What's New in Retirement Benefits

FEHB Self + One for Annuitants

Coverage under a Self Plus One enrollment became available in January 2016. Annuitants enrolled in FEHB can change to Self Plus One during the annual Federal Benefits Open Season or if they experience a qualifying life event. Read more

Phased Retirement

Phased Retirement is a human resources tool that allows full-time employees to move to part-time work schedules while beginning to draw retirement benefits. This new tool will allow managers to better provide unique mentoring opportunities for employees while increasing access to the decades of institutional knowledge and experience that retirees can provide.

Online Course

Benefits Officers Training and Development is very happy to announce the availability of our first on-line course—CSRS Offset.

OPM's CSRS Offset training covers the major aspects of the CSRS Offset program from a benefits officer's point of view including:

• Coverage determinations
• Decision factors
• Service requirements and other benefits
• Annuity provisions
• Offset computations
• Interrelationship with Social Security

Register for the course at our secure on-line registration site.

Retirement In Focus

Federal Ballpark Estimate

OPM developed the Federal Ballpark Estimate,  a savings goal worksheet.  You can use the Federal Ballpark Estimate to automatically calculate estimates of future Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) or Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) retirement benefits and Thrift Savings Plan account balances.  It will also let you know how well you are doing in meeting your savings goal.  The Federal Ballpark Estimate was developed in partnership with the American Savings Education Council (ASEC) of the Employee Benefits Research Institute.

Retirement Financial Literacy and Education Strategy

OPM has developed a retirement financial literacy and education strategy for Federal employees.  The plan is designed to educate Federal employees on the need for retirement savings and investment, provide information on how to plan for retirement and how to calculate the retirement investment needed to meet their retirement goals.  View additional information on the Benefits Officers Training page.

Implementation of Retirement Coverage Error Corrections Legislation

The online FERCCA Database is now closed.  Agencies are encouraged to continue to notify and educate employees on FERCCA and to review employee's personnel records as needed.  Agencies are reminded to notify your agency's headquarters level Benefits Officer if you identify any individual(s) who have a retirement coverage error and are eligible for relief under FERCCA; the Benefits Officer will then notify OPM.

Visit our FERCCA Home Page for further information and to view the FERCCA FAQ's.   The FERCCA Homepage provides you with everything you need to know about FERCCA and it's implementation.  We suggest that you bookmark it for future reference.

Visit the Insure site for more information on the other part of this legislation, long-term care insurance.

Benefits Administration Information Online Mailing List

Are you registered for the Benefits Administration Information (BENEFTS INFO) online mailing list?  The Benefits Administration Information list emails information, primarily Benefits Administration Letters (BAL), to subscribers. While the primary customers for the Benefits Administration Information list are agency benefits officers, anyone, anywhere can subscribe to the list. Benefits Administration Letters will be sent to list subscribers automatically.

Information about this mailing list can be found in BAL 00-701.

Back to Top

Benefits Officers Training and Development (BOTD) is building a webcast library of topics for the human resource professional. 

You can watch these and other videos at our Media Center.

Future webcasts will be announced through our Benefits Administration Information mailing list. Please see the information below to join this mailing list.

Financial Planning Tools

This listing of financial literacy resources provides external links as a convenience to our audience. The appearance of external links on this page does not constitute an endorsement by the Office of Personnel Management of the linked websites, or the information, advice, products or services contained therein. This website provides links to government and non-government websites as a public service only. The Office of Personnel Management neither controls nor guarantees the accuracy, relevance, timeliness or completeness of the information contained in these website links.

