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
Who is Looking Out
for YourRetirement
Benefits?
• 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.
NARFE…
… 297,000 strong and 23,900 of them are Active Federal Employees. We represent 4.0 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
NARFE is…
FEDERAL RETIREMENT BENEFITS ARE NOT A GIFT
Benefits are earned through long term
government service and your contributions
• Protect income security•Protect health benefits
•Receive fair and equal
treatment
NARFE Goals:
“Everything we gain, everything we lose, is by act of Congress.”
LEGISLATION IS A MAJOR FOCUS
• A Top legislative staff• Close contact with Congress and OPM
• Nationwide network of legislative activists
NARFE is highly respected
Because of:
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)
NARFE will:• Sponsor and support needed legislation• Oppose adverse legislation• Foster public recognition• Cooperate with other organizations to accomplish goals
Preserving Your Retirement Benefits
• 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.
Preserving Your Retirement Benefits (2)
SOME CURRENT ISSUES BEFORE CONGRESS:
• 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 Equity in Legislation
Why are these important?
• 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
(GPO and WEP in place since 1983)
Why are these important?
• 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.
(GPO and WEP in place since 1983)
NARFE SUPPORTED ISSUES IN 111th CONGRESS:
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
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.
“Harbingers of things to come”:
Pensions:Defined pension benefits almost unheard of today• In 1980, 80% of workers had them, now
only 21.3%• Could generate “envy factor”Health Care:• Private health care programs hard hit, and
FEHBP one of few fee-for-service options left. Health Care. Reform will impact.
Some recent, but defeated, Congressional proposals:
• Cut Federal Retirement & Health Benefits by $10.2 B.• Cut COLAS• Change from “High 3” to “High 5”
computation• Cut FEHBP support on retirees with less
than 30 years• Charge federal employees for parking
But they are not done yet:
• June 9, 2009 House Republican Policy Proposal calls for:• Shift from High 3 to High 5 Annuity
Calculation• Setting the minimum retirement age at
62 for all Federal Retirees.• Sep 28, 2009, Senator Grassley, Iowa,
“Move all federal employees, except Congress, to state health care plans.”
But they are still not done:
• Sept 2010: “Pledge to America” calls for:• Hiring freeze on all non-security federal
workersOn the Hill, calls to:
• Block 1.4% pay increase• Furlough federal workers for two
weeks• Fire workers who owe federal taxes• Freeze bonuses
NARFE is still helping• FY2010 Defense Authorization Act,
signed in October 2009, includes- Allowing federal agencies to re-employ
federal retirees on a limited, part-time basis without offset of annuity
- Letting FERS workers credit unused sick leave toward retirement (initially half,
then all).- FERS re-deposit
- CSRS Part-Time fix- Ending NSPS
How Can You Help?• Join NARFE – recruit others
• Stay informed: Sign up for GEMS, Read NARFE Magazine and newsletters.
- Call, Write and/or E-mail your Representative and Senators (Often).- Use CAPWIZ
- Refute inaccurate and misleading statements- Pass The Word to others – members and non-
members - Encourage them to act.- Give the NARFE Legislative Staff numbers to work
with – every voice counts.
How Can You Help?• Help set the public record straight
about Federal Employee and Retiree contributions, pay and benefits
• Take part in the “Protect America’s Heartbeat” Campaign
• 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 this effort to your Federal
Employee co-workers
OTHER NARFE PROJECTS
• Alzheimer’s Research (over $9.080 million)
• Federal Employees Education and Assistance Fund (FEEA)
• Scholarship Fund (sixty $1,000 scholarships)• NARFE-PAC
OTHER NARFE PROJECTS
• Alzheimer’s Research (over $9.25 million)• Federal Employees Education and
Assistance Fund (FEEA)• Scholarship Fund (sixty $1,000
scholarships)• NARFE-PAC
Another NARFE Resource
• Federal Retirement Benefits for Employees (FRB – E)
• Financial Benefits Maximizer (FBM)• eSeminar
• All Online• Available to NARFE members only
for small fee
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”
WHO DETERMINES NARFE ISSUES?
• Grass Roots• Chapters
• Federation convention of delegates• National convention of delegates
• Focus on issues• Political, but non-partisan
WHERE CHAPTERS ARE In Washington State:
• 1398 Chapters in US, Panama, Philippines and Puerto Rico
MEMBER BENEFITS:
• Effective voice in Washington DC• NARFE monthly magazine
• Liaison with Office of Personnel Management • Insurance
• Perks• Social contacts
The Magazine
The Web Site
www.narfe.org
Legislation
Retirement Tips
NARFE Magazine
Member Discounts
Q & ACurrent Federal Employee
Info Insurance Benefits
NARFE: A key source for answers on retirement issues
• Most chapters have a Service Officer• State Service Centers
• Online assistance through• www.narfe.org
• Insurance – FEGLI and FEHBP• Notification of death• Survivor benefits
All services provided without cost to user!
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
Payment options include bill pay, credit card, & money order
Protect Your Benefits
Through NARFE!
“Be Prepared for Life’s Events
• Useful NARFE Publication
• Lets you log important information for your
beneficiaries