May 2015 NARFE Magazine by NARFE

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government imposter scams

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They learned, they lobbied! Volume 91 • Number 5

COVER STORY

veterans’ preference Hiring hits new high, but does policy cause conflict?

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may

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WashingTon Watch

Budget Resolutions Would Cut Pay, Benefits of Employees and Retirees

Proposed Rule Aims to Protect Retirement Funds

Grass-Roots Advocacy Not One-and-Done Activity

10 GPO/WEP Repeal Bill Introduced

12 NARFE Bill Tracker Columns

From the President

52 Managing Money Cover Story

54 The Informed Citizen

veterans’ preference. Veterans hiring by federal agencies has increased substantially, but what is seen as good policy may conflict with other government hiring goals.

DEPARTMENTS

14 Questions & Answers 56 For the Record: TSP

Investments, COLA Chart

58 NARFE News imposter scams on the rise. Here’s how to protect yourself from scammers posing as, of all things, federal employees.

64 The Way We Worked special section

42 Legislative Training Conference Recap

On the Web visit us online at:

www.narfe.org like us on facebook:

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@narfehq

ON THE COVER

Illustration by Bill Pragluski, Critical Stages, LLC

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may 2015 | Volume 91 | Number 5

Editor Margaret M. Carter Assistant Editor Ken Fanelli Editorial Administrator Toni Vallario

National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association NATIONAL OFFICERS RICHARD G. THISSEN, President; natpres@narfe.org JON DOWIE, Secretary/Treasurer; natsectreas@narfe.org

Graphic Design Charlene Gridley Editorial Board Richard G. Thissen, Jon Dowie

Editorial Office: narfe magazine 606 North Washington St. Alexandria, VA 22314-1914 Phone: 703-838-7760 Fax: 703-838-7781 Email: communications@narfe.org Advertising Sales: Warren Berger Media People Inc. 122 East 42nd St., Suite 1622 New York, NY 10168 Phone: 212-779-7172, ext. 223 Email: wberger@mediapeople.com NARFE for the Visually Impaired On the Telephone: This publication can be heard on the telephone by persons who have trouble seeing or reading the print edition. For more information, contact the National Federation of the Blind NFB-NEWSLINE® service at 866-5047300 or go to www.nfbnewsline.org. On digital audio: Issues of narfe magazine are also available in audio format through the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS). For availability, call 202-727-2142 or your local NLS service provider. The Association, since July 1970, has been classified by the IRS as a tax-exempt labor organization [not a union]; however, dues and gifts or contributions to the Association are not deductible as charitable contributions for income tax purposes.

REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENTS

REGION I James P. Crawford (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont) Tel: 603-630-5191 Email: seacaptains@metrocast.net REGION II Evelyn Kirby (Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania) Tel: 410-604-1141 Email: ekirby@atlanticbb.net REGION III Jerry Janci (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Puerto Rico, South Carolina and Virgin Islands) Tel: 662-412-2029 Email: lettermanj@aol.com REGION IV Edward J. Konys (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin) Tel: 937-470-0566 Email: region4vp@gmail.com REGION V Carol R. Ek (Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota) Tel: 620-241-1131, CELL: 620-504-2202 Email: ek617@att.net

Here’s How to Contact Us… If you want to:

Join NARFE Call (toll-free): 800-627-3394 or go to: www.narfe.org Change your address, phone number or email Call (toll-free): 800-456-8410 Email: memberrecords@narfe.org

REGION VI Marshall L. Richards (Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Republic of Panama and Texas) Tel: 903-660-2784 Email: pappysdad@cobridge.tv REGION VII Rodney L. Adelman (Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming) Tel: 623-505-4719 Email: narfe7vp@cox.net REGION VIII Helen L. Zajac (California, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada and Republic of Philippines) Tel: 707-644-7565 Email: hlz17@aol.com REGION IX Lanny G. Ross (Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington) Tel: 360-692-9741 Email: lannyjean@comcast.net REGION X William Shackelford (Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia) Tel: 703-830-6590, CELL: 703-201-6304 Email: wshack1951@aol.com

For any other NARFE matter:

Call NARFE Headquarters: 703-838-7760 Email: hq@narfe.org Fax: 703-838-7785 Write: NARFE 606 N. Washington St. Alexandria, VA 22314

www.narfe.org

narfe (ISSN 1948-4453) is published monthly by the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE), 606 N. Washington St., Alexandria, VA 22314. Periodicals postage paid at Alexandria, VA, and additional mailing offices. Members: Annual dues includes subscription. Nonmember subscription rate $45. Postmaster: Send address change to: NARFE Attn: Member Records, 606 N. Washington St., Alexandria, VA 22314. To ensure prompt delivery, members should also forward changes of address without delay. Because of the volume involved, NARFE cannot acknowledge nor be responsible for unsolicited pictures and manuscripts, although every reasonable precaution is taken. All submissions become the property of NARFE. Copyright © 2015, NARFE. Advertisements in the magazine are not endorsements of products and/or services by NARFE, unless officially stated in the ad. We shall accept advertising on the same basis as other reputable publications: that is, we shall not knowingly permit a dishonest advertisement to appear in narfe, but at the same time we will not undertake to guarantee the reliability of our advertisers.

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From the President

Recognizing Public SErvants

ay is the month in which the Partnership for Public Service releases the names of the

finalists for the annual “Sammies” awards. The Sammies (formally, the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals) are the federal community’s version of the Oscars and recognize the best efforts by federal employees. Past awards have been given to doctors, scientists, teachers, law enforcement personnel and other members of the federal community who have improved our lives in many ways. Release of the Sammies finalists coincides with the celebration of Public Service Recognition Week – May 3-9 this year. While the Sammies

spotlight the absolute best and brightest of the federal community, I believe that federal employee and retiree contributions to America are underrated and misunderstood by many. The value of the day-to-day work of federal employees to our lives is immense. Without fanfare, federal employees perform functions vital to our country’s defense abroad, homeland security, education, housing, Social Security and Medicare, revenue collection, health services, food inspection and safety, transportation, air safety, mail delivery – I could go on and on. Retired federal workers are involved in many civic activities, volunteering to ensure that their communities provide services and a better quality of life to all citizens. Our retirees are donors to and volunteers for Meals on Wheels, food banks and transportation services, and shelters for the homeless and for battered and abused families. Without federal employees and retirees, the American fabric of life would not be as strong as it is today. I want to thank each and every one of you and your spouses for your service and dedication to our great country. Be proud of your contributions, and take every opportunity to refute and dispel the damaging myths surrounding federal service and retirement.

Richard G. Thissen NARFE national President natpres@narfe.org

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King Solomon’s Secret Treasure: FOUND Ancient beauty trapped in mines for centuries is finally released and available to the public!

ing Solomon was one of the wealthiest rulers of the ancient world. His vast empire included hoards of gold, priceless gemstones and rare works of art. For centuries, fortune hunters and historians dedicated their lives to the search for his fabled mines and lost treasure. But as it turns out, those mines hid a prize more beautiful and exotic than any precious metal: chrysocolla. Prized by the wisest king of the Bible. Known as the “Wisdom Stone,” chrysocolla was considered a powerful talisman of healing and calming energy. Ancient rulers of the Biblical era relied on it for guidance and now this legendary treasure can be yours with our stunning Earth & Sea Chrysocolla Necklace. Call today to bring home 325 carats for ONLY $49! Nothing like it on Earth. The mesmerizing swirls of color in chrysocolla come from a unique combination of elements found in the rich mineral deposits of copper mines. When miners find a vein of blue-green, all digging stops so that the delicate chrysocolla can be extracted by hand. Masterpieces of natural art. Our Earth & Sea Chrysocolla Necklace features a strand of polished, enhanced chrysocolla ovals—and silver-colored beads—that meet at a gorgeous teardrop pendant. Every chrysocolla is unique, showcasing a canvas painted by Mother Nature herself. Your satisfaction is guaranteed. Wear the Earth & Sea Chrysocolla Necklace for a few weeks. If you aren’t convinced that it’s one of nature’s most elegant creations, simply send it back within 60 days for a full refund of your purchase price. But once you experience this gorgeous gemstone for yourself, we’re betting that you’ll want to share King Solomon’s secret with the world!

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Washington Watch

House and Senate budget resolutions would mean major cuts in federal pay and benefits and could result in increases in FEHBP health insurance premiums for federal employees and retirees.

Budget bills would cut billions in Benefits from Employees and retirees

ederal employees and retirees could see billions of dollars in pay and benefit cuts if competing budget measures approved by the House and Senate before

they adjourned for the Easter/Passover district work period lead to a compromise plan and a single budget blueprint guiding congressional action for the year ahead.

HOUSE ACTION. After defeating a Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 budget plan proposed by House Budget Committee Chairman Tom Price, R-GA, and approved by the House Budget Committee, the House on March 25 passed a modified version that added more Pentagon funding to the blueprint. The vote on the so-called “Price #2” budget resolution was a largely party-line 228-199, with 17 Republican lawmakers voting “No” and no House Democrats supporting the plan. The House budget would balance the budget in nine years, cutting spending by $5.5 trillion over the period and raising no new taxes. Details of the House Budget Plan. The House Budget Committee report on its 6

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resolution provides explicit detail on cuts that would cost federal employees and retirees more than $300 billion over the next 10 years, including an eight-fold increase in the amount of salary that active federal employees would have to pay for participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) – with no change in the defined benefit formula. The House plan also proposes to increase Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) costs, with the federal government’s contribution to employees’ and retirees’ health insurance premiums limited to a specific amount, adjusted annually for inflation. Any additional premium costs resulting from

excessive medical inflation, user experience or market fluctuations would be shifted to enrollees. The House budget resolution also would reduce the rate of return on the Thrift Savings Plan’s G Fund, shrink the size of the federal workforce by 10 percent by filling only one in three vacancies, and cut funding for the U.S. Postal Service by $40 billion over 10 years through service cuts and employee/retiree benefit reductions. To achieve those savings, the House budget includes “reconciliation instructions” requiring the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, under the leadership of new chairman Jason Chaffetz, R-UT, to recommend changes in law consistent with these policies. The committee’s recommendations would become part of a larger “omnibus” reconciliation bill to be considered by Congress sometime after mid-summer. Unlike the budget resolution, a reconciliation bill would go to President Obama for his signature.

PROPOSED RULE AIMS TO PROTECT RETIREMENT FUNDS IN THE SENATE. The Senate worked into the early-morning hours of March 27 before adopting a version of the budget resolution proposed by Senate Budget Committee Chairman Michael B. Enzi, R-WY, and approved by the Senate Budget Committee. The Senate budget resolution passed by a vote of 52-46, after a marathon “votea-rama” on 500 amendments. Presidential aspirants Ted Cruz, R-TX, and Rand Paul, R-KY, were the only two Republicans to vote “No.” Democrats Dianne Feinstein, D-CA, and Barbara Mikulski, D-MD, abstained. The Senate resolution would balance the budget over 10 years by cutting mandatory spending, including federal retirement, FEHBP, food stamps, Medicaid and Medicare, by $4.3 trillion and also would reduce nondefense discretionary spending by $97 billion. Details of the Senate Budget Plan. The Senate budget resolution is less explicit when it comes to details of cuts affecting feds. But, in a published interview, Senate Budget Committee staff revealed that the Senate measure embraces the House retirement (Continued on p. 13)

Legislative Conference Coverage See the recap, beginning on p. 42 of this issue.

he Department of Labor (DOL) has proposed a new regulation to limit conflicts of interest, increase accountability and strengthen protections for Americans receiving retirement investment advice. Currently, investment brokers providing financial advice regarding whether to roll over a 401(k) or Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) account into an individual retirement account (IRA) or how to invest money within an IRA are not subject to a “fiduciary” standard. Rather, they adhere to a “suitability” standard. The proposed rule would change that, requiring brokers to apply a fiduciary standard to their retirement investment advice. (Registered Investment Advisors, a different category of financial professionals, already must adhere to the fiduciary standard, under rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.) Under a fiduciary standard, an individual providing investment advice must recommend investment products that are in their clients’ “best interest,” as opposed to products that are deemed to be “suitable” even if they have higher commissions than competing, lower-fee investment funds. For example, if comparing two essentially identical S&P 500 Index funds, a financial professional following a fiduciary standard would have to recommend the fund with lower fees. But one

following a suitability standard could recommend either fund, even if one cost more for the client and provided a higher commission for the adviser. The rule, proposed February 23, could provide an important protection against bad investment advice for federal retirees. TSP funds have extremely low fees. A substantial majority of the time, the best decision is to leave money in the TSP rather than to roll the money over into a highercost IRA. The new rule would prohibit investment brokers from counseling federal retirees to, for example, roll over funds from the low cost S&P Index fund in (Continued on p. 8)

Legislative Resources • Legislative Hotline: A weekly update of legislative news, compiled by the NARFE Legislative Department staff, distributed via email and available by phone (toll-free) at 877-217-8234 and online at www.narfe.org. • Legislative Action Center: A one-stop site to send a letter to Congress, and more, at www.narfe.org.

w w w. n a r f e . o r g

Washington Watch

NARFE GRASS-ROOTS ADVOCACY: NOT A ONE-AND-DONE ACTIVITY

he 2015 NARFE Legislative Training Conference may be over (see coverage, p. 42), but that does not mean NARFE advocacy stops. Grassroots advocacy is not a one-time activity but an ongoing effort by NARFE members and leaders. Individual NARFE members should get involved in grass-roots advocacy. NARFE’s advocacy is a team effort, and there are simple ways that you can participate without having to travel to Washington, DC. The House is taking two recesses in May — May 4-8 and May 25-29 — giving NARFE members two opportunities to reach out to their representatives. The Senate will be in recess for one of those times, May 25-29, when all legislators are home for the Memorial Day holiday. These recesses provide opportunities for NARFE members to attend town hall meetings and ask questions. According to a 2011 Congressional Management Foundation Report, 87 percent of Capitol Hill staffers said that asking questions at a town hall meet-

ing had some or a lot of influence over members of Congress’ thinking when they had not decided how to vote on an issue. The NARFE Legislative web page, www.narfe.org/legislation, has a listing of upcoming town hall meetings, and the NARFE Legislative Activities at the Individual Level Toolkit has sample questions that you can ask. Access the Toolkit at www.narfe. org/heartbeat/resources.cfm. The warmer weather also means that communities will start having parades and festivals. Memorial Day is a popular time for parades and street fairs. When attending, wear your NARFE gear and increase NARFE’s visibility in your community. And when you can, remind your members of Congress that federal employees and retirees are vital members of the local community, and their earned health and retirement benefits should not be on the chopping block. As the budget is debated in Congress (see story, p. 6), it will become more and more important that members of Congress

(Continued from p. 7) the TSP to an IRA invested in a similar, but higher-cost S&P Index fund. According to a report by the White House Council of Economic Advisers, investment advice that benefits brokers’ firms rather than investors causes investors to lose 1 percentage point annually on their returns, costing retirement accounts about $17 billion a year.