Budgeting and Planning

Asset Building

1. OCC.gov (Publication)

Budgeting

1. Practical $ Skills for Life (Other)
2. Cash Course (online course)
3. Personal Finance Counselor - Judy Lawrence (Book, Author, speaker,)
4. Rosen Publishing - Financial Literacy for Students and Families (Website and video)

College Saving

1. Federal Student Aid (Website)

Consumer Protection

1. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Website)

Creating a Budget

1. Savings Fitness:: A Guide to Your Money and Your Financial Future in Spanish (Publication)
2. Net Worth Worksheet (Publication)
3. Keep a Lid on Checking Account Fees (Publication)
4. Monthly Income and Expenses Worksheet (Publication)
5. Federal Ballpark Estimate (Other)
6. Savings Fitness: A Guide to Your Money and Your Financial Future Online Interactive Worksheets (Other)
7. Savings Fitness: A Guide to Your Money and Your Financial Future Online Interactive Worksheets in Spanish (Other)
8. Savings Fitness: A Guide to Your Money and Your Financial Future (Publication)
9. Ms. Financial Savvy (Other)

Credit Report

1. Annual Credit Report (Website)

Estimate Taxes

1. Tax Advantage Calculator (Publication)

Financial Literature

1. Jump Start - Financial Literacy for Students (Website)
2. Financial Literacy PBS Video Series (Videos)
3. Financial Literacy Life Stages (Website)
4. OCC List of Fit Lit Websites (Website)

Financial Planning

1. Financial and Retirement Planning Resources

Goal Setting

1. MyMoney.Gov (Other)
2. Found Women's Fin Ed (Other)
3. MyMoney Five (Other)
4. My New Money Goal (Publication)
5. Paying for College  (Other)

Other

1. OCC Financial Literacy Update (Publication)

Savings

1. Compound Interest Calculator (Other)
2. FTC Consumer Information (Website)
3. Ten Things You Should Know About Investing (Publication)
4. Taking the Mystery Out of Retirement Planning Online Interactive Worksheets in Spanish (Other)
5. Taking the Mystery Out of Retirement Planning in Spanish (Publication)
6. Emergency Savings (Website)
7. Taking the Mystery Out of Retirement Planning Online Interactive Worksheets (Other)
8. College Savings and Planning Resources (Publication)
9. SAVED: Five Steps for Making Financial Decisions (Publication)
10. Investing Basics--Guiding Principles (Publication)
11. Why Invest? (Publication)
12. Saving and Investing -- A Roadmap to Your Financial Security (Publication)
13. Consumer Fin Protect Bureau (Other)
14. Taking the Mystery Out of Retirement Planning (Publication)
15. Feed The Pig Manage Money (Other)
16. FDIC Money Smart (Campaign)
17. Save Like Mike (Video)
18. Roadmap to Saving and Investing (Other)
19. Save Some Spend Some (Publication)

Savings Goal

1. Savings Calculator (Publication)

Tax Withholding

1. IRS Withholding Calculator (Publication)

Thrift Savings Plan

1. How the TSP Fits Into FERS (Video)

Tracking Spending

1. FDIC Money Smart (PodCast)
2. Do You Know If You Have Opted in for Debt and ATM Overdraft Coverage? (Publication)

Back to top

Managing Debt

Auto Finance

1. GEICO (Other)
2. Buying a Car (Website)

Consumer Finance

1. My Money Five- Borrow (Other)
2. Talking Financial Lit (PodCast)
3. Feed the Pig Podomatic (PodCast)
4. Treasury (Other)
5. OPM Website (Other)
6. Building Wealth (Other)

Credit Card

1. How to fix mistakes in your credit card bill (Publication)
2. How to find the best credit card for you (Publication)
3. How to stop mystery credit card fees (Publication)
4. Act Fast if You Can't Pay Your Credit Cards (Publication)
5. The 7 Baby Steps (To get out of debt) (Website info - Trainer)

Homeownership

1. Considering a Reverse Mortgage (Publication)
2. HUD.gov (Other)
3. Mortgage Moves (Publication)
4. Should I Refinance (Publication)
5. Making Home Affordable (Other)
6. Mortgage Help (Other)
7. Have a Mortgage? (Publication)
8. How to Avoid Foreclosure (Publication)
9. Ready to Buy a Home (Publication)
10. Need Help with Your Mortgage-Don't Get Scammed (Publication)
11. Shopping for a Mortgage (Publication)
12. Owning a Home (Other)
13. Mortgages - Refinance or Modify? (Website)
14. Shopping for a Mortgage (Booklet) (Publication)
15. Home Ownership and Mortgages (Website)

