions are NOT tax-deductible.

Name: (please print) _______________________________________________

City:_____________________________________________________________ State:______________________________ ZIP: _________________________

Credit Card Information: q M/C q VISA q Discover q AMEX Card Number: ____________________________________________________ Expiration Date: ______ (mm)/ _____ (yy)

Security Code: ______________

Signature: ___________________________________ Date: ____ / ___/____

Support Alzheimer’s Research NARFE members contributed for Alzheimer’s research: $16 Million Fund $15,676,019.99* *Total as of February 28, 2023. All contributions go directly to Alzheimer’s research, with the exception of funds given to the Walk to End Alzheimer’s or The Longest Day.

If you have any questions, write to: National Committee Chair Olivia Williams 22 Garden Springs Road Columbia, SC 29209 OR EMAIL: oeashf3@gmail.com MAKE CHECK PAYABLE TO: NARFE-Alzheimer’s Research (write your chapter number on memo line)

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

Name: ___________________________________________________________ Address: _________________________________________________________ City:_____________________________________________________________ State:______________________________ ZIP: _________________________ Chapter number: __________________________________________________

PLEASE MAIL COUPON AND CHECK TO: Alzheimer’s Association 225 N. Michigan Ave., 17th Floor Chicago, IL 60601-7633

Credit Card Information: q M/C q VISA q Discover q AMEX

Your charitable contribution is tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

Signature: ___________________________________ Date: ____ / ___ / ______

Give to the

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

Your charitable contribution is tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

Card Number: ____________________________________________________ Expiration Date: ______ (mm)/ ____(yy)

Security Code: _______________

Name: (please print) _______________________________________________

The NARFE-FEEA Fund supports NARFE members during disasters; provides scholarships to their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and funds other programs to support NARFE members at the direction of NARFE and FEEA. Enclosed is my NARFE-FEEA Fund Contribution: $ ________ Name: ___________________________________________________________ Address: _________________________________________________________ City:_____________________________________________________________ State:______________________________ ZIP: _________________________ Email: ___________________________________________________________

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

The severity of hearing loss, the status of your ability to understand speech and your lifestyle all play into selection of a hearing aid.

Choosing One That’s Right for You

Which device to select is different for every individual. Some people may just need the standard features available in every hearing aid. Others require additional features to enhance their hearing in more difficult situations. The severity of hearing loss, the status of your ability to understand speech and your lifestyle all play into this decision.

A number of organizations regularly rate and review hearing aid brands. Consumer Reports rates 16 companies’ OTC products, asking their members’ opinions on overall value; different characteristics such as battery life and reliability; and how the aids they use perform in different situations such as talking in small groups or listening to the TV or radio. They also rate retailers for price transparency and for the selection of price plan options.

In 2022, Costco was the most popular individual hearing aid retailer among Consumer Reports readers, and their house brand, Kirkland, received their highest marks for value, defined as satisfaction with a hearing aid’s value compared to its cost.

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NARFE MAGAZINE MAY 2023

The New York Times, the National Council on Aging, Forbes Magazine and Wired are among other impartial organizations that evaluate and rank OTC hearing aids. Their thoughts can be useful in your selection process—but if an audiologist has evaluated you before you begin the purchasing process, he or she will probably be the best person to help you determine which devices will help you hear better, at a price you can afford.

Untreated hearing loss is linked to higher rates of dementia, falling and depression. If you think you may need a device to help you to hear better, start the process to get one today!

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

Become a Silver Circle Contributor Today NARFE offers members a way to give to the association’s General Fund through its donor recognition program, the Silver Circle.

Your contribution to the Silver Circle supports the direct work of NARFE as we continue to provide you resources and advocacy that you rely on and that member dues alone cannot support.

When you donate to the Silver Circle, you are ensuring that NARFE has the resources to continue to fight for the financial security and earned benefits for you and the federal community.

NARFE appreciates all financial support you provide to us and would like to recognize you for your generous contributions to our cause.

Donate now to the Silver Circle at narfe.org/silvercircle.

With NARFE’s thanks, you will receive: •

A Silver Circle pin and recognition on NARFE.ORG with a donation of $100 or more.