The rule is pending review by the Office of Management and Budget but is expected to be approved shortly. It then will be published and subject to a public notice and comment period before it is finalized. While NARFE won’t take action until the rule is made public, it is likely that the Association will support the effort.

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—By John Hatton, Deputy Legislative Director

hear from their constituents. And those constituents must include NARFE members. For more ways to get involved, visit the NARFE website, www.narfe.org, or contact the Legislative Department at leg@narfe.org. —By Sarah Weissmann, grass-roots program manager

MYTH vs. REALITY Myth: Federal employees are more likely to be delinquent on their taxes compared to the rest of the U.S. population. Reality: The general public is twice as likely to be tax delinquent compared to federal employees. According to data from a 2013 report by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), employees in the federal government have a delinquency rate of 3.27 percent, compared to an 8.7 percent delinquency rate for the entire U.S. population. The Treasury Department, which includes the IRS, has the lowest delinquency rate of all departments, at 1.1 percent. The House of Representatives has a tax delinquency rate of 4.9 percent, while the Senate’s rate is 3.2 percent. Those numbers refer to the tax delinquency rate of congressional staffers and some representatives and senators.

NARFE’s

CONGRESSIONAL DIRECTORY for the

114th Congress (2015-2016)

Congressional Information:

• Listing of members of Congress by state delegation, with color photos, biographical data and congressional district maps. • Members’ contact information, including addresses, phone and fax numbers, website addresses, social media contacts, district oﬃces and key staﬀers. • How Congress is organized and operates, with complete listings of committees, subcommittees and leadership. • Contact information for the White House, Cabinet, Supreme Court and federal agencies. … And customized for NARFE members Special insert with NARFE-specific information and data to be used for grass-roots advocacy.

Order your copy of the new Congressional Directory today! Clip and mail to: NARFE Congressional Directory, 606 N. Washington Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-1914 Name___________________________________________________________________ Address _________________________________________________________________ City __________________________________________State _______ZIP____________ Member ID# (As it appears on narfe magazine label)_____________________________

o Check or cash enclosed o Charge to my credit card

o MasterCard o VISA o Discover o AMEX

Card # __________________________________________________________________ Exp. Date

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(yy)

Quantity ________________ $20 each (includes shipping and handling) VA sales tax______________ VA residents add 6% tax ($1.20) per book Total cost________________

Name on card (print) ______________________________________________________ Signature _____________________________________________ Date _____________

Order form also available online at www.NARFE.org

Make checks payable to NARFE

*Please allow 2-3 weeks for delivery

Washington Watch

GPO/WEP repeal bill introduced; House Cosponsors sought

bill to repeal the Govimately 1.5 million federal retirees ernment Pension Offset who worked in Social Security(GPO) and Windfall covered employment and who Elimination Provision (WEP) has receive an annuity based on their been reintroduced in the House. non-Social Security-covered govRep. Rodney Davis, R-IL, introernment job. The GPO prevents duced the Social Security Fairness more than half a million federal Act of 2015, H.R. 973, on Februretirees who receive a government annuity based on their work ary 13. At press time, the bill had in non-Social Security-covered 85 bipartisan cosponsors. employment from getting Social Similar legislation was introSecurity benefits based on their duced in previous Congresses but spouseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work. failed to pass because of the hefty NARFE has long worked as part price tag to repeal the provisions. of the Coalition to Assure RetireThe WEP greatly reduces the 2015-16_PAC_Coupon_2013 Coupon 12/1/14 10:11 AM Page 1 (CARE), which it ment Equity Social Security benefits of approx-

helped create in 1991, to repeal or reform these provisions of Social Security law. CARE is comprised of more than 45 national, state and local organizations, and its sole purpose is to address the GPO and WEP disparity. Encouraging cosponsorship is vital and creates a starting point for eventual consideration. NARFE members can send a letter to their representatives through the Legislative Action Center on the NARFE website, www.narfe.org. â&#x20AC;&#x201D;By Carolyn Dorf, legislative staff assistant

NARFE-PAC CONTRIBUTION FORM I would like to be a SUSTAINER and make a monthly credit card contribution to NARFE-PAC of:

q Please charge to my credit card (required for monthly contribution)

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Credit Card Information

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Monthly contributions of $10 or more qualify you to receive the NARFE-PAC Sustainer lapel pin, along with a NARFE duffle bag.

q Other: ______/month (minimum of $10) OR

Type:

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Signature:_______________________________ Date: ___________________________________

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Mail to: National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association Attn: Budget & Finance

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606 North Washington St. | Alexandria, VA 22314

NARFE Member #: ________________________________ Name: __________________________________________ Address: ______________________________________________________________________________________ City: ________________________________________________ State: ____________ ZIP: _________________ Only members of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association may contribute to NARFE-PAC. NARFE will neither favor nor disadvantage anyone based on the amount of a contribution or the failure to make a voluntary contribution to this political action fund. NARFE-PAC contributions are not deductible for federal income tax purposes.

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Control what you can. Insure what you can’t. Available to NARFE Members and spouses age 65 and older with guaranteed acceptance.*

You can control what you eat, how much you exercise, and many other healthy life choices. But if something unexpected should happen, can you control your health care choices and receive the quality of care you deserve? You can manage many aspects of your life, but sometimes life has a mind of its own. An unexpected serious illness or injury can happen to anyone at any time, and have more than a negative impact to your personal savings and retirement. The NARFE Hospital Income and Short Term Recovery Insurance Plan can help you protect the savings you’ve worked so hard for and can help take control of your health care choices — allowing you to keep your self reliance, and receive the level of care you want after leaving the Hospital. This plan pays you, or anyone you choose, cash benefits for Hospital stays and for home recovery expenses you often need after you leave the Hospital, including: home nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, home health and homemaker services, and more — helping you to recover with the quality of care you’ve earned.

NARFE Short Term Recovery Insurance: • Up to $1,450 in cash benefits for each inpatient Hospital stay for a covered Injury or Sickness.

– Days 1–14, up to $750 — Days 15–30, an additional $500 – After 30 days, an additional $200.

• Up to $8,000† a year in cash benefits ($200 a day) for daily home recovery care expenses after a Hospital stay. • Cash benefits are paid in addition to any other coverage you may already have, and you can use the money however you choose. • Coverage that cannot be canceled because of your health or your age. • Economical group rates negotiated by NARFE for our members.

The NARFE Hospital Income and Short Term Recovery Insurance Plan Learn more today! Call 1-800-233-5764 or visit www.narfeinsurance.com Request Number 069096-1-1-1 Hearing-impaired or voice-impaired members may call the Relay Line at 1-800-855-2881. *Insurance benefits payable are subject to your policy’s Pre-Existing Conditions Limitation. † Benefits reduce to $4,000.00 a year at age 80. All benefits are subject to the terms and conditions of the policy. Policies underwritten by Hartford Life and Accident Insurance Company detail exclusions, limitations, reduction of benefits and terms under which the AR Ins. Lic. #303439, CA Ins. Lic. #OG39709 policies may be continued in full or discontinued. Plans may vary by state. In CA d/b/a Mercer Health & Benefits Insurance Services LLC The Hartford® is The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc., and its subsidiaries, including issuing company Hartford Life and Accident Insurance Company. 69096 (5/15) Copyright 2015 Mercer LLC. All rights reserved. SRP-1151 A (HLA) (5384)

Washington Watch

narfe bill tracker The NARFE bill TRACKER is your monthly guide to the congressional legislation that NARFE is following. Check back each issue for updates. ISSUE

Bill Number / Name / Sponsor H.R. 138: Access to Insurance for All Americans Act / Rep. Darrell Issa, R-CA

HEALTH CARE

Cosponsors: 0

H.R. 313: Wounded Warriors Federal Leave Act / Rep. Stephen F. Lynch, D-MA SICK LEAVE FOR WOUNDED VETERANS

Cosponsors: 20 (D), 5 (R) S. 242: Wounded Warriors Federal Leave Act / Sen. Jon Tester, D-MT Cosponsors: 1 (R) H.R. 304: The Federal Adjustment of Income Rates (FAIR) Act / Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, D-VA

What Bill Would Do

Latest Action(s)

Repeals the Affordable Care Act and establishes a national health program administered by the Office of Personnel Management to offer Federal Employees Health Benefits Program plans to individuals who are not federal employees or retirees. It creates separate risk pools for federal and non-federal participants.

Referred to nine House committees

Entitles any federal employee who is a veteran with a serviceconnected disability rated at 30 percent or more, during the 12-month period beginning on the first day of employment, up to 104 hours of leave, without loss or reduction in pay, for purposes of undergoing medical treatment for the disability for which sick leave could regularly be used. Requires the forfeiture of any of the leave that is not used during the 12-month period.

Approved by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform on 1/27/15

Provides for a 3.8 percent pay raise for federal employees in 2016.

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

Approved by the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on 3/4/15 narfe, March 2015

Cosponsors: 57 (D)

Federal Compensation

S. 164: The Federal Adjustment of Income Rates (FAIR) Act / Sen. Brian Schatz, D-HI

Referred to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

Cosponsors: 5 (D)

narfe, March 2015

H.R. 485: Wage Grade Employee Parity Act / Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-PA Cosponsors: 9 (D), 3 (R)

H.R. 785: The Federal Employee Pension Fairness Act / Rep. Donna Edwards, D-MD Cosponsors: 12 (D)

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The president has the ability to provide a pay raise for federal employees on the General Schedule. He does not have the same authority for Wage Grade, or hourly, employees, whose raises must be authorized by Congress. H.R. 485 would give the president that authority.

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

Repeals laws passed in 2012 and 2013 that increased the Federal Employees Retirement System contributions for newly hired federal employees.

Referred to three House committees.

NARFEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Position:

Oppose

Support

narfe, April 2015

No position

ISSUE

Bill Number / Name / Sponsor H.Res. 12: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States Postal Service should take all appropriate measures to ensure the continuation of its six-day delivery services / Rep. Sam Graves, R-MO

Postal Reform

GPO/WEP

Latest action(s)

Expresses the sense of the House that the U.S. Postal Service should maintain sixday mail delivery. As a resolution, it will not be sent to the president and, therefore, cannot become law.

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

Repeals the service standards for market-dominant products implemented by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) on January 5, 2015, and directs the USPS to reinstate the service standards that were in effect on December 31, 2011.

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

Reforms campaign finance laws to put small donors to political campaigns on par with wealthier donors. Provides a tax credit for campaign contributions and government matching contributions.

Referred to three House committees

Cosponsors: 131 (D), 25 (R) H.R. 784: Protect Overnight Delivery Act / Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-CT Cosponsors: 74 (D), 1 (R)

Campaign finance

What Bill Would Do

H.R. 20: The Government By the People Act / Rep. John Sarbanes, D-MD Cosponsors: 144 (D), 1 (R)

H.R. 973: Social Security Fairness Act of 2015 / Rep. Rodney Davis, R-IL Cosponsors: 66 (D), 19 R

(Continued from p. 7) “reform” described earlier as well as the proposal to increase FEHBP costs for participants. The policy changes in the Senate budget resolution would cost the federal community an estimated $170 billion over the next 10 years. But, importantly, the Senate budget does not include reconciliation instructions to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs, led by new Chairman Ron Johnson, R-WI. VITTER AMENDMENT. Just before the final vote, the Senate adopted (on 52-48 vote) an amendment by Sen. David Vitter, R-LA, to prevent members of

Repeals both the Government Referred to the Pension Offset (GPO) and the House Committee on Windfall Elimination Provision Ways and Means (WEP). See story, p. 10.

Congress and political appointees in the Executive Branch from receiving an employer subsidy from the federal government for their health insurance – a benefit of every qualifying federal employee and retiree as a component of their salary and benefits. The Vitter amendment reportedly exempts congressional staff from the limitation – allowing them to continue receiving the Fair Share government-employer contribution for their health insurance in a manner similar to other FEHBP enrollees. NEXT STEPS. Members of the House and Senate budget com-

mittees will meet next to resolve their differences, with the intent of consideration of a common product by both chambers. Should an agreement be reached, federal benefits could be impacted by new spending caps on nondefense agencies. Plus, the budget reconciliation process could take an unprecedented toll on federal employee and retiree benefits if the policy assumptions embraced by blueprints are enacted into law. NARFE members should be ready to take action and contact their members of Congress when requested by NARFE. —By Alan Lopatin, NARFE Legislative Counsel w w w. n a r f e . o r g

Questions & Answers

The following Questions & Answers were compiled by NARFE’s Federal Benefits Service Department staff. NARFE does not provide advice or assistance on legal, financial planning or tax matters.

employees Earning limitation and the FERS supplement

I am a federal employee, and I am considering retiring this year. Because I am under age 62 and in the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), I will qualify for a FERS Annuity Supplement. How much can I earn without affecting my FERS supplement?

