Federal Pension Advice and Insights

Sep 25, 2026

Federal retirement income planning means converting your Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) into a reliable paycheck once your federal salary stops. The TSP is the federal government's tax-advantaged defined contribution retirement savings program.

Sep 24, 2026

After OPM, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, receives your retirement application, it sets you up in its system and, if you're eligible, begins partial interim payments. You can check your OPM retirement application status to track your case and understand where it stands. It then reviews your case and finalizes your annuity.

Sep 23, 2026

Federal Pension Advisors, a retirement planning firm specializing in federal employee benefits, publishes this guide to help federal employees understand TSP borrowing rules before they apply.

Sep 22, 2026

The federal retirement backlog declined substantially in 2026. The inventory at OPM, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, peaked at 65,237 pending claims in February. By the end of August, it had fallen to 15,427 claims, a decline of about 76% over six months.

Sep 21, 2026

The TSP Mutual Fund Window (MFW) is an optional investment option within the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). The TSP is the federal government's tax-advantaged retirement savings program for federal employees and uniformed service members. It lets you invest up to 25% of your TSP balance in publicly available mutual funds.

Sep 17, 2026

FERS disability retirement is an annuity for federal employees covered by FERS, the Federal Employees Retirement System, whose medical condition stops them from doing their job.

Sep 16, 2026

A military buyback under FERS is a deposit, generally 3% of your military basic pay, that can make qualifying active-duty military service count toward your FERS pension. FERS, the Federal Employees Retirement System, doesn't automatically credit most post-1956 active-duty service. Making the deposit through your employing agency can add years of creditable service and increase your annuity for life.

Sep 15, 2026

For FY 2027, the standard Continental United States (CONUS) per diem consists of a maximum lodging allowance of $113 per night plus a $68 meals and incidental expenses (M&IE) allowance, for a combined listed rate of $181 per day, effective October 1, 2026, through September 30, 2027. The General Services Administration (GSA) Per Diem Bulletin FTR 27-01 raised the standard lodging rate $3, from $110 to $113. The M&IE rate held steady at $68.

Sep 11, 2026

Retiring before Medicare means leaving federal service at any age under 65 while relying primarily on your Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) coverage until Medicare eligibility begins. If you retire at your Minimum Retirement Age (MRA) of 57, that gap can stretch eight years.

Sep 10, 2026

Federal workforce cuts in 2026 continue a large-scale downsizing of the U.S. civil service. Most of the contraction, hundreds of thousands of positions, happened during 2025. Those separations are still working through the system in 2026, alongside new agency reorganization plans.

Sep 9, 2026

Federal employee retirement healthcare before age 65 rests on one core benefit. Your Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) coverage continues into retirement at the same premium you paid as an active employee, as long as you meet the "5-year rule" and retire on an immediate annuity.

Sep 7, 2026

Yes, your Social Security benefits can be taxed if you have a FERS pension (Federal Employees Retirement System). The question of Social Security tax with a federal pension comes down to one number: your combined income. The taxable portion of your FERS annuity counts as ordinary income. That raises your combined income, which can make 50% to 85% of your Social Security benefit taxable at the federal level. This guide explains how the 2026 combined income rules work, why FERS income can push you over the thresholds, and how the numbers break down.