•

A Silver Circle pin, your name plate placed on the Silver Circle plaque at NARFE Headquarters, recognition on NARFE.ORG and recognition at the NARFE yearly conference with a donation of $1,000 or more.

To learn more about the Silver Circle donor recognition program or how to recommend an outstanding NARFE member to the Silver Circle, please visit www.narfe.org/silvercircle or email us at donatenow@narfe.org. q CHECK ENCLOSED (payable to NARFE) Enclosed is my NARFE donation: $ __________________

q Mr. q Mrs.

q Miss q Ms.

Name: ______________________________________________ Address: _____________________________________________ City: ________________________________________________ State: _______________________________________________ ZIP:_________________________________________________ Member Number: ______________________________________

FR-SILVERCIRCLE

OR CREDIT CARD INFORMATION:

q MasterCard

q VISA

q Discover

q AMEX

Card Number: _____________________________________ Expiration Date: __________(mm)/ ________ (yy) 3-Digit Security Code: __________ Date: _______________ Signature:_________________________________________ Name: (please print) _________________________________

PLEASE MAIL COUPON AND CHECK TO: NARFE, Attn: Silver Circle, 606 N. Washington St., Alexandria, VA 22314

Donations to NARFE are not tax-deductible for federal income tax purposes.

Managing Money

The Financial Power of Attorney: An Essential Estate Planning Tool

A

n effective estate plan deals with more than death. In fact, a financial power of attorney (POA) is an essential estate planning document that provides the framework

for financial decision-making during periods of incapacity.

A power of attorney (POA) is a legal document that allows an individual, known as the “principal,” to appoint another person, known as an “agent” or “attorney-in-fact,” to act on their behalf in certain legal, financial, or health care matters.

There are several types of financial POAs, which may be used to grant the agent broad or limited powers depending on the principal’s needs and preferences. For starters, there’s a general POA, which gives the agent broad powers to act on the principal’s behalf in virtually all legal and financial matters as allowed by state law.

Alternatively, a limited POA gives the agent the authority to perform specific tasks or decisions—such as, selling a property or signing legal documents—on behalf of the principal.

In most states, a financial POA terminates when the principal becomes incapacitated and can no longer make decisions on their own behalf.

If the purpose of the POA is to provide an agent the authority to act when incapacity strikes, the principal will want to draft a durable POA, which remains active even after the principal becomes incapacitated. Both limited and general POAs may be established as a durable POA. 44

NARFE MAGAZINE MAY 2023

A POA becomes effective as soon as the principal properly executes the document. In other words, the agent will have the legal authority to act on the principal’s behalf at any point once the POA is executed. If this

IN MOST STATES, A FINANCIAL POA TERMINATES WHEN THE PRINCIPAL BECOMES INCAPACITATED AND CAN NO LONGER MAKE DECISIONS ON THEIR OWN BEHALF.

is a concern to you, then you may prefer a springing POA, which only becomes effective when a specific event or condition occurs, such as the principal becoming incapacitated or disabled.

While a springing POA sounds ideal, they can lead to additional problems. For instance, instead of being able to take immediate action on behalf of the principal, the agent must first prove the principal satisfies the conditions

necessary for the springing POA to be effective. This is usually done by a doctor certifying the principal’s condition, which can take days or weeks and possibly disrupt the handling of the principal’s finances.

As far as creating a financial POA goes, there are websites that sell templates and services you can use to create a financial POA. Considering what’s at stake, however, including rules that differ by state, it may be worthwhile to consult an attorney to ensure the POA complies with all relevant legal requirements.

In addition to making sure the POA satisfies your state’s rules, it’s also important to check with the financial institutions you work with to see if they have specific requirements or language that needs to be incorporated into the POA to be accepted. Once you’ve created the POA, it’s also a good idea to submit the POA to the financial institutions before it’s needed so that they may approve it and have it in their system ready to be used when or if the time comes.

I’ve discussed POAs in the estate planning webinars I presented for NARFE (recordings of past webinars may be found on NARFE’s website at www.narfe.org/ webinar-archive) and pointed out the TSP would not accept a financial POA without specific language, which could be found in the TSP’s Special Power of

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

Attorney form (SPOA). TSP participants could incorporate the SPOA language into their financial POA, or simply complete and return the SPOA form to the TSP by mail or fax.