The FERS Annuity Supplement is paid to FERS employees under age 62 who retire under an immediate annuity. It represents what they would receive for their FERS service from the Social Security Administration if they were eligible for Social Security benefits on the day they retired. They receive the supplement until age 62, when they would be entitled to actual Social Security benefits. Recipients of the FERS Annuity Supplement are under the same earnings limitation as individuals who claim their Social Security benefits before they reach their “full retirement age” (FRA). 14

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The earnings limitation amount is set by the Social Security Administration each year. It is raised with the annual increase in average wages for the national workforce. For 2015, FERS Annuity Supplement recipients and Social Security beneficiaries under their FRA may earn $1,310 per month or $15,720 a year without affecting their benefits. If a FERS supplement recipient exceeds the limit, the Office of Personnel Management deducts $1 from the supplement for each $2 earned above $15,720. Only the supplement is reduced, not the annuity.

Disability retirement and Social Security

I have 28 years of service under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) and am age 59. When I became disabled, I retired on disability because I couldn’t continue to work until I was 60 for an immediate retirement, and I could not afford to take the large decrease in my annuity if I applied under the MRA (Minimum Retirement Age) + 10 provision. I receive Social Security disability benefits. Do I also receive the FERS Annuity Supplement? How long will my annuity be reduced by my Social Security benefit?

Individuals who are receiving disability retirement are not eligible for the FERS Annuity Supplement. You must retire at your MRA+30 or age 60 with 20 years of service to receive this supplement. The

supplement lasts until you are age 62, the age at which you are entitled to Social Security retirement benefits, and then stops. You now receive 60 percent of your high-3 average salary for the first year, minus 100 percent of your Social Security disability benefit amount; the second year and until you turn 62, you receive 40 percent of your high-3, minus 60 percent of your Social Security disability. When you reach 62, OPM will recompute your annuity. It would be based upon your 28 years of service plus the service while you were receiving disability payments. This would equal about 31 years of service. You would receive 1.1 percent of your high-3 average salary. After the recomputation, OPM no longer reduces your annuity by your Social Security disability benefit amount. You would continue to receive your full Social Security disability benefit.

Post-retirement FEHBP Coverage for child

I plan to retire in 2015 and want to clarify that once I retire I can continue health insurance coverage under my Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) plan for my child who is attending college.

If the child is under age 26, coverage will continue. Children are covered under an FEHBP family enrollment until they reach age 26. It does not matter whether you are an active employee or a retiree. It also

does not matter whether the child attends college or not.

Adult children and long-term care

I have coverage under the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP). Can my child, who is 22, enroll in this federal program?

Yes. All adult children (at least 18 years old), including adopted or stepchildren of living employees or annuitants, are eligible to apply.

the five-year rule for FEHBP May be waived

I’m not going to be able to meet the coverage requirement to take my health insurance under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) into retirement. I’m going to have to retire prior to having the full five years of coverage to take care of a sick parent. Is there any chance I can get around the requirement and continue my federal health insurance coverage into retirement?

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has authority under the law to waive the five-year continuous coverage requirement if, in its opinion, it would be “against good equity and conscience” not to. OPM’s waiver authority is on a case-by-case basis. No sooner than three months prior to your planned retirement,

you should write OPM to request a waiver. Send the request to OPM Headquarters, 1900 E St., NW, Washington, DC 20415-1000. You should explain in detail the circumstances that are preventing you from meeting the five-year requirement. Your agency personnel office can help you by including copies of your records showing the number of years/months you have been covered under the FEHBP and the date you plan to retire. OPM’s decision whether to grant you a waiver is final; there is no appeal process.

retirees Making a change in direct deposit

I would like to change the direct deposit of my annuity to a credit union instead of a bank. How do I make this direct-deposit change?

There are several ways to change your direct-deposit institution. You can: • Use the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Services Online website, www.services online.opm.gov, to sign up for direct deposit or to change the account or financial institution where your payment is sent. (You will be asked whether your account is a savings or checking account and to provide your account number and the routing number for your financial institution. The routing number is found next to w w w. n a r f e . o r g

Questions & Answers

your account number on the bottom of your personal checks.) • Call OPM toll-free at 888-7676738. Have the above information available. • Mail your request in writing to OPM at U.S. Office of Personnel Management, P.O. Box 45, Boyers, PA 16017. Your letter should include your claim number. You can use the OPM direct-deposit form available online (www.opm.gov/ forms/pdf_fill/ri38-128.pdf), or you can submit a Standard Form 1199A, “Direct Deposit Sign Up Form,” which is available at your financial institution. OPM advises that when you change the account you use for direct deposit, you should keep the

old account open until a payment is posted to the new account. This will prevent having the payment returned if there is a problem with the new account, OPM says.

cancelling Part A

Q A

I want to cancel my Medicare Part A enrollment. What form do I need to complete?

Here is the guidance from Social Security on cancelling your Part A enrollment along with a warning: If you withdraw your Medicare Part A coverage, you must repay all Medicare Part A benefits paid

on your behalf. Medicare Part A is hospital insurance, which covers such things as inpatient hospital stays, care in a skilled nursing facility, hospice care and some home health care. Most people get Part A premium-free. You don’t pay a monthly premium for Medicare Part A coverage if you or your spouse paid Medicare taxes while working. To cancel Medicare Part A, you must fill out Social Security Form SSA-521 and include the reason why you want to withdraw your application for benefits or cancel your existing benefits. Send Social Security the completed form. It will notify you of the amount of benefits you need to repay and

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Questions & Answers

when there is a decision on your withdrawal request. If you change your mind after getting approval, you have 60 days to cancel an approved withdrawal. After that, you will lose any entitlement for the period covered by your application. If you want to keep your Part A benefits and just terminate your Medicare Part B coverage, you cannot use Form SSA-521.

when earning capacity is restored

I have several questions about my disability retirement and earnings. First, what is the current pay for a U.S.

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Postal Service window clerk? I was injured on the job in 2003; first received workersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; compensation benefits; then I retired on disability. I am working now and understand I can earn only up to 80 percent of my old postal service position but at the current pay. If I do earn more than 80 percent, I understand that my disability annuity would stop within six months and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) would send me that information after receiving my reported income for that year. Is this correct? If my annuity stops because I earn more than 80 percent, what happens then? I am age 53 with more than 30 years with the

postal service. When I turn 55, would I be eligible to collect my retirement as if I were still working and elected to retire?

We do not have the postal wage charts, but you can view them at: http:// postalwork.net/pay_scales.htm. After OPM compares your earnings from 2014 with the current salary for the position/grade from which you retired, it would notify you if you are over the 80 percent earning limitation. It would tell you the current salary for that position and what 80 percent of that salary is. It also would tell you that your disability annuity would terminate at the end of June 2015.

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Questions & Answers

In addition to the termination of your disability annuity, your health insurance under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program would terminate. If your disability retirement ends for this reason and you are considered to have been restored to earning capacity, and if you have met the age and service requirements for an immediate nondisability annuity, OPM would tell you if you could receive another type of annuity.

deadline to eliminate survivor benefit

I retired a few years ago and elected the maximum survivor benefits for my

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spouse. She will be retiring soon. She and I have decided to eliminate her survivor benefits and use that money for other purposes. What do I need to do?

An employee may revoke or change a survivor election not later than 30 days after the date of the first regular monthly payment by making a new written election with the Office of Personnel Management. After the 30-day period following the date of the retireeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first regular monthly payment has passed, the retiree cannot eliminate his or her survivor election. After that 30-day period, but within 18 months of the date of

the first regular annuity payment, a retiree may only elect a survivor annuity or increase the amount of the survivor annuity. The bottom line is that you have passed the deadline for eliminating your spouseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s survivor benefits.

Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s How to get your Retiree Id

Does the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issue annuitant ID cards after you retire from federal service?

OPM recently added a new item to its Retirement Services Online miscellaneous

functions that allows users to view and print a “Retirement Services Reference Card,” which can be used as a federal annuitant ID card. The front shows the OPM logo and the retiree’s name and CSA claim number. On the back is contact information for OPM’s retirement information offices. To print the card, go to www. servicesonline.opm.gov. Be sure to have your CSA claim number handy, along with your Services Online password. If you have trouble accessing Services Online, contact the OPM Retirement Service Center at 888-767-6738. Receiving this card by mail is not mentioned as an option.

disability retirement and Survivor benefits

My husband recently died while receiving compensation benefits from the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP). I am not entitled to OWCP survivor benefits, so I am electing Civil Service Retirement System survivor benefits, but I have a question about how much I can expect to receive. My husband elected full survivor benefits when he retired on disability. At that time, the gross survivor annuity payable to me was about $200 per month. Will the survivor annuity I receive from the Office of Personnel Management be increased by the cost-of-

living adjustments (COLAs) since he retired?

Yes. The amount of the survivor benefit payable based on your husband’s election at the time he retired will be increased by the COLA adjustments that have been granted annuitants since your husband’s retirement. Your survivor annuity also will be increased by all future COLAs.

AM I covered by CSRS?

I want to know if I am covered by the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) or the Federal Employees Retire-

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Questions & Answers

NARFE at Your Service ment System (FERS). I was hired in 1960 and retired in the early ’80s.

You are covered under CSRS, which was the only retirement system available to federal employees at that time. CSRS employees now pay about 7 percent of their salary into the retirement fund. In 1983, Congress passed a law requiring all federal employees who were first hired after 1983 to begin paying Social Security taxes on their wages. Now, most FERS employees pay 0.8 percent into the retirement system and 6.2 percent into the Social Security fund, although the percentage is

greater for employees hired after 2012. It took the Office of Personnel Management about three years to set up the FERS retirement system. In 1987, everyone who was first hired to work for the government after 1983 was placed in FERS. CSRS remains in effect for employees hired before 1984 who did not elect to transfer to FERS. To obtain an answer to a federal benefits question, NARFE members should call 703-838-7760 and ask for the Federal Benefits Service Department; send your question by postal mail to NARFE Headquarters, ATTN: Federal Benefits; or submit it by email to fedbenefits@narfe.org.

NARFE service officers are available to answer questions and to assist in helping with a variety of benefit matters. Check your chapter newsletter for the name and phone number of your service officer. For the nearest service officer, call NARFE (toll-free) at:

800-456-8410. NARFE Service Centers also are available in some areas. Use the Service Center listings on the NARFE website,

www. narfe.org.

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VETERANSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; PREFERENCE For an increasing number of U.S. military veterans, service to their country does not end with their discharge but rather continues into second careers as federal civil service employees. Five years after President Obama signed Executive Order 13518, which established a Veterans Employment Initiative aimed at increasing employment of U.S. military veterans in the federal civil service workforce, federal agency hiring of veterans has increased substantially.Â But there are still challenges integrating veterans recruitment efforts has led to some tensions over how to balance preferences for veterans with other federal agency hiring goals.

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Illustration by Bill Pragluski, Critical Stages, LLC

into the federal workforce, and the very success of

By David Tobenkin

What is seen as good policy may conflict with other government hiring goals.

w w w. n a r f e . o r g

INCREASING NUMBERS

The Initiative and implementation efforts by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and federal agencies have borne fruit. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2013, the federal government hired the highest percentage of veterans since the mid-1970s, according to a November 2014 OPM report, “Employment of Veterans in the Federal Executive Branch, Fiscal Year 2013.”

