NARFE REGION X CONFERENCE October 10 – October 12, 2017 National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association

Federal Benefits Information Tips and Resources National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association

Steps to take when you get close to retiring When you get within one year of retirement eligibility: Confirm when you will be eligible to get a retirement benefit; Decide when you want to retire; Get information about other benefits to which you may also be eligible, such as TSP. Have a fairly comprehensive picture of all sources of your retirement income and when each is payable. National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association

National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association Resources Attend a pre-retirement counseling seminar NARFE Webinars Make an appointment with your personnel officer to review your Official Personnel Folder (OPF) to make sure all your records are complete and accurate, all dates of service and your insurance coverage is documented. National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association

KEY THINGS TO CHANGE AFTER RETIREMENT ADDRESS-OPM, SOCIAL SECURITY AND TSP INSURANCE-FEHBP HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE, OPEN SEASON OR LIFE EVENTS, FEGLI ANNUITY BENEFITS-OPM TSP-DISBURSEMENT TAXES-RETIREES NO LONGER PAY MEDICARE OR FICA TAXES BUT RETIREES DO PAY TAXES National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association

National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association BENEFIT UPDATES Social Security On-line Requirement –To access your SSA account on-line you must have a cell phone with text capability. The agency said that it realized the new security layer might be an inconvenience for some people thus permitting calls to 1-888-772-1213 National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association

National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association BENEFIT UPDATES Open Season Dates: Nov 13-Dec 11 Rates announced for 2018 in early October COLA Announcement: Expected Mid- October Medicare Part B Premium Increase–How much will depend on the COLA National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association

COMMUNICATIONS WITH OPM Calling Options when OPM lines are busy Writing: OPM (Reason for Contacting) Example: 1099R Retirement Operations Center P.O. Box 45 Boyers, PA 16017-0045 Email-The response time is unfortunately slow On-Line-Service: On-Line is great for the types of actions it allows. National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association

CALLING THE RETIREMENT INFORMATION OFFICE AT OPM Preferred by most members-just pick up the phone and talk to someone. The best time to call is early : 7:45 EST Big Picture- Millions of customers but OPM only has a few employees to take calls. Important to limit request to OPM Benefits Annuity FEHBP FEGLI Tax Withholding National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association

National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association WRITING /EMAILING OPM A response is quicker when sent by certified mail so be patient Specify on the outer envelope the subject Use the PO Box 45 Boyers PA address Email: RETIRE@OPM.GOV The letters go to a huge Work Station for processing National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association

National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association SERVICE ON-LINE Do-it-yourself Change your Federal and State Income Tax Withholding Change your Mailing Address Change your Password and go online often to keep it current Request Duplicate Annuity Booklet with # Set up a Checking or Savings Allotment Sign up for Direct Deposit of your Payment Update your Email Address/Opt-in to Receive Information Electronically View/Print Annuity Statement/Verification of Income View/Print 1099-R Tax Forms View/Print Retirement Service Reference Information Card (ID Card) View/Print a Year-to Date Summary Of Payments View/Print Verification of Life Insurance (FEGLI) View the Status of Your Case while in Interim Pay National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association

SERVICE ON-LINE OBTAINING A NEW PIN 2 Ways to get a new password on-line By Email for those who have accessed their accounts within the past 15 months AND Set up personal security questions with OPM By mail. It will take about 2 weeks to receive the new temporary password at the home address National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association

National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association LOG-IN EX: CSA # OR CSF/W # Log In ( See Using Services Online for Log in Help) Claim Number: CS # Must be 9 characters Password: Forgot Claim Number or Password? National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association

OPM and NARFE RESOURCES OPM.GOV NARFE Experts are Available Sign-up with OPM Listserve Receive Benefits Administration Letters LISTSERV@LISTSERV.OPM.GOV NARFE’s Federal Benefits Institute Experts fedbenfits@narfe.org Bridget Boel, Director- bboel@narfe.org National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association

National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association Questions and Answers National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association

National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association NOTES National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association