Transcript Document
Federal Employee,
We were where you are,
We are where you will be.
Come join us in preserving
your Retirement Benefits.
The members of NARFE
Who is
Looking Out
for Your
Retirement
Benefits
?
NARFE…
• Founded in 1921 by 14 federal
workers.
• Now a major force on Capitol Hill
and across the nation.
•Highly respected legislative voice
for federal workers and retirees.
NARFE is…
… 305,426 strong, 24,354 of them are Active
Federal Employees. We represent 4.0 million plus
federal employees and retirees.
… The only association of federal workers and
retirees united to preserve and improve the
economic security and well-being of federal
employees
and their families
in retirement
FEDERAL RETIREMENT
BENEFITS ARE NOT A GIFT
Benefits are earned
through long term
government service and
your contributions
NARFE Goals:
• Protect income security
•Protect health benefits
•Receive fair and equal
treatment
LEGISLATION IS A
MAJOR FOCUS
“Everything we gain, everything
we lose, is by act of Congress.”
NARFE is highly respected
Because of:
• A Top legislative staff
• Close contact with
Congress and OPM
• Nationwide network of
legislative activists
NARFE has helped to
bring you:
• Survivor Benefits (1950s)
• Creation of the Federal
Employees Health Benefits
Program (1960s)
•Thrift Savings Plan and Federal
Employee Retirement System
(1980s)
•Long Term Care (1990s)
Preserving Your
Retirement Benefits
NARFE will:
• Sponsor and support needed legislation
• Oppose adverse legislation
• Foster public recognition
• Cooperate with other organizations to
accomplish goals
Preserving Your
Retirement Benefits (2)
•Inform members about relevant issues –
•Retirement income, health care
benefits, taxation and COLAs.
•Strengthen political influence through
NARFE-PAC.
•Partner with OPM to answer questions
about retirement.
SOME CURRENT ISSUES
BEFORE CONGRESS:
•Repeal or modify Government Pension
Offset (GPO) legislation affecting CSRS
•Repeal or modify Windfall Elimination
Provision (WEP) legislation affecting
CSRS and FERS
•Include FEHBP Premium Conversion for
Annuitants Tax Equity in Legislation
Why are these important?
(GPO and WEP in place since 1983)
• GPO affects 464,537 S.S. beneficiaries –
•77% women
•43% widowed
•GPO prevents CSRS retirees from collecting
both federal annuity and any Social Security
Benefit based on spouse’s work
•75% lost entire benefit
Why are these important?
(GPO and WEP in place since 1983)
•WEP causes loss of up to 50% of retiree
S. S. benefits
• WEP affects 972,000 S.S. beneficiaries –
•2/3rds were Men
•20% had paid into S.S. for at least
21 years.
NARFE SUPPORTED ISSUES
IN 111th CONGRESS:
Automatic TSP Enrollment
“Roth” Option for TSP
Allow surviving spouse to retain
TSP rights
Allow agencies to temporarily hire
retirees without affecting annuities
FERS Sick Leave Credit
HOLDING THE LINE
•Actions to reinstate or add new
benefits are important, but –
•Our first legislative priority is to
prevent any loss of current benefits.
•So far, NARFE has been successful
in fending off attempts to cut back
or curtail funding of our current
benefits.
“Harbingers of things to
come”:
Pensions:
Defined pension benefits almost unheard
of today
•In 1980, 80% of workers had them, now
only 21.3%
•Could generate “envy factor”
Health Care:
•Private health care programs hard hit,
and FEHBP one of few fee-for-service
options left. H.C. Reform will impact.
Some recent, but defeated,
Congressional proposals:
• Cut Federal Retirement & Health Benefits
by $10.2 B.
• Cut COLAS
• Change from “High 3” to “High 5”
computation
•
Cut FEHBP support on retirees with less
than 30 years
•
Charge federal employees for parking
But they are not done yet:
• June 9, 2009 House Republican Policy
Proposal calls for:
• Shift from High 3 to High 5 Annuity
Calculation
• Setting the minimum retirement age at
62 for all Federal Retirees.
• Sep 28, 2009, Senator Grassley, Iowa,
“Move all federal employees, except
Congress, to state health care plans.”
But they are still not done:
• Sept 2010: “Pledge to America” calls for:
• Hiring freeze on all non-security federal
workers
On the Hill, calls to:
• Block 1.4% pay increase
• Furlough federal workers for two
weeks
• Fire workers who owe federal taxes
• Freeze bonuses
NARFE is still helping
•FY2010 Defense Authorization Act,
signed in October 2009, includes
-Allowing federal agencies to re-employ
federal retirees on a limited, part-time
basis without offset of annuity
- Letting FERS workers credit unused sick
leave toward retirement (initially half,
then all).
- FERS re-deposit
- CSRS Part-Time fix
- Ending NSPS
How Can You Help?
• Join NARFE – recruit others
•Stay informed: Sign up for GEMS,
Read NARFE Magazine and newsletters.
- Call, Write and/or E-mail your Representative and
Senators (Often).
- Use CAPWIZ
- Refute inaccurate and misleading statements
- Pass The Word to others – members and nonmembers - Encourage them to act.
- Give the NARFE Legislative Staff numbers to work
with – every voice counts.
OTHER NARFE PROJECTS
•Alzheimer’s Research (over $8.904 million)
•Federal Employees Education and
Assistance Fund (FEEA)
•Scholarship Fund (sixty $1,000
scholarships)
•NARFE-PAC
WHO CAN BELONG?
•Active employees
•Former employees
•Retirees
•Survivors
•Spouses
•Former spouses
“Civilians who are or will be eligible to
receive an annuity or survivor annuity
from the federal retirement programs”
WHO DETERMINES
NARFE ISSUES?
•Grass Roots
•Chapters
•Federation convention of delegates
•National convention of delegates
•Focus on issues
•Political, but non-partisan
WHERE CHAPTERS ARE
In Washington State:
•1409 Chapters in US, Panama, Philippines
and Puerto Rico
MEMBER BENEFITS:
•Effective voice in Washington DC
•NARFE monthly magazine
•Liaison with Office of Personnel
Management
•Insurance
•Perks
•Social contacts
The
Magazine
The Web Site
www.narfe.org
Legislation
Q & A NARFE Magazine
Current Federal Employee Info
Retirement Tips
Insurance Benefits
Member Discounts
NARFE: A key source for
answers on retirement issues
•Most chapters have a Service Officer
•State Service Centers
•Online assistance through
• www.narfe.org
•Insurance – FEGLI and FEHBP
•Notification of death
•Survivor benefits
All services provided without cost to user!
WHAT DOES IT COST TO
BELONG?
New membership dues are $45 the first
year which includes chapter dues
The following year dues will be $40
plus chapter dues
Payment options include bill pay,
credit card, & money order
Protect Your Benefits
Through
NARFE!
“Be Prepared for Life’s
Events
• Useful NARFE
Publication
• Lets you log important
information for your
beneficiaries