Posted on Thursday, 24th September 2015 by

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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 Payments. Here is a list of available features that you can use to manage your retirement:

  • Change your Federal and State Income Tax Withholding
  • Change your Mailing Address
  • Change your Password
  • Establish an Allotment to an Organization
  • Request Duplicate Annuity Booklet
  • Set up a Checking or Savings Allotment
  • Sign up for Direct Deposit of your Payment
  • Update your Email Address/Opt-in to Receive Information Electronically
  • View/Print Annuity Statement/Verification of Income
  • NEW! View/Print 1099-R Tax Forms . View/Print Retirement Services Reference Card (ID Card)
  • NEW! View/Print a Year-to-Date Summary Of Payments
  • View/Print Verification of Life Insurance (FEGLI)
  • View the Status of your Case while in Interim Pay

Herbert Casey wrote an excellent article for our blog titled Connecting to OPM Retirement Services Online that walks you through the registration process. I use this service frequently. Recently I updated our estate plans and downloaded a verification of my retirement income and printed a copy of my FEGLI Life Insurance Verification for my estate binder. You can also download a copy of the annual 1099-R tax form before your mailed copy is received or to replace a lost copy.

Do Not Call National Registry

We were receiving many telemarketing calls this past year and they are annoying. I decided to add all three of our phone lines, including my cell phone number, to the National Do-Not-Call List.

There has been a lot of talk about the pending wireless 411 phone directory, similar to the traditional phone directory. According to the FCC. “Placing telemarketing calls to wireless phones is – and always has been – illegal in most cases.” They go on to say that, “it is unlawful for any person to make any call (other than a call made for emergency purposes or made with express prior consent) using any automatic telephone dialing system or any artificial or prerecorded voice message to wireless numbers. This law applies regardless of whether the number is listed on the national Do-Not-Call list.”

You can add your phone numbers to the Do-Not-Call list either by calling 1-888-382-1222 from the phone number you want to register or go online to the Federal Trade Commission’s Do-Not-Call site to register up to three lines for this service. I used the online service to register our three lines and it only took a few minutes and I received an immediate confirmation. The do-not-call rules require callers that are not exempt from the rules to stop telemarketing calls 30 days after you register a number.

If you are being bothered by telemarketers you can file a complaint online with the FCC or call them at 1-888-225-5322. You can also file complaints about unwanted telemarketing calls to your wireless phone with the FTC at http://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov, call the FTC toll-free at 1-877-382-4357; TTY: 1-866-653-4261, or write to:

Federal Trade Commission
600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20580

FEHB Open Season

The 2015 Open Season runs from November 10th through December 8th of this year. You will be able to select for the first time a Self Plus One election that is expected to reduce retiree’s monthly premiums. The rumor on the street is that the premium decrease may not be as much as we had originally hoped. Rates and plan brochures should be available in late October to early November.

Request a FREE Retirement Benefits Summary & Analysis. A sample analysis is available for your review. Includes projected annuity payments, income verses expenses, FEGLI, and TSP projections.

Helpful Retirement Planning Tools Distribute these FREE tools to others that are planning their retirement

Visit our other informative sites

The information provided may not cover all aspect of unique or special circumstances, federal regulations, medical procedures, and financial information are subject to change. To ensure the accuracy of this information, contact relevant parties and ask them to review your official personnel file and circumstances concerning this issue. Retirees can contact the OPM retirement center. Our article is not intended nor should it be considered investment advice and our articles and replies are time sensitive. Over time, various dynamic economic factors relied upon as a basis for this article may change. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation and this service is not affiliated with OPM or any federal entity. You should consult with a financial, medical or human resource professional where appropriate. Neither the publisher or author shall be liable for any loss or any other commercial damages, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages.

Last 5 posts by Dennis Damp

Posted in ANNUITIES / ELIGIBILITY, BENEFITS / INSURANCE, ESTATE PLANNING, RETIREMENT CONCERNS, SURVIVOR INFORMATION | Comments (0)


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