Of 162,000 new employees in FY 2013, approximately 50,000 were veterans, equaling 31 percent of total hires. That was a 7 percent increase over the FY 2009 baseline of 24 percent and approximately 2.1 percentage points higher than the 28.9 percent realized in FY 2012. The percentages are even more impressive if one removes the temporary, part-time, and seasonal jobs from the equation. In FY 2013, out of 76,736

BUYing BACK MILITARY TIME

Twenty years in the military can add up to a generous military pension, but veterans in the federal civil service who are short of that mark often find it makes sense to trade in credit for those military years of service for additional civilian ones used in calculation of the civil service annuity that they will receive. “While every situation must be analyzed on its merits, if a veteran employed in a federal civil service position will not qualify for a military pension, a buyback will nearly always make sense,” says Micah Shilanski, an Anchorage, AKbased Certified Financial Planner™ and founder of federal retirement website plan-yourfederal-retirement.com. “Buying back” actually means buying back. Military veterans must pay for each year of military service, which is called a military service deposit, and, if applicable, pay interest on the deposit. To determine the deposit amount, they must multiply each year of military base pay by 7 percent if they 26

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are under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) plan and 3 percent under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) plan. To avoid having to pay any interest on the deposit amount, new federal workers must pay back any military deposit amount prior to the end of their third year of federal civil service – often referred to as the “grace period,” Shilanski says. For those who do not, interest owed on the deposit amount frequently ends up amounting to many multiples of the deposit amount. Shilanski gives the following simplified example of how a buyback would work in practice and why it most likely is in the interest of any veteran who will not qualify for a military pension to make a buyback: Bill served four years in the U.S. Army starting in 1980. In 1990, Bill started working for the federal government and now has 24 years of civilian service under the FERS system. Bill is 53 now and has been thinking about retirement. He

wants to know if he should buy back his military time. Bill’s base pay when he was enlisted was $7,200 a year, so his total military base pay for his four years is $28,800. The military deposit to buy back his time is 3 percent of his base pay, so his deposit is $28,800 x 3 percent, or $864. Because Bill waited 24 years to buy back his deposit, he will owe roughly $3,000 in interest. So he’ll owe the $864 deposit + $3,000 interest = $3,864 total to buy back his military time. But even with that amount of interest, it nearly always makes sense to buy back the time, Shilanski says. In part, this is because buying back military time not only can increase a veteran’s federal annuity, but it also can make him or her eligible to retire sooner, Shilanski notes. In Bill’s situation, his Minimum Retirement Age (MRA) is 56, but in order to retire at his MRA, he must have at least 30 years of service. If Bill continues to work for three more

new hires for full-time, permanent, nonseasonal jobs, 46.1 percent were veterans – a 10.2 percent increase over FY 2009. (As this issue went to press, the President’s Council on Veterans Employment announced that the percentage of veteran new hires hit a new high of 33.2 percent in FY 2014, surpassing the FY 2013 mark.) An increasing portion of the overall federal workforce is composed of veterans. In FY 2013,

years, he’ll have reached his MRA of 56, but will only have 27 years of creditable service. To qualify for a full retirement, he would have to work until he has a full 30 years of civilian service. In this example, he would be 59. But the buyback described above will count toward Bill’s retirement. So if he has 24 years of service right now, he’ll have 28 after he buys back his military time. If he buys back those four years and continues to work, he’ll be eligible for retirement as soon as he reaches his MRA of 56, instead of 59, because by then he’ll have 31 years of federal service. It also will pay off handsomely financially for Bill, Shilanski notes. Assuming Bill’s current high-3 salary is $100,000, if he retires at age 56 with 31 years of service after the buyback, his gross annuity would be roughly $31,000 per year. Because buying back his military time added four years to his service, it increased his pension by $4,000 per year. And that’s $4,000 more per year, every year (and

the number of veterans onboard was approximately 607,000 of the 2,015,000 total employees, with veterans representing 30.1 percent of the workforce, up nearly five percent from 25.8 percent of the workforce in FY 2009. Veterans’ advocates express satisfaction with these efforts, but say more can be done in some areas. “We’ve been quite pleased with the initiative of many federal agencies in hiring veterans,”

it will increase with cost-of-living adustments starting at age 62), for the rest of his life, compared to the one-time $3,864 cost of the buyback. Shilanski notes that the buyback also would increase any survivor benefit annuity that Bill’s spouse receives. He also points out that buybacks do not affect other veterans benefits such as access to Department of Veterans Affairs facilities. In addition, CSRS plan participants with Social Security eligibility also may wish to use buybacks to avoid the so-called “Catch 62” scenario by which their annuity amounts otherwise would decrease at age 62, Shilanski notes. Because the buyback process is lengthy and requires obtaining and providing verification of military service, obtaining an estimated military earnings computation from a military finance center, completion of an application (there are different ones for CSRS and FERS plan participants), and home agency and OPM processing, veterans should start well be-

fore retirement, Shilanski says. Steps to complete the process are provided on the Defense Finance and Accounting Service website at www.dfas.mil/ civilianemployees/military service/militaryservicedeposits. html. A few qualifications are necessary to make a buyback of military service. Rules can be found for the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) at 5 U.S.C. §§ 8332(c), 8334(j), and 8347; 42 U.S.C. § 402; and 5 CFR §§ 831.301 and 831.21012107; and for Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) at 5 U.S.C. § 8411(c) and (d); Section 302(a)(2) of Public Law 99-335 and 5 CFR §§ 842.306 and 846.303. The service must be active duty service ended under an honorable discharge. And it is especially important to emphasize that the military service deposit for post-1956 service must be paid in full prior to separation from federal civil service unless there is an agency administrative error. (5 C.F.R. § 831.2104). —By DAVID TOBENKIN w w w. n a r f e . o r g

says Joseph Sharpe, Jr., director of the Veterans Employment and Education Division at The American Legion. “OPM’s efforts under [former director] John Berry were fantastic. Agencies like the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Labor have really stepped up, but there are other agencies that we would like to see do better.” Helping in veterans hiring efforts was the post-9/11 ramp-up in federal employee recruiting. “There was a huge increase after 9/11 in the military, military support, security and intelligence agencies, and those are among the agencies that veterans would most likely be attracted to and that would be able to hire them,” says Elaine Kamarck, a Brookings Institution senior fellow and former Clinton administration White House official.

INTEGRATING VETERANS

The manner in which veterans are assisted in joining the federal civil service varies by agency, notes Paul Plasencia, the Department of Labor’s (DOL) Veterans Employment Program Manager and director of its Office of Diversity and Inclusion. DOL’s veteran recruitment strategy includes several components, Plasencia says. First, is sensitizing hiring managers and supervisors to the abilities of veterans and providing annual training for managers on how best to recruit veterans through the noncompetitive hiring process. Plasencia says another component is training veterans, themselves, to properly apply for jobs. He conducts several workshops each month in the Washington, DC, area for transitioning veterans. Topics include preferences to which veterans are entitled (see sidebar, p. 30), how to search for jobs on USAJOBS.gov and the federal application process. Educating veterans about jobs for which they are qualified includes explaining how their military experience applies to the federal government General Schedule (GS) categories, Plasencia says. In practice, that may mean advising them not to apply for jobs that are at higher GS levels than they can justify, while ensuring they don’t sell themselves short by unintentionally omitting 28

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Helping in veterans hiring efforts was the post9/11 ramp-up in federal employee recruiting. relevant skills on their applications and resumes. “Many veterans have a hard time translating their military skills,” he says. “For example, training in air assault does not just involve rappelling out of helicopters and running. You have to study, and there is math involved.” Plasencia points to another recent initiative to reach out to veterans: the establishment of the Military Veterans Alliance, a military affinity group at DOL. Here vets can get together and discuss issues of interest to them and work with DOL leadership to address their needs. All those efforts have borne fruit at DOL, which in FY 2012 was the only federal agency out of 24 that met and exceeded targets for the hiring of both new veterans and disabled veterans. “That was a great accomplishment for us,” says Plasencia proudly.

REMAINING CHALLENGES

A significant number of veterans responding to a narfe magazine reader survey, however, point to shortcomings in recruiting and integration at federal agencies. One repeated complaint is that federal civil service opportunities seem to be clustered at more junior, less-skilled levels, with few opportunities for professional-level veterans seeking to make the transition to higher-grade jobs. Others point to an outmoded administrative pay schedule, unhelpful agency human resources

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practices and needless bureaucratic complexities in the hiring process. Others cite difficulties caused by miscommunications with nonveteran managers and co-workers who do not understand the sacrifices they have made.

Some miss the authority that the military gave them. “I preferred the military over my civilian job. … I worked my butt off for 30 years and got to lead extraordinary young people,” says one former chief master sergeant (a very high U.S.

PREFERENCES By the Book Assisting in the hiring of veterans are federal civil service hiring preferences and authorities that long have been provided to veterans. Eligibility for veterans’ preferences in federal employment, however, is dependent on military service dates or service-connected disability. There are several preferences that eligible veterans receive: • A five-point preference on hiring from civil service examinations for active duty service of a certain duration during certain time windows; • A 10-point preference for service at any time if the veteran received a service-connected disability or a Purple Heart badge (5 U.S.C. §§ 2108 and 3309 as modified by a length-of-service requirement in 38 U.S.C. § 5303A(d)); and • Placement of qualified preference eligibles ahead of nonpreference eligibles using category-based ranking methods (5 U.S.C. § 3319). Candidates are assessed against job-related criteria assigned to defined qualification categories, such as “highly-qualified” and “well-qualified.” In 2010, this superseded the so-called Rule of Three (5 U.S.C. § 3318), which limited hiring consider30

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ation to the top three candidates on an OPM or Delegated Examining Unit certificate, no matter the number of applicants. This resulted in a strong and often decisive preference for veterans when the five- or 10-point preferences were added to veteran applications. Certain special hiring authorities also exist to hire or give preferences to veterans. The Veterans’ Recruitment Appointment (VRA) is an excepted authority that allows agencies to appoint eligible veterans (including those in receipt of campaign badges or certain medals, who are disabled or who are recently separated) without competition if they are honorably discharged. (See 38 U.S.C. § 4214; Pub. L. 107-288; 5 CFR Part 307; 5 CFR § 752.401(c)(3).) Another authority is the Veterans Employment Opportunity Act of 1998, as amended (VEOA), a competitive service appointing authority that can be used to fill permanent, competitive service positions (but not excepted service positions). It allows qualifying veterans to apply to announcements that are otherwise only open to so-called “status” candidates, which means “current com-

petitive service employees” (5 U.S.C. §§ 3304, 3330; 5 CFR § 213.3202 (n) and § 335.106). Another authority is for 30 percent or more disabled veterans, which allows any veteran with a 30 percent or more service-connected disability (as measured by a disability rating) to be noncompetitively appointed (5 § U.S.C. 3112; 5 CFR §§ 316.302, 316.402 and 315.707). Though not specifically targeted at veterans, a Schedule A authority for people with disabilities, 5 CFR § 213.3102(u), is an excepted authority that agencies can use to appoint eligible veterans who have severe physical, psychological or intellectual disabilities. Veterans also are afforded some bending of the hiring rules. Veterans eligible for a 10-point preference in certain circumstances can submit a late application package after a closing date on a job posting (5 U.S.C. §§ 3305, 3314, 3315, and 5 CFR §§ 332.311, 332.312, 332.321, 332.322). Veterans also have advantages over nonveterans in reductions in force (RIF) (5 U.S.C. §§ 3501, 3502; 5 CFR § 351.501).

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Air Force enlisted grade) and group superintendent who subsequently joined the U.S. Department of the Air Force as a contract specialist in 2012. Others note, however, that there can be corresponding advantages in pay, benefits and work conditions from making the switch. “Office jobs beat the heck out of infantry jobs,” says a Vietnam-era infantry veteran who now works as a civilian U.S. Department of the Army computer specialist.

CONFLICT

The success of veterans in joining the federal workplace, however, has led some to ask whether the campaign to hire veterans with their attendant preferences is colliding with other important policy goals. These include promoting workforce diversity by encouraging agencies to hire from underrepresented groups, such as minorities, women and those with particular skills. A case in point is a recent Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) decision, Dean v. Department of Labor, 2015 MSPB 22, in which the MSPB rejected a veteran’s challenge to the relatively new Pathways Employment Program, which OPM instituted in 2010 to facilitate the hiring of recent higher education graduates. In essence, the case revolved around which preference − that of new graduates or that of veterans, such as the plaintiff David Dean, who were not recent graduates − should take precedence. In its February 2015 decision, the MSPB found that the Pathways Program, which had been specifically designed to avoid conflicting with veterans’ preference, did not violate Dean’s veterans’ preference rights. MSPB noted that the program contained special considerations for veterans, and it also helped achieve another important goal for the government by allowing federal agencies to fill some entry-level jobs with recent college graduates, including recent graduates who are also veterans. “There is a very long-established public policy program for federal government preferences for veterans, and I believe that is a good policy,” says John Palguta, vice president for 32

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One complaint is that federal civil service opportunities seem to be clustered at more junior, less-skilled levels. policy at the Partnership for Public Service, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to improving federal service. “I think we owe our veterans special considerations for their sacrifice. In my mind, the part that has changed over time and which is still being debated is the how: How do we provide that consideration to veterans in a way consistent with our other hiring goals? Decisions such as the Dean decision demonstrate that tension. Given the evolution of the hiring system, we need to have an honest dialogue about how to accommodate veterans’ preferences as well as other public policy goals such as workforce diversity, including diversity in terms of gender, race, national origin, different life experience and different viewpoints.” There is no question in the minds of many veterans who responded to the narfe magazine survey that they have earned their preferences. “If you serve to protect the USA, you lose many years out of your life,” wrote a former U.S. Navy petty officer who later joined the U.S. Postal Service as a rural mail carrier in Grand Forks, ND. “It’s a small but important reward to be allowed a chance at a job that not only allows you to serve but provides some stability to one’s life.” —David Tobenkin is a freelance writer based in the greater Washington, DC, area.

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IMPOSTER SCAMS ON THE RISE

Here’s how to protect yourself from scammers posing as, of all things, federal employees.

you. h c a re to g in y tr n e e “Hello, we have b ce from ti o n l a n fi a y ll ia c ffi o This call is e. The ic rv e S e u n e v e R l a rn the IRS, Inte that u o y rm fo in to is ll a c reason for this u.” o y t s in a g a it u s w la a the IRS is filing

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By Everett A. Chasen

Every day, thousands of people receive calls from scammers trying to swindle them out of their hard-earned money. This particular call was received by the home answering machine of Lisa Schifferle, an attorney for

IMPOSTER SCAMS ON THE RISE the Bureau of Consumer Protection at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). “We’ve seen an explosion of complaints about callers who claim to be IRS agents – but are not,” says Jessica Rich, the bureau’s director. “IRS employees won’t call out of the blue and threaten to have you arrested or demand specific methods of payment.” IRS imposter scams typically consist of a scammer contacting a consumer by phone, claiming that he or she is an IRS agent and the consumer owes the IRS money. Variations on the theme involve scammers who say they represent the FTC, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS), and the local sheriff’s office. The callers suggest consumers pay up by wiring money or loading money on a prepaid debit card. Scammers often threaten arrest or legal action, and their calls may appear to originate from Washington, DC, phone numbers. They may even know a consumer’s full or partial Social Security number, lending credibility to the scam. In 2013, the FTC received 2,545 complaints about IRS imposter scams; in 2014, that number increased to 54,690, more than a 24-fold increase. “Imposter scams are the fourth most prevalent type of complaint that the FTC received in 2013,” says Schifferle. “Unfortunately, our data

offers no explanation for why these scams are on the rise.”

