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Posted on Tuesday, 15th December 2015 by Dennis Damp

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I receive email messages from retirees and survivors each year that can’t find their CSA claim number and are uncertain as to what benefits they elected when they retired. At least once a year we receive a Notice of Annuity Adjustment, shortly after the new year starts, that provides abundant information for annuitants and their […]

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Posted on Sunday, 29th November 2015 by Dennis Damp

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On November 2, 2015 the President signed HR-1314, the “Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015.” This law eliminated the file and suspend option for most Social Security applicants and changed the restricted application rules. These filing strategies allowed couples to increase their lifetime total payout. If you are now at full retirement age and planning to file and suspend you have […]

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Posted on Wednesday, 18th November 2015 by Dennis Damp

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I received a number of messages from active federal employees that were not able to get into Employee Express to make FEHB plan changes. Retirees using OPM’s FEHB Open Season Online are getting through and able to request hard copies of brochures and make plan changes. Employee Express is managed by OPM and employees are […]

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Posted on Tuesday, 10th November 2015 by Dennis Damp

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This open season has created confusion for many especially issues concerning the new FEHB Self Plus One option.  OPM’s Open Season Health Benefits Guide has left many questioning whether or not they will leave their spouse without coverage when they die if they change to the Self Plus One option.  When I first discovered the […]

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Posted on Thursday, 5th November 2015 by Dennis Damp

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The 2016 plan brochures are now available online at OPM.  I ordered 6 plan brochures through OPM’s FEHB Open Season Online service on Monday. I requested hard copies so I can sit down and review them offline. You can also view them online. This year has generated many more questions due to the new Self […]

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Posted on Saturday, 24th October 2015 by Dennis Damp

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Now that we officially aren’t receiving a COLA in 2016 and our health care costs are increasing next year, for some substantially, it’s time to cut our expenses wherever possible. Over the past few months I saved a substantial amount by reviewing our monthly bills and pairing costs. I believe I’ve saved enough to offset […]

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Posted on Thursday, 1st October 2015 by Dennis Damp

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OPM announced that the 2016 FEHB premiums will increase an average of 6.4 percent. Enrollees, on average, will pay $5.50 more each pay period for Self Only coverage and those with Self and Family coverage will pay $19.61 more per pay period. OPM also states in their latest press release that, “for over 95% of […]

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Posted on Thursday, 24th September 2015 by Dennis Damp

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Retirement Benefits Update OPM recently added new helpful features to their Retirement Information and Services web site. The site continues to add new features to help annuitants and survivors with benefit and retirement issues. The latest additions provide registered users the ability to view and print 1099-R Tax Forms and a Year-to-Date Summary of Annuity […]

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