Presentation Transcript

1. Federal Employee, We were where you are, We are where you will be. Come join us in preserving your Retirement Benefits. The members of NARFE
2. Who is Looking Out for Your Retirement Benefits ?
3. NARFE… Founded in 1921 by 14 federal workers. Now a major force on Capitol Hill and across the nation. Highly respected legislative voice for federal workers and retirees.
4. NARFE is… … 269,347 strong and 22,404 of them are Active Federal Employees. We represent 4.6 million plus federal employees and retirees. … The only association of federal workers and retirees united to preserve and improve the economic security and well-being of federal employees and their families in retirement
5. FEDERAL RETIREMENT BENEFITS ARE NOT A GIFT Benefits are earned through long term government service and your contributions
6. NARFE Goals: Protect income security Protect health benefits Receive fair and equal treatment
7. LEGISLATION IS A MAJOR FOCUS “Everything we gain, everything we lose, is by act of Congress.”
8. NARFEis highly respected Because of: A Top legislative staff Close contact with Congress and OPM Nationwide network of legislative activists
9. NARFE has helped to bring you: Survivor Benefits (1950s) Creation of the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (1960s) Thrift Savings Plan and Federal Employee Retirement System (1980s) Long Term Care (1990s)
10. Preserving Your Retirement Benefits NARFE will: Sponsor and support needed legislation Oppose adverse legislation Foster public recognition Cooperate with other organizations to accomplish goals
11. Preserving Your Retirement Benefits (2) Inform members about relevant issues – Retirement income, health care benefits, taxation and COLAs. Strengthen political influence through NARFE-PAC. Partner with OPM to answer questions about retirement.
12. F SOME CONTINUING ISSUES BEFORE CONGRESS: For years, NARFE has fought to: Repeal or modify Government Pension Offset (GPO) legislation affecting CSRS Repeal or modify Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) legislation affecting CSRS and FERS Include FEHBP Premium Conversion for Annuitants Tax Equityin Legislation
13. Why are these important? (GPO and WEP in place since 1983) GPO affects 464,537 S.S. beneficiaries – 77% women 43% widowed GPO prevents CSRS retirees from collecting both federal annuity and any Social Security Benefit based on spouse’s work 75% lost entire benefit
14. Why are these important? (GPO and WEP in place since 1983) WEP causes loss of up to 50% of retiree S. S. benefits WEP affects 972,000 S.S. beneficiaries – 2/3rds were Men 20% had paid into S.S. for at least 21 years.
15. NARFE SUPPORTED ISSUES IN 111thCONGRESS: Automatic TSP Enrollment “Roth” Option for TSP Allow surviving spouse to retain TSP rights Allow agencies to temporarily hire retirees without affecting annuities FERS Sick Leave Credit
16. HOLDING THE LINE Actions to reinstate or add new benefits are important, but – Our first legislative priority is to prevent any loss of current benefits. Until recently, NARFE has been successful in fending off attempts to cut back or curtail funding of our current benefits.
17. BUT, OTHER PRESSURES HAVE BEEN GROWING…
18. NARFE ISSUES IN 112thCONGRESS: Little progress, mostly holding actions Signed into Law: Federal pay freeze extended to Mar 28, 2012 Phased Retirement Unresolved Issues (As of Dec 1, 2012) Increasing Retirement Contributions Changes to FECA Workforce Reductions Repeal of GPO and WEP Hatch Act Modernization Postal Reform
19. Then… On February 17, the U.S. Senate and House voted to extend the payroll tax holiday by forcing newly-hired federal workers to pay the government 2.3 percent more of their paychecks.
20. NARFE President Joseph A. Beaudoin, released the following statement: “It is wrong that our nation's federal workers continue to be the only group called on to make sacrifices. Members of Congress must stop picking the pockets of America's middle-class federal workers every time they need more funds… In Response…
21. Beaudoin “…In addition to financing the payroll tax holiday, Congress this year has proposed using federal worker paychecks to pay for the highway bill, to bail out the U.S. Postal Service, and to avoid cutting the Pentagon budget. Ultimately, these attacks on federal workers will take a toll on public services that will take us decades to overcome.”
22. MAJOR NARFE PRIORITIES For 113thCONGRESS (2): NARFE Opposes Increasing FEHBP participants’ premiums by capping government contribution Reductions to federal retirement annuities or increases in employee retirement contributions without corresponding benefit increase Changing formula to calculate COLAs from CPI-W to chained CPI- U – but supports change to CPI-E Any effort to extend federal pay freeze Arbitrary reductions in the federal workforce without a strategic plan to manage the workload
23. MAJOR NARFE PRIORITIES For 113thCONGRESS: NARFE Supports: Actions to protect, promote and enhance the integrity and affordability of the FEHBP. Adequate COLA adjustments for federal retirement annuities and Social Security Annual pay adjustments to close pay gap between public and private sector workers
24. WHAT’S NEXT? NARFE will stay alert and continue to work with Congress
25. How Can You Help? Learn more about NARFE and what it does Stay up on what is happening in Congress Go to www.protectAmericasHeartbeat.com to send letters and other information to your Legislators and to tell your personal story. Write letters to the editor of your local newspaper Pass information about NARFE and this effort to your Federal Employee co-workers Join us in NARFE
26. OTHER NARFE PROJECTS Alzheimer’s Research (over $10,109,429) Federal Employees Education and Assistance Fund (FEEA) Scholarship Fund (sixty $1,000 scholarships) NARFE-PAC
27. WHO CAN BELONG? Active employees Former employees Retirees Survivors Spouses Former spouses “Civilians who are or will be eligible to receive an annuity or survivor annuity from the federal retirement programs”
28. WHO DETERMINES NARFE ISSUES? Grass Roots Chapters Federation convention of delegates National convention of delegates Focus on issues Political, but non-partisan
29. WHERE CHAPTERS ARE In Washington State: 1348 Chapters in US, Panama, Philippines and Puerto Rico
30. MEMBER BENEFITS: Effective voice in Washington DC NARFE monthly magazine Liaison with Office of Personnel Management Insurance Perks Social contacts
31. The Magazine
32. The Web Sites www.narfe.org www.enarfe.org Legislation Q & A NARFE Magazine Current Federal Employee Info Retirement Tips Insurance Benefits Member Discounts
33. NARFE: A key source for answers on retirement issues Most chapters have a Service Officer State Service Centers Online assistance through www.narfe.org www.enarfe.org Insurance – FEGLI and FEHBP Notification of death Survivor benefits All services provided without cost to user!
34. WHAT DOES IT COST TO BELONG? New membership dues are $45 the first year which includes chapter dues The following year dues will be $40 plus chapter dues E-Chapter dues are $40 Payment options include bill pay, credit card, & money order
35. Join Today!
36. Protect Your Benefits Through NARFE!
37. “Be Prepared for Life’s Events Useful NARFE Publication Lets you log important information for your beneficiaries