Managing Checking Account

1. Guide to help open and manage a checking account (Publication)

Other

1. Credit Discrimination is Illegal (Publication)
2. How to rebuild your credit (Publication)
3. Know your rights when a debt collector calls (Publication)
4. Understand Your Credit Score (Publication)
5. You have a right to see specialty credit reports (Publication)
6. Everyone Has A Story (Video)
7. Help with My Bank (Other)
8. Check Your Credit (Publication)
9. Submit a Complaint (Other)
10. How to Spot Frauds and Scams (Publication)
11. How to Become Debt Free (Publication)
12. NCUA Consumer Assistance Center (Website)
13. Payday Loan Alternatives (Website)
14. Payday Loans (Website)

Student Loans

1. Student Loans (Website)
2. How to Manage Your Student Loans (Video)
3. Repayment Estimator for Federal Student Loans (Other)
4. Repayment What to Expect (Video)
5. Managing Your College Money (Publication)
6. Choosing Your Student Loan (Publication)
7. Online Guide to Repaying Federal Student loans (Other)
8. Repaying Your Federal Student Loans (Publication)
9. Trouble Making Your Federal Student Loan Payment (Other)
10. Federal Student Loans Be a Responsible Borrower (Publication)
11. Federal Student Loans at a Glance (Publication)
12. Responsible Borrowing (Video)

Back to top

Retirement

401Ks

1. Filing a Claim for Your Retirement Benefits in Spanish (Publication)
2. Retirement and Health Care Coverage…Questions and Answers for Dislocated Workers (Publication)
3. Retirement and Health Care Coverage…Questions and Answers for Dislocated Workers in Spanish (Publication)
4. QDROs: Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (Publication)
5. Abandoned Plan Search (Other)
6. Women and Retirement Savings in Spanish (Publication)
7. Your Employer's Bankruptcy: How It Will Affect Your Employee Benefits (Other)
8. Filing a Claim for Your Retirement Benefits (Publication)
9. Over 50? Want to Save More For Your Retirement? (Other)
10. A Look at 401(k) Fees (Video)
11. Maximize Your Retirement Savings - Tips on Using the Fee and Investment Information from Your Retirement Plan (Publication)
12. A Look at 401(k) Fees (Publication)
13. Ten Warning Signs That Your 401(k) Contributions Are Being Misused (Other)
14. Saving Matters (Video)
15. Saving Matters in Spanish (Video)
16. Making Your Retirement Look Great (Video)
17. What Do You Want Your Retirement to Look Like (Video)
18. Do You Want an Extra $100,000 (Other)
19. Do You Want an Extra $100,000 in Spanish (Other)
20. How Can You Earn 100% Return on Savings? (Other)
21. How Can You Earn 100% Return on Savings? In Spanish (Other)
22. What You Should Know About Your Retirement Plan in Spanish (Publication)
23. Market Watch (Campaign)
24. Are You Passing Up Free Money? (Other)
25. What You Should Know About Your Retirement Plan (Publication)
26. Are You Passing Up Free Money? In Spanish (Other)
27. Retirement Toolkit (Publication)
28. Retirement Toolkit in Spanish (Publication)
29. New Employee Savings Tips - Time Is On Your Side (Publication)
30. Top 10 Ways to Prepare for Retirement (Publication)
31. Top 10 Ways to Prepare for Retirement in Spanish (Publication)
32. MyRA.gov  (Campaign)
33. Women and Retirement Savings (Publication)
34. Over 50? Want to Save More For Your Retirement? In Spanish (Other)
35. Target Date Retirement Funds Investor Bulletin (Publication)