OTHER IMPOSTER SCAMS

Impersonating IRS agents is not the only way in which imposters pretend to be federal employees. Scammers sometimes invoke the name of the Federal Reserve, the nation’s central bank, to deceive the public. The Fed warns about a scam in which customers receive emails with the subject line “Important Information Regarding Your Account,” supposedly sent by bank officials. The email falsely claims that an individual’s bank has contacted the Federal Reserve regarding unauthorized transactions and asks the individual to update the account through a provided link. A similar scam involves an email with the title “Suspicious Activity.” The message claims that an individual’s bank has contacted the Federal Reserve regarding a suspicious incoming wire transfer and asks the individual to complete a form requesting personal information. Another ploy is that the supposed bank has sent wire transfers to email recipients and requests personal information in order to send the information to the recipient. Of course, the money never arrives. A New England resident recently received an unsolicited phone call from someone who claimed to be an officer of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The scammer said that the FBI had been monitoring the consumer’s online activity and was attempting to collect an outstanding payday loan balance on a loan that actually existed. To clear the

t i a b e h t e DonA’t.gotv awilkl never contact you to ... US your personal information. t reques

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debt, the consumer was told to wire money immediately to the so-called FBI “officer.” The caller ID said “Federal Investigations,” and the scammer had information including the victim’s name, address, phone number and Social Security number. When the consumer refused to pay or provide any additional personal information, the caller hung up. Attempting to collect debts by posing as a government representative is a common scam. Besides bogus claims of affiliation with the FBI, debt collectors have falsely claimed to represent the IRS, the FTC and other federal agencies. Some scammers pose as immigration officials. They identify false problems with people’s immigration records, request personal information such as passport numbers or case numbers, and ask for payment over the phone to correct the record. Others “guarantee” they can get visas, green cards, lottery visas and employment authorization documents faster than the USCIS. Some charge money for blank USCIS forms, which are available free on the agency’s website. Others claim to be affiliated with the agency. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) deals with scams involving its Home Loan program. According to The Washington Post, many veterans are receiving “too-good-to-be true” mortgage and refinancing offers in the mail that carry the VA’s supposed endorsement. The Post cited the example of a Columbia, MD, couple who received a letter from a local company promising to “streamline refinance” their current VA loan. The company claimed it would reduce the interest percentage of the couple’s fixed-rate mortgage every three months until it went from 4.75 percent to 3 percent. “While the couple paid thousands of dollars in closing costs,” wrote the Post, “the rate never went down as promised.” Some military veterans and their family members also are receiving requests for their personal information via emails that appear to be coming from the VA itself. The emails, some of which use the names of actual VA employees, appear to be offering veterans something – such as a college education – for very little money as a benefit offered for their

service. The recipients are asked to provide personal information to determine their eligibility for that benefit, and then, of course, the benefit never arrives.

OTHER TYPES OF SCAMS

Scammers who do not directly represent themselves as government employees often pose as representatives of organizations with official-sounding names, such as “Veterans Affairs Services,” or the “U.S. Agency for Career Advancement” or the “Federal Grants Administration.” Some scammers advertise in the classified sections of newspapers or online, offering to help job seekers find and apply for federal and postal jobs. They falsely claim government job openings are available in their area. When applicants call, they are told they qualify for the job but need to pay for study materials to ensure a high score on an entrance exam. According to the FTC, these materials are often worthless, and a passing score on a postal exam doesn’t ensure a job with the U.S. Postal Service. Other scammers offer ways to get the federal government to pay consumers’ bills, for everything from utilities, cable and cell phones to their mortgages, student loans and insurance premiums. Those who respond to this type of ruse are charged a processing fee and asked for personal information, including names, Social Security numbers and credit card account numbers. In exchange, respondents receive instructions on how to use bank account or routing numbers to pay bills online or to print checks. The checks and accounts are worthless. And not only is the debt still owed, but those who fall for this scam are out the fee they paid, at risk for identity theft, and can be arrested for passing bad checks or for trying to use a bank account that doesn’t belong to them. Scammers also will pretend they are government officials to tell people they have won a federally supervised sweepstakes lottery. They may say they are from the “National Consumer Protection Agency,” the nonexistent “National Sweepstakes Bureau” or even the FTC. They ask you to pay certain charges or to send money to an agent to “ensure your prize.” Of course, there are no winnings. w w w. n a r f e . o r g

IMPOSTER SCAMS ON THE RISE Federal websites are not exempt from impersonation, either. USA.gov is the official portal for the federal government, managed by the General Services Administration (GSA). Scammers are using the site’s name as part of an email “phishing” scam to collect personal information on a fake IRS website. In phishing scams, Internet fraudsters impersonate businesses or government agencies to trick people into giving out their personal information. “Don’t take the bait,” urges the FTC. “USA.gov will never contact you to request your personal information.” Finally, some ads and unsolicited phone calls claim Americans can receive a “free grant” to pay for education costs, home repairs, home business expenses or unpaid bills. Some calls come from one of those agencies with official-sounding names or from people pretending to be federal employees. Those who answer such a call, or dial an 800 number in response to an ad, are asked for personal information, such as checking account numbers (in order to cover a small “processing fee”). They are then congratulated on their “eligibility” for the federal grant. Often, they are assured they can get their money back if they are not satisfied. The grant never comes, and the ever-so-helpful person they are dealing with soon disappears with their money.

PROSECUTION

There are a variety of statutes under which impersonating a government official can be prosecuted, depending on how the impersonation is carried out. These include misuse of certain words associated with the U.S. government while collecting debts, wrongful use of U.S. seals, and impersonation of offices or employees of the United States. “Most often, however, impersonation will be pursued as a mail or wire fraud scheme because the impersonation is simply one tool used in furtherance of a general scheme to defraud,” explains Nicole A. Navas, a Justice Department spokesperson. In Fiscal Year 2014, 42 cases were filed against 44

There are a variety of statutes under which impersonating a government official can be prosecuted. defendants for impersonating a government office or employee. “However, this does not capture all the instances in which imposter fraud has been prosecuted,” says Navas. In 2012, for example, the Justice Department successfully prosecuted three Missouri individuals for their roles in a scheme to defraud consumers seeking immigration-related services. These individuals worked for a company that defrauded legal immigrants who were trying to abide by the rules. The firm falsely told consumers that it employed paralegals to help customers correctly fill out immigration forms, that it handled excess call volume for USCIS, and that fees paid to the firm included government processing charges. All three defendants in the case pled guilty to conspiring to defraud consumers. One was sentenced to 130 months in prison, the others received lesser terms, and all were ordered to pay $613,969 in restitution to victims.

HOW TO KEEP FROM BEING SCAMMED

Scammers don’t usually target government employees and retirees specifically. They are, however, not exempt from attempts to scam them. The FTC has provided a number of suggestions on how to avoid being victimized by what it calls a “Government Imposter Scam,” including: • Don’t wire money. Scammers often pressure people into wiring money or strongly suggest they put money on a prepaid debit card and send it to them. Once funds are sent that way, they cannot be traced or returned. Never deposit a “winnings” check and wire money back because no matter how good the check looks, it’s a fake. Do not share

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IMPOSTER SCAMS ON THE RISE account information, or send checks or money orders using an overnight delivery or courier service. Con artists recommend these services so they can get people’s money before they realize they have been cheated. • Don’t pay for sweepstakes or lottery prizes. Those who enter and win legitimate sweepstakes don’t have to pay insurance, taxes or shipping charges to collect their prizes. Says the FTC, “If you have to pay, it’s not a prize.” Companies don’t insure delivery of sweepstakes winnings, and those who don’t enter a sweepstakes or a lottery can’t possibly have won. • Don’t give callers financial or other personal information. Never give out or confirm financial or other sensitive information, such as bank accounts, credit cards or Social Security numbers, unless you know with whom you are dealing. Scam artists use that information to commit identity theft, such as charging existing credit cards; opening new credit card, checking or savings

if you receive an email that’s supposed to be from a government program, do your homework. accounts; writing fraudulent checks; or taking out loans in victims’ names. Calls about debts that may be legitimate, by collectors who may not be, should be followed up by telling the company to which the debt is owed about the call. • Don’t trust a name or a number. It’s illegal for any promoter to lie about an affiliation with, or an endorsement by, a government agency. “No matter how convincing their story, or their stationery, they’re lying,” writes the FTC. No legitimate federal employee will ask you for money to collect a prize – nor will they call to collect a debt. Scammers 40

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also can use Internet technology to disguise their actual telephone area code. Although it may look like a call is coming from Washington, DC, it could be from anywhere in the world. • Put your number on the National Do Not Call Registry. Although the FTC acknowledges this won’t stop scammers from calling, it should create skepticism about calls out of the blue. While the FTC says most legitimate salespeople generally honor the Do Not Call List, scammers ignore it. This helps screen calls for legitimacy. (You can register your number at www.donotcall.gov.) “If anyone is a victim of such a scam, they should report it to the FTC at www.ftc.gov,” says the FTC’s Schifferle. Include the date and time of the call; the name of the agency used by the imposter; what they have told you, including the amount of money and the payment method they asked for; the phone number the caller used; and any other details from the call. The Department of Justice suggests whenever a consumer receives a cold call from an individual claiming to be from the government, the consumer should call the person back by contacting the agency’s switchboard and request to speak with that individual. If you receive an email that’s supposed to be from a government program and it seems legitimate, do your homework. Double-check any offers or demands by contacting the agency mentioned in the plan. Use the contact information listed in the USA.gov Index of U.S. Government Departments and Agencies (www.usa.gov/directory/federal/ index.shtml) to contact the agency – not the contact information provided in the email. Tax-related phishing emails should be reported to the IRS at phishing@IRS.gov. Other suspicious email communications should be reported to the FTC at www.ftc.gov. “I learned first-hand that IRS imposter calls can happen to anyone,” concludes Schifferle. “Once my kids were convinced that I wasn’t going to jail, we all sat down to dinner!” —Everett A. (EV) Chasen is a retired federal employee and a regular contributor to NARFE magazine.

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Special Section

Advocates-in-Training Gain Skills, Put Them Into Practice

T PHOTO ABOVE: Sen. Angus King, Jr., I-ME, welcomes Susan Hyde, past president of the Maine Federation, and Lou Haskell, current Federation president, to his Capitol Hill office. (Unless noted, Capitol Hill photos by Mike Theiler; conference photos by Margaret Carter) 42

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hey learned; they lobbied. Nearly 250 NARFE members attended the Association’s recent Legislative Training Conference. Held every other year at the beginning of a new Congress, the conference serves as a boot camp for NARFE’s newest legislative advocates and a refresher course for the veterans who have long lobbied for NARFE’s legislative agenda.

Almost half of the attendees at this year’s conference were first-timers. The March 14-17 event in Arlington, VA, drew NARFE members from 48 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, which was “the best countrywide representation in recent memory,” according to NARFE President Richard G. Thissen. Conference-goers heard from five members of Congress and attended a half dozen breakout sessions. They were briefed by national speakers and congressional staffers, and they participated in a lively give-and-take session on state advocacy. After all the discussion, the event culminated with NARFE Day on the Hill, when they visited their members of

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Congress and put their new skills into practice. “I found the Legislative Conference to be very useful,” said first-timer Linda Robinett of Sebastopol, CA, secretary of Chapter 53. “I had a vague idea of what our issues were, but honing them down to three talking points was very useful.” Robinett said she appreciated the tips from congressional staffers about maximizing their congressional office visits, something she was able to use in her meeting with Rep. Mike Thompson, D-CA. “Personal relationships are key to advocacy,” NARFE Legislative Director Jessica Klement told attendees at the opening session. “It is through those relationships that we are going to be an effective force on Capitol Hill. You are in a unique position to tell your story.” NARFE-PAC. Attendees gave the Association’s political action committee an infusion of cash, with $4,340 in one-time contributions and $5,760 (projected for the election cycle) through the NARFE-PAC Sustainer program.

Postal Partnership

he president of a major postal union brought a message of solidarity to conference attendees. “Our fight is your fight, and your fight is our fight,” said Mark Dimonstein, president of the American Postal Workers Union (APWU). NARFE recently joined APWU and more than 60 other national organizations in forming “A Grand Alliance to Save the Public Postal Service.” Referring to postal reform legislation filed in the last Congress that set the stage for elimination of Federal EmployMark Dimonstein ees Retirement System

(FERS) coverage for new postal employees, Dimonstein said that some in Congress want the postal service to be the “incubator” to get rid of defined benefit retirement plans for all federal employees. Congress already has passed laws requiring new employees to pay more into the retirement system, he said. “It is a constant chipping away.” No postal reform bills have yet been introduced in this Congress, he reported, but he expects legislation “soon in the spring.” In the meantime, he asked NARFE members to urge their representatives to support three resolutions in the House that would put them on record in support of continuation of six-day mail delivery, restoration of mail service standards and preservation of to-the-door mail delivery.

Comstock Understands Challenges Feds Face

reshman Rep. Barbara Comstock, R-VA, assured the conference that she will continue the work of her GOP predecessor in support of federal employees. “I want you to know how committed I am to continue Congressman Frank Wolf’s bipartisan work with our [Virginia] delegation to make sure we are promoting and protecting our federal employees,” she said. She understands the “challenges of being a federal employee,” Comstock Rep. Barbara said, having “walked the Comstock walk” as a congressional aide and employee of the Justice Department. She was critical of the 2013 federal government shutdown and reported that she had recently voted to fund the Department of Homeland Security and avert a threatened shutdown of that department. “I consider myself a conservative Republican,” she said. “It is not conserva-

tive to shut down the government, and it is not good for the country.” Comstock pledged her support for paid family leave for federal employees, noting that she provides her office staff 12 weeks of paid leave. She also said she will work to get “the best (pay) increases we can” for federal employees.

