In light of the devastating tornadoes that have torn communities in Oklahoma apart in the last two days, we would like to remind everyone that you can send a $10 donation to the Red Cross Disaster Relief fund via text message, by texting the word REDCROSS to 90999. As in the case with other donations via mobile, the donation will show up on your wireless bill, or be deducted from your balance if you have a prepaid phone. You need to be 18 or older, or have parental permission, to donate this way. (If you change your mind, text...

A Washington Post story published over the weekend contradicts earlier reports that the targeting of Tea Party groups by the Internal Revenue Service’s Cincinnati office, which does most of the agency’s nonprofit auditing, was the result of rogue agents. The Post story quoted an anonymous staffer in Cincinnati as saying they only operate on directives from headquarters: As could be expected, the folks in the determinations unit on Main Street have had trouble concentrating this week. Number crunchers, whose work is nonpolitical,...

Long-term care is the kind of care that you would need to help you perform daily activities if you had a chronic illness or disability. It also includes the kind of care you would need if you had a severe cognitive problem like Alzheimer’s disease. It is help with eating, bathing and dressing, transferring from a bed to a chair, toileting, continence, and so forth. Long-term care can also include assistance with such tasks as shopping, transportation, housecleaning, or preparing meals. This type of care isn’t received in a hospital...

In addition to annual leave, federal employees also accrue sick leave. Employees may use sick leave for their own personal medical needs; to care for a family member; to care for a family member with a serious health condition; or for adoption-related purposes. As will be explained in more detail below, however, there are special restrictions when an employee uses sick leave to care for a family member or for adoption-related purposes. Sick Leave Accrual •  Full-time Employees - 1/2 day (4 hours) for each biweekly pay period. •...

Before enrolling your new student, make appointments to visit the colleges or career schools you're considering. Bring a list of questions to ask school representatives. Your child's education is a major investment, so find out as much information as you can before you enroll. Information you should get from a school Ask about the school's accreditation, licensing, student loan default rate, and campus security. •  Talk to high school counselors, local employers, and your state higher education agency. You can also...

The Federal Employees Retirement System, or FERS, became effective January 1, 1987. Almost all new employees hired after December 31, 1983, are automatically covered by FERS. Certain other Federal employees not covered by FERS have the option to transfer into the plan. FERS is a three-tiered retirement plan including the following components: 1. Social Security Benefits 2. Basic Benefit Plan 3. Thrift Savings Plan   You pay full Social Security taxes and a small contribution to the Basic Benefit Plan. In addition,...

Monday, the Office of Personnel Management announced that it has suspended all overtime for its employees working on processing federal retirees’ pensions. Associate Director of Retirement Services Ken Zawodny said the steep budget cuts known as sequestration forced OPM to suspend overtime for employees in his division. The overtime suspension took effect Sunday, April 28th, and OPM did not say when overtime might be resumed. Zawodny also said OPM will reduce its call center hours by nearly three hours each weekday to save...

TRICARE beneficiaries may have noticed new kinds of “Emergency Centers” popping up in their area. It may seem like a tempting health care option but, free-standing emergency rooms (ER) that are not affiliated with a hospital may not be TRICARE-authorized. If a provider, such as a free-standing ER, is not authorized then TRICARE is prohibited from paying it “facility fees.” That can leave a beneficiary stuck with a big bill. Beneficiaries need to “know before you go.”  Check a free-standing ER’s TRICARE status...

Spring has sprung. Those April showers will be bringing May flowers, and parents all across the country are starting to panic about paying for college in the fall. According to George Jefferson, an Education Specialist with CompleteSchools.com and his article entitled 34 Ways to Reduce College Costs, there are many ways to lower those college costs. Here are 10... Most colleges and universities offer merit or non-need-based scholarships to academically talented students. Students should check with each school in which...

When most people think about traveling for work, flying and car rentals are what come to mind. But there are other options, including traveling by train. How does it work? Read on... Classes of Train Accommodations Available 1. Coach-class – The basic class of accommodations offered by a rail carrier to passengers that includes a level of service available to all passengers regardless of the fare paid. Coach-class includes reserved coach accommodations as well as slumber coach accommodations when overnight train travel...