Article Excerpt: "...The annual federal benefits open season running from next Monday (November 11) through December 9 will offer the usual range of choices in the Federal Employees Health Benefits program and also notably will start the transition of Postal Service employees and retirees into the new Postal Service Health Benefits program beginning in January. ..."
Article Excerpt: "...Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use..."
Article Excerpt: "...Why Use Self Lock? Employment-related identity fraud could mean that someone else is working under your identity and using your SSN. If this happens, someone else’s wages could be reported in your name to the Internal Revenue Service, the Social Security Administration, and other authorities. By using Self Lock, you can block someone from committing this fraud if they start working for an E-Verify employer. Even if you are not currently working, you may want to protect your SSN and identity with Self Lock. How to Use Self Lock
To access Self Lock, you must be logged in to your myE-Verify account.
To lock your SSN, you must select and answer three challenge questions. Select questions you can easily answer, because you will need to answer them again to verify your identity if you receive an E-Verify Tentative Nonconfirmation (mismatch) due to Self Lock.
If you are about to start a new job with an E-Verify employer, you should log into your account and unlock your SSN."
Article Excerpt: "...Trump Is Trustworthy
According to Drew, Trump comes across as the more credible candidate because she believes he follows through on his promises.
“I personally trust Trump because he does what he says he will do; he will stop the taxation of Social Security.” Drew depends on her Social Security check and likes Trump’s plan of not taxing her monthly benefits...."
Article Excerpt: "...As you may have heard by now, major changes are coming to Post Office health insurance plans in 2025 as the result of the Postal Service Reform Act of 2022, but one part of this law, scheduled to go into effect Jan. 1, 2025, will require most future retirees to take on an additional expense in retirement, impacting their monthly finances for life. ... 1. If you will be age 64 or older by Jan. 1, 2025, the new law will not affect you.
2. For all others, if you retire on or after Jan. 1, 2025, you will now be required to take Medicare Part B when you turn 65 or retire, whichever is later, in order to keep your Post Office health insurance."
Article Excerpt: "...Social Security recipients will see a 2.5 percent increase in their monthly checks next year, the federal government announced Thursday. It’s a smaller hike than in recent years..."
Article Excerpt: "...The average monthly annuity payment for a Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS) retiree in 2023 is $2,126. This does not include income from Social Security or the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). FERS benefits are calculated by multiplying a retiree's "high-3" average salary by their years and months of service. If a retiree was at least 62 years old when they separated and had at least 20 years of service, their annuity is 1.1% of their "high-3" average salary. ..."
Article Excerpt: "...The House is on the cusp of taking a major step toward the elimination of the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset.
While finally putting a knife in the heart of the WEP/GPO still will take an act of the Senate, congressional support may be coming at the perfect time. ..."
Article Excerpt: "...“The premium increases are due to the impact of price increases by providers and suppliers, increased utilization of certain prescription drugs and behavioral health spending,” OPM said. “Industry-wide cost pressures affect FEHB and PSHB rates similarly.” In dollars, FEHB enrollees will begin paying an average of $26.10 more toward their biweekly health premiums in 2025. ..."
Article Excerpt: "...For many retirees, it doesn't get much better than relaxing on the beach and enjoying the sunshine. Retiring in Hawaii, then, could be a dream come true for many people. As with any state, though, there are advantages and disadvantages to calling Hawaii home. While it can be an incredibly costly place to retire, there are plenty of perks to starting your next chapter in life in The Aloha State. ..."
Article Excerpt: "...This retirement surge was “fairly disruptive” in terms of economists’ views about the true size and health of the U.S. labor force, Bostic said. It also sparked big questions about whether any of those people who left the workforce earlier than expected would want to (or need to) rejoin the labor force in the future. “We have been very closely watching the situation and wondering whether labor supply will rebound to its pre-pandemic levels,” Bostic said. “Fortunately, it appears that retirement rates are slowly reverting closer back to their normal dynamics, which is good to see.”..."
Article Excerpt: "...“This 2% average federal pay increase is disappointing, especially when compared with an expected military pay increase of 4.5% on average. This inequity raises concerns about the fair treatment of federal employees and their contributions to our nation. “This below-market pay increase fails to reflect trends in the private sector, where wages and salaries have risen, and unemployment rates are low. Nor does it keep up with persistent inflation, leaving civil servants with diminished purchasing power. ..."
Article Excerpt: "...Series Overview
The Accident unfolds with a seemingly joyful birthday celebration that turns into a disaster when strong winds cause an accident resulting in the deaths of three young children. The ensuing blame and conflict among the adults expose deep-seated guilt and fracture relationships within the community. ..."
Article Excerpt: "...Amazon is planning to sell a paid subscription for an artificial intelligence-revamped version of Alexa that could cost as much as $10 a month. ...Amazon founder Jeff Bezos owns The Washington Post. ..."
Article Excerpt: "...In 2024, there are seven federal income tax rates and brackets: 10%, 12%, 22%, 24%, 32%, 35%, and 37%. Taxable income and filing status determine which federal tax rates apply to you and how much in taxes you'll owe that year. ...10%: $0 to $11,600-Single, $0 to $23,200-Married, $0 to $16,550-Head-of-Household ..."