PHOTO BELOW: Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-ND, meets in her office with NARFE North Dakota Federation President Richard Hansen, left, and NARFE President Richard G. Thissen (Photo by Sen. Heitkamp staff)

Stories by Margaret Carter and Ken Fanelli w w w. n a r f e . o r g

It’s No Way to Run a Business

P Rep. Donald S. Beyer

Rep. John Delaney

ointing to their credentials as entrepreneurs, Rep. Donald S. Beyer, Jr., D-VA, and Rep. John Delaney, D-MD, registered their frustration with fellow lawmakers who bash federal workers and strive to diminish their benefits while giving lip service to their pro-business stances. A longtime Northern Virginia auto dealer, former two-time Virginia lieutenant governor and former U.S. ambassador, Beyer, who was elected in November to the seat formerly held by Rep. James Moran, D-VA, said adamantly: “No more furloughs and shutdowns! I’m opposed to arbitrary freezes and cuts. It’s a bad way to run a business and a government.” Just as in running a business, lawmakers have to take the long view, Beyer said. With bipartisan support, Beyer predicted, Congress will pass legislation providing federal employees paid parental leave. Federal workers should be compensated while on maternity leave just as the employees at his auto dealerships have been for many years, Beyer said. He also was an early cosponsor of a bill

that would provide a 3.8 percent pay raise for federal employees next year, he said. Changing attitudes about government service will take time and work, he said. “We need to use social media more and tell the story of the critical contributions of federal workers to our country and our democracy and how today’s federal worker is doing more with less.” When Delaney, who followed Beyer as a plenary session speaker, said, “in my opinion, federal workers are a good return on investment for the taxpayers,” he ought to know. Before entering politics, Delaney founded two Maryland businesses that created 2,000 jobs. When he first arrived on Capitol Hill in January 2013, Delaney was “shocked and appalled” at the rhetoric he heard against the federal workforce. He likens Congress to a board of directors of the country. “So why,” he asks these naysayer colleagues, “are you treating federal workers this way? How do you expect these people to feel good about themselves? It’s fundamentally no way to lead, to treat people or set an example,” he said.

Connolly: ‘We’ve Got More to Do’

R PHOTO AT RIGHT: After speaking at the conference, Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, third from left, walks to a meeting with NARFE members from Virginia. 44

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ep. Gerald E. Connolly, D-VA, advised NARFE advocates to be civil, but “not too polite,” when they visit Capitol Hill. “Remember,” he said, “what matters in Congress isn’t what I say, it’s how do I vote – am I with you when it matters on the floor of the House?” Eighty-five percent of federal employees live outside the Capital Beltway, Connolly noted. NARFE members remind their legislators of the “human face” of federal service. “You are their constituents, and you serve their constituents, and that is a noble calling,” he said. “The time has come to call out those who disparage and to call to account those who aren’t by your side.” He saluted NARFE as a leader in the successful fight in the last Congress

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against adoption of the Chained CPI to calculate retiree cost-of-living adjustments. “Good work,” he said. “But we’ve got more to do.”

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LEFT PHOTO: NARFE Legislative Director Jessica Klement moderates a panel discussion on congressional office visits. RIGHT PHOTO: Congressional staff members participating are: Greg Mathis, Catherine Provost and Peter Karafotas.

Hill Staff Says, Make Sure to...

hree congressional staff members provided pointers on how to make the most of visits to congressional offices, either on Capitol Hill or in the home district. In many cases, NARFE members will be meeting with 20-something staffers, panelists said. “Never underestimate who you are meeting with,” advised Peter Karafotas, chief of staff for Rep. David Cicilline, D-RI. Their top three suggestions: • Be on time. “Don’t show up late, but don’t show up early either,” said Greg Mathis, legislative assistant for Sen. Gary Peters, D-MI. Congressional offices are small and very busy, especially when Congress is in session.

• Have a very specific “ask.” Often constituents come into the office and “bang their pots and pans and say, ‘We have an issue,’” said Catherine Provost, field and constituent service representative for Rep. Chris Van Hollen, D-MD. But they should be clear what they are asking to be done about it, Provost said. • Don’t assume staff knows all the acronyms and lingo. Take time to explain the issue and have a leave-behind document, Karafotas urged. “A one-pager, front and back, is probably the most I am going to get to.” Other tips: Have data on how the state or district would be affected; follow up with the staff member; and use email, not phone calls.

Advice on Persuasive Advocacy

I PHOTO AT RIGHT: Sen. John Boozman, R-AR, right, leaves a committee hearing to meet with Warren Searls of Hot Springs Village, AR, president of Chapter 1368. 46

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nfluencing lawmakers takes persistence, grit, doing your homework and utilizing a set of strategies that work, according to Amy Showalter, president of The Showalter Group, Inc., a Cincinnati, OH, grass-roots lobbying consultancy. The most successful lobbyists “don’t pull punches,” said Showalter. They are willing and able to tell the opposition’s story. Telling your lawmaker what the other camp thinks and says will help build your credibility, she says. But, she cautions, spend 80 percent on your argument. One blunder many new advocates commit is making the “ask” too soon. Rather, first establish a rapport by asking your representative, or his or her aide, about something before asking for something. This process is all part of building trust, she notes. Showalter has written about her

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approach to advocacy in her 2011 book The Underdog Edge: How Ordinary People Change the Minds of the Powerful and Live to Tell About It.

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New Narrative: Build Up, Don’t Tear Down

he Partnership for Public Service is trying to change the discussion on Capitol Hill from ways to tear down the government to ways to create a government that will create “real value for the future,” said Max Stier, president and CEO of the nonprofit organization that is dedicated to making the federal government more effective and efficient. “If all you do is play defense, you lose. You need to have an offense,” Stier said. “In our view, there are a lot of places we can go to improve what we have today and make it better. That allows the conversation to shift in an important direction.” The Partnership is well known for its Service to America Medals (“Sammies”) and “Best Places to Work in the Federal Government” survey rankings. In addressing the conference, Stier concentrated on its efforts in civil service reform. “The civil service system was a phenomenal system when it was built, which was in 1949,” Stier said. “But I’m not aware of

PHOTO BELOW: Rep. Billy Long, R-MO, center, steps outside a meeting to talk with constituents Laura and Walter Cowart of Springfield, both of whom are officers of Chapter 11.

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any other organization that is thriving today that is operating under the same rules as it did in 1949.” The system has had piecemeal changes, but has not changed holistically, he said. Among problem areas are the government’s systems of job classification, performancemanagement and hiring. As a first step, the PartnerMax Stier ship is looking to advance what Stier called “low-hanging fruit.” For example, he said, agencies currently cannot share certification lists. If the Department of Homeland Security compiles a list of 10 qualified cybersecurity job candidates, but hires only five, the Departments of Defense and Justice cannot hire the remaining five, but must start the process over. “If one agency’s done a great job of finding terrific people, other agencies should be able to hire off the same list,” he said.

Adequate Benefits Matter

ep. Derek Kilmer, D-WA, told the closing conference session that he would be fighting to undo sequestration, the across-the-board cuts mandated in federal spending. “Sequestration,” he said, “I think that’s a Latin word for stupid.” No successful business would ever “mindlessly” reduce its budget that way, he said. He also railed against the 16-day government shutdown in 2013. “You would never see a successful business, when having a management disagreement, simply shut down the business,” he said. Kilmer reported he had just signed on as a cosponsor of legislation to provide a 3.8 percent raise for federal employees in 2016. And saying “adequate benefits matter,” he

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expressed his support for health benefits for feds that are “affordable and protected” as well as for paid family leave for employees.

For More Information... Go to www.narfe.org, click on Legislation and then select Legislative Training Conference on the left. Videos of select plenary and breakout sessions are available, along with PowerPoint presentations from the following sessions: • Legislative Update • NARFE’s Key issues: An In-Depth Look • Lobby Day 101 • All Politics Is Local: Grass-Roots Advocacy • Legislative Advocacy and Membership Recruitment •Grass-Roots Advocacy After March 17 • The Role of NARFE-PAC in Our Advocacy Efforts • NARFE-PAC Leaders’ Training • A New Civil Service Framework.

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consider myself to be somewhat technologically savvy, and I take a number of measures to protect my personal information from online thieves. For example, I use

strong and unique passwords for each website I visit, which I manage with an encrypted password tool. I never use free Wi-Fi. I encrypt my data locally and on the cloud, and I use multifactor authentication when available. Despite these measures, I’ve found myself caught in some of the major data breaches you’ve heard reported in the news: Target, Home Depot, Adobe and, most recently, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield. The fact is, we live in a connected, digital world, and regardless of whether or not you surf the Internet, bank online or even use a computer, your personal information is floating in cyberspace and susceptible to today’s digital crooks. Considering this, it’s more important than ever to be vigilant and have a proactive plan to safeguard your personal information. You also should know what measures you can take if, like me, you’ve been caught up in a mega data breach or feel your personal information has been lost or stolen. If you are concerned that your personal information has been lost or stolen, you should consider: • Placing a fraud alert on your credit file; • Requesting a free copy of

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your credit report; • Monitoring your bank accounts, credit cards and other accounts for unusual activity; and • Placing a credit freeze on your credit file. There are three nationwide credit reporting agencies – Equifax, Experian and Transunion. You can place a fraud alert by calling one of these credit reporting companies and requesting it place an initial fraud alert on your credit report. The credit reporting company you contact is required to notify the other two companies about your alert. The fraud alert makes it more difficult for identity thieves to open credit in your name by requiring businesses to verify your identity, often times by contacting you, before they issue credit.

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CFP®

There are three types of fraud alerts available. The first is the “initial fraud alert.” If you are concerned about identity theft, but haven’t yet become a victim, this fraud alert will protect your credit from unverified access for at least 90 days. It also allows you to order one free copy of your credit report from each of the three credit reporting companies. You may want to consider placing a fraud alert on your file if your wallet; Social Security card; or other personal, financial or account information was lost or stolen. The second is the “extended fraud alert.” It is similar to the initial fraud alert but is for those who are victims of identity theft, and it protects your credit for seven years. The third is the “active duty military alert,” which provides service men and women an additional measure to protect their credit. It provides a year or more of protection for deployed military personnel. You also may want to consider placing a credit freeze on your credit file. The credit freeze prevents potential creditors from getting your credit report, effectively preventing new credit from being issued. Depending on your state, there may be a cost to place and lift such a credit freeze. Bear in mind, a fraud alert

FINANCIAL TOOLS NARFE offers an online retirement calculator and other financial planning tools. Find out more at www.narfe.org/ federalbenefits.

and credit freeze make it more difficult for thieves to obtain new credit, but neither does anything to prevent the misuse of existing accounts; therefore, you should be proactive in protecting your identity and credit. Make a habit of regularly exercising your right to a free credit report. You are entitled to one free copy of your credit report every 12 months from each of the three credit reporting agencies, which means you could get one every

four months. To order your free credit report, visit www.annualcreditreport.com, or call 877-3228228. You also may want to opt out of prescreened credit offers to reduce the likelihood of someone going the old-school route by stealing credit offers from your mailbox. To exempt yourself from receiving these, call 888-5OPTOUT (888-5678688), or go online to www.optoutprescreen.com. The Federal Trade Commission has a website dedicated to preventing ID theft: www.ftc.gov/ idtheft. I encourage you to visit this site and take measures to protect your personal information and identity. Mark A. Keen, CFP®, is partner, Keen & Pocock, 10300 Eaton place, Fairfax, VA, and an investment adviser representative and registered principal of The Strategic Financial Alliance, Inc. (SFA). Securities and advisory services are offered through SFA. Email: mkeen@keenpocock.com.

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The Informed Citizen

State Advocacy Update

any state legislatures are wrapping up their 2015 regular sessions. Thirteen will have done so by late April or early May. NARFE members in these states who have used the NARFE website’s “Find your elected officials” capability and contacted their state legislators may soon receive a session summary from them. I expect all four of mine to report any day now. More importantly, NARFE’s state legislative chairs will make their own reports at federation conventions, via the federation’s newsletters and posts to their websites. Some will report on issues where NARFE took a position on pending legislation. At press time, Indiana, Iowa and Minnesota are making progress on NARFE-supported tax legislation. Finding Legislators Perhaps, like most members, you are not yet engaged in state advocacy and wonder where and how to begin. Your chapter and federation may provide listings of legislators in newsletters. Because about half of the members of Congress served in their state legislatures, asking at the office of a member of your congressional delegation may be productive. Local libraries and Leagues of Women Voters are also great starting places. If you have Internet access, use the NARFE Legislative Action Center. It is there that you will find our “Find your elected officials” module. Insert your ZIP code (ZIP+4 is best) to reveal photos of your executive and legislative officials at the national and state levels. Beneath each photo is the lawmaker’s

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name and office listing in blue, which serves as a hyperlink to biographical information including the lawmaker’s website. That website is where you can request a newsletter or other periodic update. Survey Responses Growing out of a December conference call with federation presidents and state legislative chairs, we felt the need for a survey of state legislative advocacy to establish a baseline for NARFE’s state engagement. Using Survey Monkey ®, we asked these leaders seven fixed-field questions and invited additional comments. The takeaways from the survey are: • NARFE is more engaged in more state legislatures than had been documented; • NARFE engagement is very

By Christopher Farrell, senior analyst

uneven in both location and constancy; • Defending existing state tax exemptions is a growing concern; • Federations are eager for NARFE staff assistance. What’s Next? Fresh from spending Saint Patrick’s Day meeting with their congressional delegations, the nearly 250 NARFE advocates who participated in NARFE’s 2015 Legislative Training Conference, which included a well-attended State Advocacy plenary session, have returned home better prepared to both resume and assume leadership of their chapters and federations. As these conference participants translate training into practice, they will seek out fellow members needed to step into leadership roles as federal and state legislative advocates. NARFE staff is prepared to assist activists in both arenas. For Further Information The address for our online State Advocacy module, including resources and links for advocates and “Find your elected officials: Congress, Governor and State Legislators” is http://cqrcengage. com/narfe/State_Advocacy. A summary of the responses to the Survey Monkey questionnaire is available at www.narfe.org/ ppt/State_Advocacy_Survey_ Responses_2015mar12.pptx.

