Learn all you need to know to correctly counsel FERS employees about retirement issues. This comprehensive workshop covers the Federal Employees Retirement System rules and regulations and its retirement application procedures and benefits.
Who Should Attend?
HR specialists, assistants and clerks, as well as other support staff members who are involved in administering federal benefits.
Additional Information:
* This course does not cover the Federal Employees Health Benefits and Federal Employees Group Life Insurance programs. View Course Selection Guides.
Objectives:
Identify FERS coverage and retirement eligibility requirements
Explain the significance of the Thrift Savings Plan for FERS employees
Compute creditable service and annuity estimates
Explain deposit service and post-56 deposit service
Explain FERS retirement spousal elections, survivor benefits and death benefits
Use the appropriate FERS retirement forms and accurately process retirement applications
Syllabus:
Syllabus -- FERS Ret. Benefits Appl. for Personnelists, BENE8101D, Grad. School, USDA
Day one of four
Retirement Coverage
FERS retirement coverage
History of the FERS
FERS coverage by election
Five year test
Coverage determination tables
Determining coverage for FERS rehires
Social Security coverage
Determining coverage for transfers and conversions
CSRS component
FERS component: Creditable service
Military service
End day one
Day two of four
Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB)
Retirement eligibility
Health benefits for retirees
Agency procedures at retirement
Processing health benefits forms at retirement
Rules on health benefits changes after retirement
Handling former spouses request to enroll in FEB.
Medicare and FEB.
Contribution for part-time employees
Computing prorated contributions for part-time employees
Agency's role during open season
Medical determinations
End day two
Day three of four
Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI)
Background on FEGLI
Basic life insurance coverage
Other life insurance options
Waiver of life insurance coverage
Terminations and conversions
Living benefits
Assignment of life insurance
Continuation of insurance into retirement
Post-retirement reduction & cost basic insurance
Optional life insurance premiums
FEGLI changes allowed after retirement
Agency procedures at retirement
Processing life insurance at retirement
Retirement Application Process
Non-Disability retirement
Retirement forms
Personnel responsibilities
Payroll responsibilities
OPM processing of applications
Withdrawal of retirement application
Filing the application
Application filed by agency
Time limit on filing the application
Submitting the application to OPMB Supporting documents
Use of leave after approval
Reconsideration and appeal
Continuation of disability annuity
Restoration to earning capacity
Election between disability retirement annuity and Worker's Compensation benefits
End day three
Day four of four
Annuity Computations
General overview
Hi-3 average salary
Length of service
Computing a FERS annuity
Age reduction
Reductions for unpaid deposits, survivors and refunded service
Computing FERS annuity estimates
Special provision computations (6c)
Alternative Form of Annuity
Disability annuity computations
Computing part-time annuity estimates
Annuity commencing dates and COLAs
Computing deposits and redeposits
Death Benefits
Procedures to follow when an employee dies
Benefits payable
Deceased annuitant
Deceased separated employee
Sample forms
Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)
Determining eligibility for TSP participation
Percent of basic pay contributed to the TSP account
