Federal Retirement Planning Blog

Nov 11, 2026

2027 federal pay uncertainty refers to the unresolved question of whether civilian federal employees will get a pay raise, a freeze, or something in between when the new year begins. As of November 2026, the leading planning scenario is a freeze.

Nov 10, 2026

Yes, you can challenge a FERS contribution debt. When your agency sends a letter demanding back contributions to the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), federal law generally gives you three options. You can repay the debt, request a hearing to contest its validity or amount, or apply for a waiver under 5 U.S.C. § 5584.

Nov 5, 2026

For federal employees at agencies covered by Chapter 71 of Title 5 that have an applicable collective bargaining agreement (CBA) in force, the answer is yes. The union can invoke binding arbitration under 5 U.S.C. § 7121 as it always has, provided the grievance is not one of the statutory matters excluded from that process.

Nov 4, 2026

Federal employees retiring in 2026 need to complete five actions before year-end. Each decision affects monthly income, health coverage, or 2026 tax liability. First, confirm your continuous Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) enrollment under OPM's actual eligibility rules. Second, make your 2027 health plan elections during Open Season

Nov 3, 2026

Five concrete 2026 changes shape federal retirement in 2027, and you should factor them into your plan. These include a 2.6% FERS cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), a $24,500 Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) elective deferral limit, and a new mandatory Roth catch-up rule for employees whose 2025 Social Security wages exceeded $150,000.

Nov 2, 2026

Planning a December 2026 federal retirement means making six time-sensitive decisions in the next few weeks. Those six decisions are: locking in your exact retirement date, choosing your 2027 Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) coverage before Open Season closes December 14, 2026, finalizing your 2026 Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) contributions, verifying your service record with the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), planning for the income gap before your first full annuity check, and confirming your Social Security, survivor, and life insurance elections.

Oct 30, 2026

Federal retirement income in 2027 comes from four moving parts: your FERS pension, your TSP savings, Social Security, and FEHB health coverage. The choices you make about each one affect what the others pay out.

Oct 29, 2026

For most federal employees, comparing 2027 FEHB Self Only vs. Self Plus One vs. Self and Family, Self Only is the cheapest tier. Self Plus One is the middle option for two-person households. Self and Family is the most expensive for groups of three or more.

Oct 28, 2026

A federal workforce change can take several forms: a reduction in force, an early-out offer, a reorganization, or a transfer of function. When one lands on your desk, the question that follows is almost always the same: what happens to your retirement strategy?

Oct 27, 2026

Before 2027, federal employees and annuitants should complete an end-of-year review between October and December 2026. The goal: lock in benefit, tax, and estate decisions before the January 2027 plan year starts.

Oct 26, 2026

The OPM retirement backlog fell to 8,814 pending claims in September 2026, its lowest level since at least 2012. That figure comes from FedSmith's analysis of the monthly report published by OPM, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. The pending inventory sits roughly 32% below OPM's long-standing steady-state goal of 13,000 claims.

Oct 23, 2026

Retiring in 2027? Your separation date can affect your retirement income in ways that are easy to overlook. 2027 is landing in an unusual combination of a proposed federal civilian pay freeze, a split Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) between the two main federal retirement systems, projected but not yet official Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) contribution increases, another above-average Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) premium increase, and ongoing legislative discussion about the FERS Annuity Supplement.

Oct 23, 2026

TSP funds fell in September 2026 across every core investment option except one. According to data published on TSP.gov and reported by Government Executive, the Thrift Savings Plan's (TSP) S Fund dropped 3.86%, the F Fund fell 2.59%, the I Fund slid 2.30%, and the C Fund finished 0.35% in the red. The G Fund posted a monthly return of 0.40%, the only core fund to gain ground.

Oct 22, 2026

The OPM retirement backlog has fallen to its lowest level since the current surge began in late 2025. The queue is now within reach of the agency’s long-stated steady-state goal of 13,000 pending claims.

Oct 22, 2026

FEHB costs and COLA explained: if you're a federal employee or retiree, you face three issues heading into 2027. First, under the announced 2027 pay plan, base and locality pay are frozen for most covered civilian employees.

Oct 22, 2026

The 2026 IRA contribution limits increase to $7,500 per year, up from $7,000 in 2025. Savers age 50 and older qualify for an additional $1,100 catch-up contribution, bringing their total allowable amount to $8,600.

Oct 22, 2026

Blue Cross FEHB premiums in 2027 are rising between 8.6% and 11.0% for non-postal federal employees. The exact increase depends on your plan option and enrollment tier.

Oct 22, 2026

The 2027 FEHB changes are the premium, plan-availability, eligibility, and benefit updates that OPM announced for the 2027 plan year. FEHB is the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. OPM is the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

Oct 22, 2026

The 2027 federal pay freeze is the current proposal to hold base pay and locality pay at 2026 levels for most covered civilian federal employees. It remains subject to congressional action and final implementation.

Oct 22, 2026

The 2027 FERS COLA is 2.6% for eligible Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) retirees age 62 and older. The Social Security Administration (SSA) announced a 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) on October 14, 2026, and that figure drives the FERS number.

Oct 12, 2026

The 2027 COLA vs. 2027 FEHB premiums comparison shows the average health premium increase outpacing the estimated pension increase. Your own result depends on your plan, coverage tier, and annuity size.

Oct 9, 2026

The TSP contribution limits for 2027 are not official yet, but the regular employee limit is projected at $25,500, up from $24,500 in 2026. The TSP, or Thrift Savings Plan, the federal government's tax-advantaged retirement savings program, follows limits set by the IRS, the Internal Revenue Service. The IRS hasn't published its 2027 figures yet.

Oct 8, 2026

2027 FEHB premiums are up 10.9% on average for the enrollee share, so you should compare plans before Open Season ends on December 14, 2026. The 2027 FEHB premium increase is the average 10.9% rise in the portion of Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) premiums that enrollees pay. Updated October 2026.

Oct 7, 2026

If you are retiring from federal service before age 62, you may be eligible for a temporary monthly payment called the FERS Supplement. It is designed to bridge the income gap until you become eligible for Social Security.

Oct 6, 2026

Required minimum distributions (RMDs) for federal employees are the annual withdrawals the IRS requires from a traditional TSP account. The TSP, or Thrift Savings Plan, is the federal government's tax-advantaged retirement savings program