The TSP changed the process for handling POAs and phased out the SPOA form when the TSP switched to the new service provided last summer. If you previously submitted the SPOA to the TSP, you do not need to take further action, as the TSP will continue to honor any SPOAs submitted prior to June 1, 2022.

If you haven’t submitted an SPOA to the TSP, you’ll want to check out the TSP’s new POA Management System website, which may be found

at www.narfe.org/tsp-poa. The website provides the guidelines and specific details that must be incorporated into a POA to be accepted by the TSP. It’s also where you upload your POA to the TSP for review.

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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2020_02_NARFE_Apr_HHoriz.indd 1

2/12/20 9:51 AM

NARFE MAGAZINE www.NARFE.org

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NARFE News

Introducing the Newest NARFE Perk: Active&Fit Direct

W

hether you are dreaming of your next vacation, looking to move closer to family, switching phone carriers or planning for retirement, you can save

money on everyday purchases with special discounts from our Affinity Partners through NARFE Perks.

This month, NARFE members can begin taking advantage of their newest valuable benefit: membership with the Active&Fit Direct program.

The Active&Fit Direct program provides access to your choice of over 12,200 gyms for just $28 per month and/or more than 5,700 premium exercise studios at up to 70% off retail prices.* Active&Fit Direct also offers the ability to switch gyms or cancel anytime with no longterm contracts.

With Active&Fit Direct, you can search the online directory for some of the nation’s finest gyms and exercise studios in your

area. You have the flexibility to switch gyms to make sure you find the right fit.

Members also have access to 9,300+ workout videos and digital health resources on ActiveandFitDirect.com, as well as a variety of workout classes available any time on YouTube and Facebook.

Participants may enroll in the Active&Fit Direct program by clicking through to the program’s website to enroll and obtain an ID card to present at selected fitness centers.

There are even membership options for the spouses of NARFE members.

If We Can’t Reach You, You’re Missing Out—Update Your Member Profile Today

N

ARFE provides members with valuable resources, news and information, but if we don’t have your current mailing address, email address and other contact information, you could be missing out on some of your NARFE member benefits.

Please make sure your NARFE member profile is updated.

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NARFE MAGAZINE MAY 2023

To update your profile online, go to www.narfe.org and click “Member Portal” at the top right portion of the window. Log in to the member portal and click the “Profile” icon to view your member profile and review your current contact information. To make changes, click the “Update Contact Information” button,

Learn more on the NARFE Perks page at www.narfe.org/ perks, starting May 1, 2023.

And when you log in to visit the all-new NARFE Perks page, you will see an easy-to-navigate visual directory of discounts, divided into travel savings and savings on products/services.

Featured partners, with valuable offers that are used most often by members, are at the top.

Each NARFE Perks partner has its own landing page and link with directions for taking advantage of the discount.

Members don’t need to do anything differently to access these pages. You can still find Perks in the “For Members” menu in the top navigation and on the Member Quick Links page.

Remember: Taking advantage of just one offer could more than pay for your annual membership! make the necessary changes, then click “Save” to review your changes. If you’d prefer to talk through your changes with someone, just call 800-456-8410 and press 1 for membership; our member services team will be happy to help you make your changes. (Keep in mind that mailing address updates can take up to 45 days to take effect.) By staying connected and informed, you can be sure you’ll always get the most out of your NARFE membership.

NARFE’s Dues Withholding Program What is dues withholding?

It is a dues-payment method available to retired NARFE members, their spouses and annuitant survivors giving them the option to have their annual NARFE membership dues deducted from their annuities each month.

Advantages • Save more than 10% off your annual NARFE dues • Sign up your spouse and double your savings • You’ll never get another dues reminder from us • Your monthly payment is affordable and convenient • You may cancel your dues withholding at any time

How does it work?

One-twelfth of your total dues is automatically deducted from your monthly annuity. Your monthly deduction is determined by the following formula: ($42 NARFE dues ÷ 12) + (Chapter dues - if applicable ÷ 12) = total monthly deduction How do I sign up?

Complete the Dues Withholding Application below. Send no payment. It may take 60 to 90 days before auto-deduction starts.

