Who is Looking Out for Your Retirement Benefits ?

1. 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… • …nearly 350,000 strong, representing 3.5 million 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. SOME CURRENT ISSUES FOR 110thCONGRESS: • Repeal or modify Government Pension Offset (GPO) • Repeal or modify Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) • FEHBP Premium conversion for Annuitants Tax Equity

13. Why are these important? (GPO and WEP in place since 1983) • GPO prevents retirees from collecting both federal annuity and any Social Benefit based on spouse’s work • GPO affects 401,200 S.S. beneficiaries – • 75% women • 42% widowed • 85% 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 971,300 S.S. beneficiaries – • 2/3rds were Men • 20% had paid into S.S. for at least 21 years.

15. 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. • So far, NARFE has been successful in fending off attempts to cut back or curtail funding of our current benefits.

16. “Harbingers of things to come”: • Pensions: • Defined pension benefits almost unheard of today • In 1980, 80% of workers had them, now only 33% • Could generate “envy factor” • Health Care: • Private health care programs hard hit, and FEHBP one of few fee-for-service options left.

17. OTHER NARFE PROJECTS • Alzheimer’s Research (over $7.3 million) • Federal Employees Education and Assistance Fund (FEEA) • Scholarship Fund (60 $1,000 scholarships) • NARFE-PAC

18. 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”

19. WHO DETERMINES NARFE ISSUES? • Grass Roots • Chapters • Federation convention of delegates • National convention of delegates • Focus on issues • Political, but non-partisan

20. WHERE CHAPTERS ARE: • 1476 Chapters in US, Panama, Philippines and Puerto Rico

21. MEMBER BENEFITS: • Effective voice in Washington DC • NARFE monthly magazine • Liaison with Office of Personnel Management • Insurance • Perks • Social contacts

22. The Magazine

23. The Web Site www.narfe.org Legislation Q & A NARFE Magazine Current Federal Employee Info Retirement Tips Insurance Benefits Member Discounts

24. NARFE: A key source for answers on retirement issues • Most chapters have a Service Officer • State Service Centers • Online assistance through www.NARFE.org • Procedures re annuity checks • Insurance – FEGLI and FEHBP • Notification of death • Survivor benefits All services provided without cost to user!

25. WHAT DOES IT COST TO BELONG? • As of January 1, 2008 • Membership dues are $33 the first year which includes chapter dues • The following year dues are $29 plus chapter dues • Options include “Bill Pay” & “Dues Withholding”

26. Join Today!

27. Protect Your Benefits Through NARFE!