Federal Employee,We were where you are, We are where you will be.

Come join us in preserving your Retirement Benefits.The members of NARFE

Who is Looking Out

for YourRetirement

Benefits?

• Founded in 1921 by 14 federal workers.

• Now a major force on Capitol Hill and across the nation.

•Highly respected legislative voice for federal workers and retirees.

NARFE…

… 297,000 strong and 23,900 of them are Active Federal Employees. We represent 4.0 million plus federal employees and retirees.

… The only association of federal workers and retirees united to preserve and improve the economic security and well-being of federal employees and their families in retirement

NARFE is…

FEDERAL RETIREMENT BENEFITS ARE NOT A GIFT

Benefits are earned through long term

government service and your contributions

•  Protect income security•Protect health benefits

•Receive fair and equal

treatment

NARFE Goals:

“Everything we gain, everything we lose, is by act of Congress.”

LEGISLATION IS A MAJOR FOCUS

• A Top legislative staff• Close contact with Congress and OPM

• Nationwide network of legislative activists

NARFE is highly respected

Because of:

NARFE has helped to bring you:

• Survivor Benefits (1950s)• Creation of the Federal

Employees Health Benefits Program (1960s)

• Thrift Savings Plan and Federal Employee Retirement System

(1980s)• Long Term Care (1990s)

NARFE will:• Sponsor and support needed legislation• Oppose adverse legislation• Foster public recognition• Cooperate with other organizations to accomplish goals

Preserving Your Retirement Benefits

• Inform members about relevant issues –• Retirement income, health care

benefits, taxation and COLAs.• Strengthen political influence through

NARFE-PAC.• Partner with OPM to answer questions

about retirement.

Preserving Your Retirement Benefits (2)

SOME CURRENT ISSUES BEFORE CONGRESS:

• Repeal or modify Government Pension Offset (GPO) legislation affecting CSRS• Repeal or modify Windfall Elimination

Provision (WEP) legislation affecting CSRS and FERS

• Include FEHBP Premium Conversion for Annuitants Tax Equity in Legislation

Why are these important?

• GPO affects 464,537 S.S. beneficiaries – • 77% women

• 43% widowed• GPO prevents CSRS retirees from collecting both federal annuity and any Social Security

Benefit based on spouse’s work• 75% lost entire benefit

(GPO and WEP in place since 1983)

Why are these important?

• WEP causes loss of up to 50% of retiree S. S. benefits

• WEP affects 972,000 S.S. beneficiaries –

• 2/3rds were Men• 20% had paid into S.S. for at least

21 years.

(GPO and WEP in place since 1983)

NARFE SUPPORTED ISSUES IN 111th CONGRESS:

Automatic TSP Enrollment“Roth” Option for TSP

Allow surviving spouse to retain TSP rights

Allow agencies to temporarily hire retirees without affecting

annuities FERS Sick Leave Credit

HOLDING THE LINE

• Actions to reinstate or add new benefits are important, but –

• Our first legislative priority is to prevent any loss of current

benefits.• So far, NARFE has been

successful in fending off attempts to cut back or curtail funding of

our current benefits.

“Harbingers of things to come”:

Pensions:Defined pension benefits almost unheard of today• In 1980, 80% of workers had them, now

only 21.3%• Could generate “envy factor”Health Care:• Private health care programs hard hit, and

FEHBP one of few fee-for-service options left. Health Care. Reform will impact.

Some recent, but defeated, Congressional proposals:

• Cut Federal Retirement & Health Benefits by $10.2 B.• Cut COLAS• Change from “High 3” to “High 5”

computation• Cut FEHBP support on retirees with less

than 30 years• Charge federal employees for parking

But they are not done yet:

• June 9, 2009 House Republican Policy Proposal calls for:• Shift from High 3 to High 5 Annuity

Calculation• Setting the minimum retirement age at

62 for all Federal Retirees.• Sep 28, 2009, Senator Grassley, Iowa,

“Move all federal employees, except Congress, to state health care plans.”

But they are still not done:

• Sept 2010: “Pledge to America” calls for:• Hiring freeze on all non-security federal

workersOn the Hill, calls to:

• Block 1.4% pay increase• Furlough federal workers for two

weeks• Fire workers who owe federal taxes• Freeze bonuses

NARFE is still helping• FY2010 Defense Authorization Act,

signed in October 2009, includes- Allowing federal agencies to re-employ

federal retirees on a limited, part-time basis without offset of annuity

- Letting FERS workers credit unused sick leave toward retirement (initially half,

then all).- FERS re-deposit

- CSRS Part-Time fix- Ending NSPS

How Can You Help?• Join NARFE – recruit others

• Stay informed: Sign up for GEMS, Read NARFE Magazine and newsletters.

- Call, Write and/or E-mail your Representative and Senators (Often).- Use CAPWIZ

- Refute inaccurate and misleading statements- Pass The Word to others – members and non-

members - Encourage them to act.- Give the NARFE Legislative Staff numbers to work

with – every voice counts.

How Can You Help?• Help set the public record straight

about Federal Employee and Retiree contributions, pay and benefits

• Take part in the “Protect America’s Heartbeat” Campaign

• Go to www.protectAmericasHeartbeat.com to send letters and other information to your Legislators and

to tell your personal story.• Write letters to the editor of your local newspaper• Pass information about this effort to your Federal

Employee co-workers

OTHER NARFE PROJECTS

• Alzheimer’s Research (over $9.080 million)

• Federal Employees Education and Assistance Fund (FEEA)

• Scholarship Fund (sixty $1,000 scholarships)• NARFE-PAC

OTHER NARFE PROJECTS

• Alzheimer’s Research (over $9.25 million)• Federal Employees Education and

Assistance Fund (FEEA)• Scholarship Fund (sixty $1,000

scholarships)• NARFE-PAC

Another NARFE Resource

• Federal Retirement Benefits for Employees (FRB – E)

• Financial Benefits Maximizer (FBM)• eSeminar

• All Online• Available to NARFE members only

for small fee

WHO CAN BELONG? • Active employees• Former employees

• Retirees• Survivors• Spouses

• Former spouses

“Civilians who are or will be eligible to receive an annuity or survivor annuity from the federal retirement programs”

WHO DETERMINES NARFE ISSUES?

• Grass Roots• Chapters

• Federation convention of delegates• National convention of delegates

• Focus on issues• Political, but non-partisan

WHERE CHAPTERS ARE In Washington State:

• 1398 Chapters in US, Panama, Philippines and Puerto Rico

MEMBER BENEFITS:

• Effective voice in Washington DC• NARFE monthly magazine

• Liaison with Office of Personnel Management • Insurance

• Perks• Social contacts

The Magazine

The Web Site

www.narfe.org

Legislation

Retirement Tips

NARFE Magazine

Member Discounts

Q & ACurrent Federal Employee

Info Insurance Benefits

NARFE: A key source for answers on retirement issues

• Most chapters have a Service Officer• State Service Centers

• Online assistance through• www.narfe.org

• Insurance – FEGLI and FEHBP• Notification of death• Survivor benefits

All services provided without cost to user!

WHAT DOES IT COST TO BELONG?

New membership dues are $45 the first year which includes chapter dues

The following year dues will be $40 plus chapter dues

Payment options include bill pay, credit card, & money order

Protect Your Benefits

Through NARFE!

“Be Prepared for Life’s Events

• Useful NARFE Publication

• Lets you log important information for your

beneficiaries