Your membership starts as soon as your application is received.

To learn more about dues withholding, call 800-456-8410.

NARFE Dues Withholding Application for NARFE Members who are Retirees, Spouses of Retirees or Annuitant Survivors STOP! Complete this section ONLY if you are signing up for Dues Withholding. If so, DO NOT send payment

o YES. I want to enroll in NARFE’s Dues Withholding Program. NARFE dues of $42* and chapter dues, if applicable, to be withheld annually. (*Dues-withholding members save more than 10% off the regular NARFE dues rate.)

Civil Service Annuity Number

Social Security Number (9-digit number)

–

C S

–

–

–

–

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

o Mr. o Mrs. o Miss o Ms.

NARFE MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

Full Name ____________________________________

NARFE Membership ID _______________________________

Street Address ________________________________

NARFE Chapter Number ______________________________

Apt./Unit _____________________________________

o YES. I also authorize my (NARFE member) spouse’s dues to

City ________________________________________

be withheld from my annuity. (Additional annual dues of $42 and chapter dues, if applicable, to be withheld annually. If YES, enter spouse’s information below.)

State ___________ ZIP _________________________ Phone (__________) ___________________________ Email _______________________________________ Date of Birth _________ /_________ /__________________ mm

dd

yyyy

Spouse’s Name ____________________________________ _________________________________________________ Spouse’s Membership ID _____________________________ Spouse’s Email _____________________________________

AUTHORIZATION (Withholding will begin in 60-90 days). Send NO PAYMENT with Dues Withholding Application!

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

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

Signature of Annuitant or Survivor-Annuitant

______________________________

Date

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

MAIL THIS FORM TO: NARFE, ATTN: Member Services, 606 N. Washington St., Alexandria, VA 22314-1914 800-456-8410

memberrecords@narfe.org

Do not send money with this form

(DW-2 01/21)

NARFE News

2023 CONFERENCES & EVENTS Information as of March 1: REGION X: September 12-14, Frankfort, KY; email Robert Allen, rvp10@narfe.org, for more information.

ALASKA: September 23, virtual; email Paul McIntosh, mcintoshpaul10@gmail. com, for more information; https://us02web. zoom.us/j/88666139423, passcode SDNCV0xROW1RRk96RytVTkwwZ2l4QT09.

ARIZONA: May 17, virtual.

CALIFORNIA: May 8-10, Embassy Suites by Hilton, 333 Madonna Road, San Luis Obispo; email Gerald Hall, fritz1313@hotmail.com, Ronald Griffin, rsdgriffin@sbcglobal.net, or Patricia Smith, sbsmith93561@yahoo.com, or visit www. csfcnarfe.org for more information.

COLORADO: May 25, DoubleTree Hilton Aurora, 13696 E. Iliff Place, Aurora; email Frank Impinna, impinna@gmail.com, or visit http://www. narfe-colorado.com for more information.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: May 4; contact Jacquelyn Lowe, jalkiwanis@aol.com, for more information.

FLORIDA: October 12-14; contact Evelyn J. Seabrook, brooklyn_seav48@hotmail.com, for more information.

GEORGIA: June 6, Courtyard by Marriott, 589 Carl Vinson Parkway, Warner Robins; federation election May 1-26; email Nancy Wall, njwall1992@gmail.com, or visit http://ganarfe. org for more information.

ILLINOIS: September 26-28, 1202 N. Keller Drive, Thelma Keller Convention Center, Effingham; federal election and business meeting September 28 during conference; email Linda J. Glasgow, glasgowljg43@aol. com, or visit http://www.narfe.net/site/il/ for more information.

48

MICHIGAN: May 24-26, Doherty Hotel, 604 N. McEwan St., Clare; email Sallye McGill, mcgill-s@ sbcglobal.net, or visit https://www.narfe.net/site/ mi/ for more information.

MINNESOTA: May 16-17, Willmar Conference Center, Willmar. Visit www.narfe.net/site/mn or call/text 8-digit NARFE ID number to 320-4449615 for more information and officer election ballot.

MONTANA: September 11; email Leland “Wally” Walbruch, leland.walbruch@gmail.com, for more information and to register.