Investment

1. Rutgers Investment Risk Tolerance Quiz (Personality Quiz)

Other

1. Investor Bulletin: Social Media and Investing--Tips for Seniors (Publication)
2. Guide for Seniors: Protect Yourself Against Investment Fraud (Publication)
3. Early Retirement Seminars 101: Smart Tips for Spotting Retirement Scams (Publication)
4. Avoiding Retirement Fraud (Publication)
5. Managing Lifetime Income (Publication)
6. Investor Bulletin: Fixed Income Investments: When Interest Rates Go Up, Prices of Fixed Rate Bonds Fall (Publication)
7. Investor Alert: Five Red Flags of Investment Fraud (Publication)
8. Investor Bulletin: Variable Annuities Introduction (Publication)
9. Investor Bulletin: Protecting Your Online Brokerage Account from Fraud (Publication)
10. Investor Bulletin: Planning for Diminshed Capacity and Illness (Publication)
11. Managing Someone Else's Money: Help for Court-Appointed Guardians of Property and Conservators (Publication)
12. Cash Balance Pension Plans (Other)
13. Check Out Your Investment Professional (Other)
14. OPM Website (Other)
15. myRA (Other)
16. Critical, Endanged, & WRERA Status Notices (Other)
17. Managing Someone Else's Money: Help for Agents Under a Power of Attorney (Publication)
18. Ten Common Causes of Errors in Pension Calculations (Other)
19. OPM Annuity and Benefits (Other)
20. Planning for Retirement-Before You Claim (Other)
21. Managing Someone Else's Money: Help for Trustees Under a Revocable Living Trust (Publication)
22. Managing Someone Else's Money: Help for Representative Payees and VA Fiduciaries (Publication)
23. Mutual Funds -- A Guide for Investors (Publication)

Retirement Planning

1. Tammy Flanagan (Webinar)
2. AARP (Website)
3. Women's Institute for a Secure Retirement (Website)
4. Preparing for Retirement (Website)
5. FLTCIP (Webinars)
6. National Endowment for Financial Education (Website)
7. The Motley Fool - Retirement Planning (Website)
8. NARFE (Magazine/website)
9. National Institute of Transition Planning (Training - monthly webinar)
10. CFP (Website)

Social Security

1. Information for Human Resource Professionals (Other)
2. Estimate Your Retirement Benefits (Other)
3. FAQs About Social Security Potential Private Retirement Benefit Information Notice  (Other)
4. Apply Online for Medicare (Other)
5. Retirement Planning: Benefits for Your Spouse (Other)
6. Retirement Planning: Plan for Your Retirement (Other)
7. Calculate Your Life Expectancy (Other)
8. my Social Security (Other)
9. Apply Online for Social Security Benefits (Other)

Thrift Savings Plan

1. How Can Compound Earnings Work for Me? (Video)
2. TSP (Website)
3. Fund Information Card (Publication)
4. Stay with the TSP (Campaign)
5. How $100 Can Become $100,000 (Publication)
6. Your TSP Investment Options: The L Funds (Video)
7. Keeping Score? (Campaign)
8. This Is Your Time (Publication)
9. Take FIVE for Your Future (Campaign)

Back to top

Resources 

This website provides theses resources for HR Specialists.

• Benefits Officers Publications - Retirement and Insurance handbooks, administration letters, and pamphlets
• FERRCA - Federal Erroneous Retirement Coverage Corrections Act (FERCCA) Homepage provides you with everything you need to know about FERCCA and it's implementation.
• Resource Links - Quick links to retirement and insurance web pages at OPM and other agencies.
• Tools and Aids - Federal retirement Tools and Aids for Federal Benefits Officers.
• Training and Education - Retirement workshops for HR Specialists and education programs for agency staff.

Additional information is added to this page on a regular basis.  Suggestions for information and services that you would like to see added to these pages, should be directed to the Benefits Officers Training and Development at benefits@opm.gov.