Going...Going...GONE!

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he National Baseball Hall of Fame and the U.S. Mint have released the FIRST EVER curved American coin. This legal tender half dollar was struck in 2014 to honor the 75th anniversary of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. First Ever Curved American Coin The coin’s curved design is a first in American history. The outward curving ‘tails’ side of the coin depicts a baseball—complete with intricate stitching. The inward curving ‘heads’ side of the half dollar reveals a classic leather baseball glove, with the curve perfectly reflecting the natural shape of a weathered and well-loved baseball mitt. Among the celebrity judges who selected this FIRST EVER curved design were Hall of Famers Joe Morgan, Brooks Robinson, Ozzie Smith, Don Sutton, and Dave Winfield. The curved design is like nothing you have ever seen before. You won’t believe it when you hold it!

If you CALL NOW, you can lock in your very own piece of baseball history—not to mention the most unusual American coin ever struck! Pristine Brilliant Uncirculated Half Dollar Each 2014 Baseball Hall of Fame Commemorative Half Dollar is minted in Brilliant Uncirculated condition and comes in official U.S. Mint packaging, including the official Mint Certificate of Authenticity. Best of all, you can secure yours today for only $29.95 (plus s/h). Due to overwhelming demand, orders are limited to a maximum of 5 coins. No dealer orders will be accepted. Lock in yours now. Hurry! A sellout is expected at any time. When you call, ask about the extremely limited Pete Rose autographed edition.

Going…Going…GONE Public demand for these coins exploded and a number of versions sold out almost immediately. The Baseball Hall of Fame Half Dollar will go down in history as a runaway best seller. But even though the coins are no longer available from the U.S. Mint, you don’t have to strike out.

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2014

2015

2014

For the Record

Thrift Savings Plan Monthly Returns G FUND

F FUND

C FUND

S FUND

I FUND

APRIL

0.20%

0.90%

0.75%

(2.47%)

1.51%

MAY

0.20%

1.21%

2.35%

1.52%

1.72%

June

0.19%

0.14%

2.07%

4.45%

0.99%

JULY

0.19%

(0.19%)

(1.37%)

(4.38%)

(1.95%)

AUGUST

0.20%

1.12%

4.01%

4.98%

(0.14%)

SEPTEMBER

0.18%

(0.58%)

(1.40%)

(5.10%)

(3.82%)

OCTOBER

0.20%

0.96%

2.45%

4.11%

(0.63%)

NOVEMBER

0.17%

0.74%

2.70%

1.33%

0.51%

DECEMBER

0.18%

0.21%

(0.24%)

0.99%

(4.13%)

JANUARY

0.18%

2.13%

(2.99%)

(1.85%)

1.19%

FEBRUARY

0.13%

(0.91%)

5.75%

6.05%

5.97%

March

0.16%

0.47%

(1.57%)

1.24%

(1.43%)

YTD

0.47%

1.68%

0.97%

5.39%

5.70%

LAST 12 MO

2.19%

6.34%

12.82%

10.61%

(0.61%)

10 yr

3.19%

4.89%

7.72%

9.44%

4.58%

L INCOME

L 2020

L 2030

L 2040

L 2050

APRIL

0.31%

0.39%

0.37%

0.32%

MAY

0.64%

1.20%

1.46%

1.63%

1.78%

JUNE

0.58%

1.19%

1.52%

1.77%

1.96%

JULY

(0.26%)

(0.97%)

(1.34%)

(1.63%)

(1.86%)

0.84%

1.64%

2.07%

2.40%

2.61%

(0.42%)

(1.36%)

(1.84%)

(2.18%)

(2.50%)

OCTOBER

0.61%

1.09%

1.36%

1.58%

1.70%

NOVEMBER

0.55%

1.04%

1.27%

1.42%

1.55%

DECEMBER

(0.04%)

(0.50%)

(0.67%)

(0.76%)

(0.94%)

JANUARY

(0.08%)

(0.58%)

(0.83%)

(1.02%)

(1.18%)

FEBRUARY

1.19%

2.95%

3.80%

4.39%

4.99%

(0.07%)

(0.44%)

(0.58%)

(0.64%)

(0.76%)

YTD

1.03%

1.91%

2.34%

2.66%

2.96%

LAST 12 MO

3.89%

5.70%

6.65%

7.31%

7.68%

AUGUST

2015

SEPTEMBER

MARCH

THIS CHART is provided as a service to NARFE members who enrolled in the Thrift Savings Plan while employed by the federal government. Retirees are not eligible for enrollment. These returns are net of the effect of accrued administrative expenses and investment expenses/costs. Percentages in () are negative. Source: TSP

c and i funds slump on strong dollar; bond fund gains

The C and I Funds declined in March, both due to the strength of the U.S. dollar. International stocks had a positive month in local markets, but currency declines meant a negative return when measured in dollars. The C Fund declined on worries about global competitiveness and earnings weakness for its companies that do business overseas. The S Fund, which is not exposed to large U.S. multinationals, gained. The F Fund also gained from a small drop in interest due to deferred expectations of a rate hike. —BY Ravindra Deo, Chief Investment Officer, Thrift Savings Plan

Countdown to cola

he Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) increased 0.50 percent in February. To calculate the 2016 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), the indices of July, August and September 2015 will be averaged and compared with the 2014 third-quarter average of 234.242. The percentage increase, if any, determines the COLA. February’s index, 229.421, is down 2.06 percent from the base. Benefits awarded under the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA) to individuals suffering work-related injuries or illnesses are adjusted according to each calendar year’s percentage change in the CPI-W. February’s index is 0.21 percent lower than the December 2014 base index of 229.909. The CPI represents purchases of food and beverages, housing, apparel, transportation, medical care, recreation, education and communication, and other goods and services. Included are various government fees, such as water charges, auto registration fees, and sales and excise taxes. Month

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Monthly % Change

% Change from 234.242

October 2014

233.229

-0.40

-0.43

November

231.551

-0.72

-1.15

December

229.909

-0.71

-1.85

January 2015

228.294

-0.70

-2.54

February

229.421

+0.50

-2.06

March April

G Fund: Government securities (specially issued to the TSP) F Fund: Government, corporate and mortgage-backed bonds C Fund: Stocks of large- and medium-size U.S. companies S Fund: Stocks of small- to medium-size U.S. companies (not included in the C Fund) I Fund: International stocks of 21 developed countries L Fund: Invested in the G, F, C, S and I Funds (The proportion of L Fund balance invested in each of the individual TSP funds depends on the L Fund chosen.)

CPI-W

May June July August September

Donate to NARFE Programs Support Alzheimer’s Research

Your charitable contribution is tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

Write your chapter number on check; make it payable to: NARFE-Alzheimer’s Research

Enclosed is my NARFE-Alzheimer’s contribution: $ Every cent that is contributed is used for research. Please circle: Mr. Mrs. Miss Ms. and mail to: Name: Alzheimer’s Association Address: 225 N. Michigan Ave., 17th Floor City: State: ZIP: Chicago, IL 60601-7633 Chapter Number: Credit Card Information: MasterCard VISA NARFE members contributed for If you have any questions, write to: Discover AMEX Alzheimer’s research: $12 Million Fund National Committee Chair Card Number: Merv Stuckey, 2272 E. Buster Mountain Dr. Expiration Date: (mm)/ (yy) Oro Valley, AZ 85755-4709 *Total as of February 28, 2015 3-Digit Security Code: 100% of all contributed funds go to Name: (please print) Email: narferoadrunner@comcast.net

$11,235,293* Alzheimer’s research.

Signature

Join the Silver CIrcle Clip this contribution form and mail to: NARFE Silver Circle, 606 N. Washington St. Alexandria, VA 22314

•For a contribution of $25 or more, you will receive a Silver Circle pin, and your name will be listed in narfe magazine with other contributors. •For a contribution of $1,000 or more, your name will be placed on the “Wall of Fame” at NARFE Headquarters.

YOUR CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION IS TAX-DEDUCTIBLE TO THE FULLEST EXTENT ALLOWED BY LAW.

Enclosed is my Silver Circle contribution: $ ID # (ID # may be found on your narfe magazine label or your NARFE membership card)

Name: Address: City: Silver Circle contributions are NOT deductible for federal income tax purposes.

Installment Plan Wall of Fame 12-month installment plan

Give to the Scholarship and Disaster Funds

Please mail coupon and check to: FEEA 3333 S. Wadsworth Blvd., Suite 300 Lakewood, CO 80227

All donations go to the NARFE General Fund to support NARFE programs and operations.

State:

ZIP:

My check is enclosed

(Please make check payable to NARFE Silver Circle.)

Please charge my credit card Card type MasterCard VISA Discover AMEX Card Number: Expiration Date: (mm)/ (yy) Name: (please print)

Signature

Make check payable to: NARFE-FEEA Disaster Fund or NARFE-FEEA Scholarship Fund.

Date

YES!

Date

I would like to help with my contribution.

Please check appropriate box(es). To make credit card contributions, call 800-338-0755. Scholarships are available to children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of federal civilian retirees and current federal employees who are NARFE members. NARFE-FEEA Disaster Fund

Amount: $

NARFE-FEEA Scholarship Fund

Amount: $

Name: Address: City:

State:

ZIP:

NARFE News

Get social! NARFE realizes that not everyone is on Facebook and Twitter. But here’s a way you can follow NARFE on those social media platforms, anyway. Go to www. narfe.org and log in. Click on “Departments” in the top bar and choose NARFE Publications in the drop-down menu; scroll down to see “NARFE on Facebook.” Try it!

Reason to celebrate

ublic Service Recognition Week (PSRW) will be celebrated May 3-9. Sponsored annually by NARFE and the other member organizations of the Public Employees Roundtable, the event honors the men and women who serve our nation as federal, the reason they chose a career in state, county and local government public service. A blank document employees. NARFE is asking its with the PSRW logo is available for Lifemembers MembershiptoApl_New Design 3/26/13 3:49 PM Page 1 at www.narfe.org/ help publicize the event download legislation. Email your photo to by taking photos of themselves and

leg@narfe.org. For other ways to celebrate, go to http://publicservice recognitionweek.org. While attending the NARFE Legislative Training Conference, the NARFE members above wrote the reasons they “proudly served.” Pictured are, from left to right: Sam Sevier, Shelton, WA; Paula Moore, Pueblo, CO; Jacquelyn Lowe, Washington, DC; and Bill Waller, Silver Spring, MD. (Photos by Margaret Carter; photo collage by Charlene Gridley.)

NARFE NATIONAL LIFE MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION Life Membership Fee Schedule Ages

Contact Information n Mr. n Mrs. n Miss n Ms. Full Name _____________________________________________ Street Address _________________________________________ Apt./Unit______________________________________________ City _______________________ State _____ ZIP _____________ Phone (__________) ____________________________________ Email_________________________________________________ Date of Birth _________ /_________ /___________________ dd

yyyy

Recruiter ID # (if applicable) _________________________________ Chapter Number _______________________________________ (call 800-456-8410 for chapter information) Membership Information Member Number: ______________________________________ (New members) Membership is open to civilians in any agency of the federal or D.C. (before Oct. 1, 1987) governments eligible for a federal annuity.

Thank you for becoming a National Member for Life. You will receive a membership card, certificate and special lapel pin. Please allow six weeks for processing. Dues payments & gift contributions to NARFE are not deductible as charitable contributions for income tax purposes. 58

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Single or Quarterly Payment Installments 30-39 $1,796 $450.25 40-50 1,408 353.25 51-55 1,127 283.00 56-60 960 241.25 61-65 801 201.50 66-70 653 164.50 71-75 514 129.75 76-80 392 99.25 81-90 251 64.00 91-100+ 127 33.00

I am a (check all that apply) n Active Federal Employee n Active Federal Employee Spouse n Annuitant n Annuitant Spouse n Survivor Annuitant

PAYMENT INFORMATION n Single Payment or n Quarterly Installments (4 payments) Life Membership fee amount: $ ______________________ PAYMENT OPTIONS n Check or Money Order (Payable to NARFE) n Charge my: n MasterCard n VISA n Discover n American Express Card No. __________________________________________ Expiration Date _________ /_________ mm

yyyy

Name on Card ______________________________________ Signature ____________________________ Date ________ MAIL THIS APPLICATION TO NARFE Member Records 606 N. Washington St. / Alexandria, VA 22314-1914

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SPECIAL REPORT

Active and Retired Federal Employees ...

JOIN NARFE TODAY!

National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association The only organization dedicated solely to protecting and preserving the benefits of all federal workers and retirees, NARFE informs you of any developments and proposals that affect your compensation, retirement and health benefits, AND provides clear answers to your benefit questions.

Who Should Join?