NEBRASKA: May 11, Grand Island; contact Harold L Klaege, hlklaege@gmail.com, for more information.

NEW YORK: May 10; email Dennis Gawron, dennisamherst@gmail.com, for more information.

NORTH CAROLINA: May 10, virtual; email Thomas E. “Tom” Link, link.thom@gmail.com, or visit http://ncnarfe.org for more information and to register.

MARYLAND: Maryland: May 1-2, Aloft Hotel, 4501 Coastal Hwy, Ocean City, Maryland; email Edward Holland, hollandnmd@aol.com, or visit https://mdnarfe.org/ for more information.

OREGON: May 14-16, Best Western Plus Agate Beach Inn, 3019 N. Coast Highway, Newport, and Federation Election April 1 to May 7 (ballots will be available for download in the Oregon Federation FEDHub community); email Ruthann Couch, couchruthanngene@centurylink.net, or Colleen Hewes, hewcol@gmail.com, for more information.

MASSACHUSETTS: May 4, 5 Old Planters Road, Beverly; contact Robert L. Pierce, robert. piercejr@comcast.net, for more information.

WISCONSIN: November 6; contact Melanie Miller, melanie.miller@wisc.edu, for more information.

NARFE MAGAZINE MAY 2023

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.

• Access to FEDHub, NARFE’s online community, where members share ideas, information and solutions—it’s the go-to place where active and retired Feds connect • Visit the Legislative Action Center to contact your representatives about bills affecting federal benefits.

• Get NARFE Magazine and our weekly e-newsletter, NewsLine—your best sources for the latest news and information on issues impacting federal employees and retirees.

• NARFE Perks discounts on insurance, travel, health services and more!

• Nearly 800 local chapters unite federal employees, retirees, their spouses and survivors, and provide networking, advocacy and leadership opportunities.

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 Survivor Annuitant

q Please enroll my spouse _________________________________________

Spouse’s Full Name

_________________________________________

Spouse’s Email

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.

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 #____________

THANK YOUR RECRUITER Did someone introduce

THREE EASY WAYS TO JOIN 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.

you to NARFE? Please provide their Name and Member ID. ___________________________________________ 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. Some NARFE member benefits are provided by third parties (NARFE Perks), and not NARFE. (03/23)

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

PRODUCTS...........................................................................................................................................

ADT Home Security | 844-892-3513 | https://Partners.ADT.com/SSE-P1

Get your ADT-monitored home security system today for $28.99 a month with AND $100 Visa reward card from Protect Your Home ADT Authorized Premier Provider. *New customers only. Visit website for full details of offer.

GE Appliances Store | Use the link below to start shopping!

Save with NARFE members-only access to the GE Appliances Store! You will enjoy up to 25% off MSRP every day on the latest in high-quality appliances. *Orders can not be shipped to P.O. boxes, APOS, Canada, Puerto Rico, HI, AK or U.S. Territories. https://www.myapstore.com/GEStore/Appliances/ Registration?AuthCode=MONARFE21

LegalShield | 410-419-7130 | Shieldbenefits.com/narfe

Whether it’s big, small or somewhere in between, you have affordable legal help when you need it. Members receive the discounted rate of $18.95 for families of 10 (two adults and up to 8 children) when you sign up through the website above.

ODP Business Solutions | 1-800-650-1222 | www.officediscounts.org/narfe

(Previously Office Depot/Office Max)

Because you’re a member of NARFE, you now have access to exclusive members only discounts at ODP Business Solutions (previously Office Depot/Office Max). Members save up to 75% off on ODP Business Solutions Best Value list of preferred products and can take advantage of products discounted off the officedepot.com regular prices. Restrictions may apply so visit officediscounts. org/narfe for details. Product and service discounts may no longer be available for in-store purchases.

Purchasing Power | www.PurchasingPower.com/NARFE

While not a discount program, Purchasing Power is an exclusive purchase program helps members buy brand-name computers, electronics, appliances and furniture via annuity allotment when cash is not an option. No credit check or down payments.

INSURANCE..........................................................................................................................................

AMBA

NARFE Insurance Services | 800-233-5764 | www.narfeinsurance.com

Designed exclusively for NARFE members, (plans administered by AMBA) Senior Age Whole Life Insurance, Senior Term Life Insurance, Hospital Income and Short Term Recovery Insurance, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, AssistPlus, Discount Prescription Plan and Pet Insurance.

