NARFE's mission has remained the same since
1921, to protect and improve the retirement
benefits of federal retirees, employees and
their families.
Our current legislative agenda focuses on
enacting bills to:
Extend the Premium Conversion rights that
federal and postal employees have to federal
annuitants, so that retirees too can pay
their Federal Employee Health Benefits
premiums with pre-tax dollars and save an
average $400 each year; and,
Repeal the Social Security Government
Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall
Elimination Program. (WEP), two provisions
which can substantially reduce the expected
retirement income of retired federal
workers.
People who join NARFE know the most
effective means of change starts from
within. Each NARFE member's voice and
support carries twice its strength in making
a difference on Capitol Hill.
People who join NARFE know the only way to
make change is to pursue what is right and
just so that the only result is the outcome
they seek. People who join NARFE know
legitimate legislative change involves time,
money, dedication and the constant pursuit
of what is right and just. It is with this
in mind that NARFE has helped change the
future for the federal community.
Click
here to see how
NARFE has influenced the federal community.
Join us.
Become part of a powerful force today (Just
click "Join
us").
Information:
NARFE realizes that information is the most
powerful key in unlocking the potential of
your future. Federal employees, retirees and
survivor annuitants who are well informed
and actively involved in NARFE are the best
defense against the potential erosion or
stagnation of the future you've earned.
Federal benefits and insurance issues can be
complicated. The federal workforce knows how
difficult it can be to get information in
this era of shrinking human resource
personnel. Overwhelmed and understaffed,
personnel offices often do not have time to
help employees plan their futures one by
one. Retirees and survivors know how
difficult it can be to reach OPM.
NARFE provides the solution with the
resources you need. Members of NARFE have
access to a wealth of information through
our Web site, monthly magazine, newsletters,
NARFE staff, and volunteers located
throughout the country. Join forces with the
ultimate federal retirement guides and get
the answers you need.
Member Discounts:
Membership in NARFE is not without
privileges of its own. Earn back your
membership dues with valuable savings on
auto, long-term care, dental, life, FEHBP
and Medicare Supplemental Insurance, and
more! From car rentals, to moving services,
hotels, and travel offers, get the most for
your money through trusted names you'll
recognize. Start the advantages of NARFE
membership by joining today!
I Just Retired. What
Happens Now?
Your personnel office
prepares a "Certified
Summary of Federal
Service" which lists
your verified Federal
civilian and military
service. You should be
given an opportunity to
review and sign this
summary. Your personnel
office will also;
(1) certify your
Federal Employees' Group
Life Insurance coverage
to the Office of
Personnel Management (OPM)
if you are eligible to
continue coverage into
retirement
(2) forward any current
designation of
beneficiary for your
life insurance, or the
amount of your
retirement
contributions, to OPM
(3) process the
personnel action to
separate you from
Federal service
(4) complete the Agency
Checklist of Immediate
Retirement Procedures.
After your personnel
office completes all of
its actions, your
application and related
records are sent to your
payroll office. Your
payroll office will
authorize your final
salary payment from your
agency after you
separate for retirement,
and a lump sum payment
for any unused annual
leave.
Your payroll office will
also certify your
Individual Retirement
Record card, which is
the official record of
your current service,
pay rates, unused sick
leave, last day of pay,
date and type of
separation, and other
information used by OPM
to determine your
retirement benefits.
Payroll will then
complete the agency
checklist and certify
your basic pay for life
insurance, if necessary.
Your retirement package
is then forwarded on a
Register of Separation
and Transfers to the OPM
Retirement Operations
Center, Boyers,
Pennsylvania16017. Some
Federal agencies are
transmitting retirement
information to OPM by
computer tape, which
allows OPM and your
payroll office to both
take needed actions. The
package should be
forwarded to OPM within
30 days of your
separation, although
this does not always
happen. If the package
is not forwarded,
contact your agency. OPM
cannot act until they
have your records.
Note that disability
applicants must have
their disability
approved before any of
the above separation
process can take place.
Preliminary information
will be sent to OPM with
your disability
application to complete
the disability finding
first. Receipt of a
retirement claim number
is part of the
disability process, and
does not mean that your
application has been
approved.
Shortly after they
receive your application
and register of
separation, OPM will
send you an
acknowledgement. This
will include a "CSA"
claim number. The claim
number is important
because it is the number
used by OPM to locate
your retirement file,
and records on their
computer.
OPM can authorize
interim annuity payments
to provide you with an
income until work on
your retirement is
completed. OPM will send
you a notice informing
you of the amount,
usually between 85% and
95% of the regular
amount you will be due-
after deductions, such
as for health insurance.
Interim payments are
paid on the first of the
month for the previous
month. These payments
continue until work is
completed on your
retirement.
The goal at OPM is to
complete your retirement
within 45 days of the
time they receive your
records from your
payroll office. If your
records have left your
payroll office, you can
check on the status of
your retirement by
calling 202-606-0500 in
the Washington D.C. area
or 1- 888-767-6738 toll
free outside of
Washington. Hearing
impaired can call
1-800-878-5707.
If you want to make
immediate changes to
your Federal or state
tax withholding, or
purchase savings bonds
by deduction from your
annuity, you can use
Annuitant Express. Have
your annuitant
identification card with
your CSA number, and
your Social Security
number handy. Then call
the toll free number
1-800-409-6528 on a
touch tone telephone.
You need to be ready to
indicate the exact
amount of Federal income
tax you want withheld
from your monthly
annuity, if this is the
change you want to make.
OPM is also making the
above services, and
others, available on the
Retirement Information
Office number
1-888-767-6738
(202-606-0500 in the
Washington D.C. area).
You will need a PIN
(personal
identification) number
to use this system. A
PIN can be obtained by
contacting the Office of
Personnel Management,
Retirement Services
Division, Room 1312,
Attention PIN,
Washington DC 20415.
Also see our information
on the Thrift Savings
Plan and Social Security
if these will apply to
you.
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