Three Easy Ways To Join 1. 2. 3.

N A R F E M E M B E R S H I P A P P L I C AT I O N n YES. I want to join NARFE. n Mr. n Mrs. n Miss n Ms. Full Name ________________________________________ Street Address ____________________________________ Apt./Unit ________________________________________

I am a (check all that apply) n n n n n

Active Federal Employee Active Federal Employee Spouse Annuitant Annuitant Spouse Survivor Annuitant

n Please enroll my spouse

City _______________________ State _____ zIp ________

Spouse’s Full Name ________________________________

phone (__________) _______________________________

Spouse’s Email ____________________________________

Email____________________________________________

NARFE respects the privacy of our members. Personal information is used to provide content and relevant communications to our members, and will not be sold or rented to third parties without your express permission.

Choose Your Membership Type o Local Chapter Close-to-Home Membership – $40* Affiliation with the NARFE chapter closest to your home. Receive narfe magazine each month; attend meetings, often with invited speakers; network; and get involved in grass-roots lobbying efforts. Chapter Affiliation: Chapter # __ __ __ __(if known, otherwise enroll me in the chapter closest to my zIp code). *First-year dues. Subsequent years, $40 plus local chapter dues.

o eNARFE Chapter Online Membership – $40 NARFE’s electronic chapter. Receive narfe magazine by mail each month, and all other communications by email and on eNARFE.org. Get important updates and legislative action alerts, and have access to the eNARFE blog. Including email address strongly recommended.

Total Dues $40 First-Year Dues X __________ = __________ per person # Enrolling Total Dues

PAYMENT OPTIONS n Check, Money Order or Bill pay (payable to NARFE) n Bill me (NARFE membership will start when payment is received.) n Charge my: n MasterCard n VISA n American Express n Discover Card No. _____________________________________ Expiration Date _________ /_________ mm

yyyy

Name on Card _________________________________ Signature _____________________________________ Date _________________________________________ MAY WE THANK SOMEONE? If applicable, please provide the name, membership and chapter number of the member who introduced you to NARFE: Recruiter’s Name __________________________________ Recruiter’s Membership ID __________________________ Recruiter’s Chapter Number _________________________

MAIL THIS APPLICATION TO NARFE Member Records / 606 N. Washington St. / Alexandria, VA 22314-1914

NARFE’s Dues Withholding Program What is dues withholding? It is a dues-payment method that gives NARFE members (retirees) the option of having their annual NARFE membership dues deducted from their annuities on a monthly basis. How does it work? One-twelfth of your total dues is automatically deducted from your monthly annuity. Your monthly deduction is determined by the following formula: (National dues ÷ 12) + (Chapter dues ÷ 12) = Total Monthly Deduction

Advantages • Save 15% off your annual membership dues! • Sign up your spouse and double your savings! • You’ll never get another dues reminder from us! • Your monthly payment is affordable and convenient! • You may cancel your dues withholding at any time! Application process It takes 60-90 days to process your application. Once the process is complete, you will receive a special membership card distinguishing you as a NARFE dues-withholding member.

To learn more about dues withholding, call 800-627-3394. Retirees, spouses of retirees and annuitant survivors are eligible for dues withholding.

NARFE Dues Withholding Application for Retirees n YES. I want to enroll in NARFE’s Dues Withholding Program (Annual dues of $34 plus Chapter dues of record to be withheld annually.) Social Security Number (9-digit number)

–

Civil Service Annuity Number

–

C S

–

(Include prefix, CSA or CSF) (Include any applicable suffix)

n Mr. n Mrs. n Miss n Ms. Full Name _______________________________________

NARFE MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

Street Address ___________________________________

NARFE Membership ID ____________________________________

Apt./Unit________________________________________

NARFE Chapter Number____________________________________

City _________________________ State _____ ZIP _____

n YES. I Also Authorize My (NARFE Member) Spouse’s Dues To Be

Phone (__________) ______________________________ Email ___________________________________________ Date of Birth _________ /_________ / ____________________ dd

yyyy

Withheld From My Annuity. (Additional annual dues of $34 plus Chapter dues of record to be withheld annually.) If YES, enter spouse’s information below. Spouse’s Name ___________________________________________ Spouse’s Membership ID ___________________________________

AUTHORIZATION (Withholding will begin in 60-90 days). No payment should be forwarded with application. I authorize the United States Office of Personnel Management to make appropriate deductions from my annuity payments, not to exceed the amount certified by the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association as the amount of dues for which I am annually obligated, in accordance with elections I make below, and to pay the deducted sum to the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE). This authorization shall also apply to any and all dues changes certified by NARFE membership in accordance with elections I make below: Please allow 60-90 days for processing.

I understand that this authorization shall be valid until NARFE receives and processes my written notice of cancellation in accordance with its agreement with the Office of Personnel Management and that any disputes regarding this authorization shall be a matter between NARFE and myself. I hold the Office of Personnel Management harmless for any erroneous allotment deduction made pursuant to this authorization. ___________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________

Signature of Annuitant or Survivor-Annuitant

Date

Dues payments and gifts or contributions to NARFE are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. MAIL THIS FORM TO: NARFE, ATTN: Member Records, 606 N. Washington St., Alexandria, VA 22314-1914 www.narfe.org 800-627-3394 rr@narfe.org Do not send money with this form

DW-2 (08/12)

Member Perks

NARFE Member Perks

are designed to provide NARFE members with a quality option in their search for commonly used products and services. NARFE makes no guarantee on any products and services listed, and encourages its members to shop and compare before making a decision on any financial matter.

Credit Union

NARFE Premier Federal Credit Union 800-328-1500 www.NARFEpremierfcu.org As a member of NARFE, you have the privilege of joining NARFE Premier Federal Credit Union, which has been serving members since 1935. We offer extensive services at competitive rates to members nationwide. Your savings are federally insured to at least $250,000 and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government. For more information, call the number above, email jparish@narfepremierfcu.org or visit the website.

insurance

NARFE Insurance Services 800-233-5764 www.narfeinsurance.com Designed and administered by Mercer Health & Benefits Insurance Services, LLC, exclusively for NARFE members: Senior Whole Life, Term Life, Medicare Supplements, Hospital Income Plan, Short Term Recovery Insurance, Pet Insurance, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, Cancer Care, Enhanced Dental Insurance and Long Term Care. Go to the website for more information on these programs.

GEICO 800-368-2734 NARFE members with good driving records may be eligible for quality au-

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tomobile insurance from GEICO. Ask about the NARFE discount available to members in many states. Call today for your free, no-obligation rate quote. Be sure to mention that you’re a NARFE member! • Discount amount varies in some states • Discount not available in all states or in all GEICO companies • One group discount applicable per policy.

Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program 800-LTC FEDS www.LTCFEDS.com Make long-term care insurance part of your retirement plan. With benefits designed specifically for the federal family, the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program offers a smart way to help protect savings and assets, and remain independent should you need long-term care services someday. Start planning for the future. Visit www.LTCFEDS.com today.

Vacation rentals

Government Employees Travel Opportunities® 877-867-3639 www.getravelop.com/narfe Offers government employees, retirees and their families 7-night stays for only $349 on accommodations at popular destinations worldwide.

Book online and save on your next vacation stay.

hotels

Choice Hotels International 800-258-2847 www.choicehotels.com With 6,000 hotels in the United States and throughout the world, Choice Hotels® offers something for everyone. Join the Choice Privileges® rewards program and earn points with every qualifying stay toward free nights, Airline Rewards, gift cards and more. As a NARFE member, receive 20% off your next stay at participating hotels when you use Special Rate ID 00801967. This offer is subject to availability and cannot be combined with any other offer. Advance reservations required.

Wyndham Hotel Group 877-670-7088 As a member of NARFE, you will receive up to 20% off the “Best Available Rate” at participating locations. Call and give the agent your special discount ID number, 8000002694, at time of booking to receive discount. Whether you are looking for an upscale hotel, an all-inclusive resort or something more cost-effective, we have the right hotel for you... and at the right price. So start saving now. Call our special member-benefits hotline 877-670-7088 and reserve your room today at one of these fine hotels: Wyndham Hotels and Resorts®, Days Inn®, Ramada Worldwide®, Super

8®, Wingate By Wyndham®, Baymont Inns and Suites®, Hawthorn Suites® By Wyndham, Microtel Inns and Suites®, Howard Johnson®, Travelodge® and Knights Inn®.

car rentals

National You Drive A Hard Bargain. Receive up to 20% off rentals at National Car Rental. To make a reservation call National Car Rental at 1-800-CARRENT® and reference Contract ID 5282909.

Alamo Drive Happy® with Alamo® where NARFE members receive year-round discounts. Call 1-800-462-5266 and reference Contract ID 262544.

Moving services

Bekins Van Lines 800-248-4810 www.narfe@bekins.com All NARFE members will receive contracted pricing for all interstate shipments. This will apply to packing, transportation and full-value coverage against damages. In addition, Bekins Van Lines can assist with instate shipments, local moves and international moves with competitive pricing and quality service. Please mention you are a NARFE member and ask for Todd.

Wheaton World Wide Moving 800-248-7960 www.narfe@wvlcorp.com

conduct the following screenings using state-of-the-art ultrasound technology in your neighborhood.

At Wheaton, we know interstate relocating is much more than trucks and boxes. Moving is not simply an address change. It’s a life change. With a network of top-quality agents throughout the United States, Wheaton provides peace of mind with every relocation. We offer you, as a NARFE member, benefits to help you have a positive interstate relocation experience. Call Angela and mention you are a NARFE member to start the moving process.

1. Stroke/Carotid Artery 2. Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm 3. Atrial Fibrillation 4. Peripheral Arterial Disease. You will receive a confidential written report within 21 days. Life Line Screening and NARFE encourage you to share these test results with your doctor. All four screenings cost just $135. To schedule an appointment, please call the number above and give the operator code number BKHN075 or visit the website. Coverage may vary and may not be available in all states.

emergency services

narfe merchandise

MASA 800-423-3226 Medical Air Services Association has been the industry leader in prepaid emergency assistance services for more than 30 years. NARFE members have experienced MASA’s “peace of mind” services since 2001. Now NARFE members are entitled to even more: air ambulance transportation, helicopter transportation, ground ambulance, vehicle return, mortal remains transport, and much more! Call MASA Today. It Could Save Your Life!

NARFE General Store 855-99NARFE (855-996-2733) www.narfegeneralstore.com As the official provider of NARFE merchandise, the NARFE General Store offers NARFE-approved name badges, business cards, customizable logo products and plaques. Check out our online catalog.

NOT A mEMBER? health screening

Life Line Screening 800-324-9906 www.lifelinescreening.com/ NARFE Life Line Screening, America’s leading provider of community-based preventive health screenings, will

GO ONLINE: It’s easy to join online at www.narfe.org. Click “Join NARFE.” TURN TO PAGE 60: Fill out the Membership Application and mail it to NARFE to receive all the perks of being a NARFE member. Call (Toll-Free) 800-627-3394.

w w w. n a r f e . o r g

The Way We Worked

entrance exam they must ace In 1892, the federal government assumed responsibility for inspecting all immigrants seeking entry into the United States. Arriving immigrants encountered immigration inspectors, who determined if they met the legal requirements for admission, and medical officers from the U.S. Public Health Service, like those pictured in this 1923 photo taken at Ellis Island, NY, who examined them for evidence of “loathsome or dangerous contagious diseases,” which could be grounds for exclusion. Photo courtesy of Christina Hong, National Archives History Office Records of the Public Health Service, National Archives; in collaboration with the Society for History in the Federal Government (SHFG), bringing together government professionals, academics, consultants, students and citizens interested in understanding federal history work and the historical development of the federal government. Website: http://shfg.org/shfg/. 64

| m a y

2 015

Did you know? Today, individuals seeking an immigrant visa to enter the United States must complete a medical examination with a physician authorized by the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where they apply for the visa before arriving in the United States. The examination includes a review of the applicant’s medical history, a physical exam, a chest x-ray and blood tests.

W E N

No t Contrac

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IMPORTANT CONSUMER INFORMATION: Jitterbug is owned by GreatCall, Inc. Your invoices will come from GreatCall. All rate plans and services require the purchase of a Jitterbug phone and a one-time set up fee of $35. Coverage and service is not available everywhere. Other charges and restrictions may apply. Screen images simulated. There are no additional fees to call Jitterbug’s 24-hour U.S. Based Customer Service. However, for calls to an Operator in which a service is completed, minutes will be deducted from your monthly balance equal to the length of the call and any call connected by the Operator, plus an additional 5 minutes. Monthly minutes carry over and are available for 60 days. If you exceed the minute balance on your account, you will be billed at 35¢ for each minute used over the balance. Monthly rate plans do not include government taxes or assessment surcharges. Prices and fees subject to change. 1We will refund the full price of the GreatCall phone and the activation fee (or set-up fee) if it is returned within 30 days of purchase in like-new condition. We will also refund your first monthly service charge if you have less than 30 minutes of usage. If you have more than 30 minutes of usage, a per minute charge of 35 cents will be deducted from your refund for each minute over 30 minutes. You will be charged a $10 restocking fee. The shipping charges are not refundable. Jitterbug and GreatCall are registered trademarks of GreatCall, Inc. Samsung is a registered trademark of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. ©2015 Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC. ©2015 GreatCall, Inc. ©2015 firstSTREET for Boomers and Beyond, Inc.

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When you pay by check, you authorize us to use information from your check to clear it electronically. Funds may be withdrawn from your account as soon as the same day we receive your payment, and you will not receive your check back from your financial institution.

For Faster Service Call: 1-800-543-4810 or visit www.Haband.com/bestdeals