Member Options | 833-378-8224 | https://www.member-options.com/narfe

Member Options Auto and Home Insurance Program - Save Money with Multiple Quotes! Get quotes from top-rated insurance carriers on Auto, Home, Renters, Pet insurance and more in a matter of minutes.

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.

PRE-PLANNING...................................................................................................................................

Neptune Society | 800-NEPTUNE (637-8863) | www.neptunesociety.com

Our prearranged plans cover all necessary expenses for one guaranteed price even if the services are not needed for 40 or 50 years. The Neptune Society offers a $100 discount to all NARFE members. *Discounted offer is not valid for residents of Louisiana, Tennessee and Kentucky. Void Where Prohibited.

SEE HOW MUCH YOU CAN SAVE AT

www.NARFE.ORG/memberperks

MOVING SERVICES..................................................................................................................................

Coleman Allied | 850-375-0917 | jack.jacobs@colemanallied.com

With over 300 agency partners and an entire team dedicated to a quality move experience, Coleman Allied provides customized discount levels for all NARFE members for Interstate moves. *The NARFE pricing only applies to moves that leave the state you currently reside in.

Wheaton World Wide Moving | 800-248-7960 | narfe@wvlcorp.com

At Wheaton, we know interstate relocation is much more than trucks and boxes. With a network of topquality agents throughout the United States, Wheaton provides peace of mind with every relocation.

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

Choice Hotels International | 800-258-2847 | www.choicehotels.com

With 6,400 hotels throughout the world, Choice Hotels offers something for everyone. As a member, receive 20% off your next stay at participating hotels when you use Special Rate ID 00801967.

Collette Travel | 844-311-6563 | www.gocollette.com

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....................................................................................................................................................

NEW Active&Fit Direct | https://www.narfe.org/narfe-perks-for-members/activefit-direct/

!

Stay active from anywhere for $28/mo. Active&Fit Direct includes 12,200+ Gyms, 9,300+ On-Demand Videos and 1:1 Well-Being Coaching. A fitness program with no annual fees and no long-term contracts. Switch gyms anytime. Membership options for your spouse. No Enrollment Fee With Promo Code: SWEAT4SPRING1

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.

R

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

Life Line Screening, America’s leading provider of community-based preventive health screenings, will conduct health screenings using state-of-the-art ultrasound technology in your neighborhood. Operator code BKHN075.

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

The Way We Worked

Protecting Citizens During Wartime Medical Corps staff in the Office of Civilian Defense, including Dr. Charles Drew, give first aid treatment to an airraid “victim” during a practice drill in Washington, DC. President Franklin D. Roosevelt created the OCD by executive order in 1941 as World War II raged in Europe.

Its purpose was to protect the general population in the event of an attack, keep up public morale, and coordinate with state and local governments engaged in defense activities. In addition to establishing air-raid procedures, the OCD’s responsibilities included supervising blackouts and protecting against fire damage in the event of an attack.

After the war ended in 1945, the OCD was dissolved.

PHOTO from the Records of the Office of War Information, 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 MAY 2023

DID YOU KNOW? Between 1941 and 1950, more than half of the Black surgeons in the US had studied under Drew, known as “the father of the blood bank.”

Learn more at profiles.nlm.nih. gov/spotlight/bg

Oticon More™ Featuring MoreSound Intelligence™ A quantum leap in sound processing It’s the new perspective in BrainHearing™ technology that delivers tangible benefits, including better speech understanding with less effort and the ability to remember more. So, you can get more out of life.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR $2500 BENEFIT1 FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYEES AND RETIREES AT ALL YOUR HEARING NETWORK™ LOCATIONS. TO FIND A LOCATION CALL

(877) 696-5335 TTY:711 Your out-of-pocket costs may vary depending on plan benefits, eligibility, deductible, co-insurance, and model of device chosen. Through YHN you may choose among a variety of device makes and models. This is not a guarantee of coverage or payment. Benefit is not available through all insurance plans. Please call us to verify your coverage.

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©2023 Your Hearing Network. All Rights Reserved.

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.