Bulletin Board Entries

After much searching, I recently learned that for FEHB to continue covering the widow/widower after the death of an annuitant, they must have been covered under self and family and they must be entitled to receive a survivor annuity. Their coverage will change to self only and the premium amount will be the same as the annuitant would have paid. If they do not meet these criteria, their coverage will end 31 days after their enrollment ends unless they convert to a nongroup contract. Currently the premium for a nongroup contract is around $800.00 per month. If they are confined to a hospital on the 31st day of this extension, benefits will continue while they are confined, up to a maximum of 60 additional days. These extensions are without cost to them.                       

After much searching, I recently learned that for FEHB to continue covering the widow/widower after the death of an annuitant, they must have been covered under self and family and they must be entitled to receive a survivor annuity. Their coverage will change to self only and the premium amount will be the same as the annuitant would have paid. If they do not meet these criteria, their coverage will end 31 days after their enrollment ends unless they convert to a nongroup contract. Currently the premium for a nongroup contract is around $800.00 per month. If they are confined to a hospital on the 31st day of this extension, benefits will continue while they are confined, up to a maximum of 60 additional days. These extensions are without cost to them.                       

The week of February 6, 2012, Retirement Eligibility and Services (RES) mailed 67,078 Disability Earnings Surveys. This is RES' largest survey and the only survey mandated by law. The survey is conducted because there is a limit on how much a disability retiree can earn in any given calendar year. Disability retirement law has an 80% earnings limitation. A disability retiree can earn 80% of the current rate of pay for the position from which they retired. All annuitants under age 60 are surveyed. The Disability Earnings Survey continues to be an affirmative response survey meaning the annuitant needs to respond only if they worked or were self employed and have earned income. The responses submitted from the annuitants should be signed and dated. A daytime telephone number is required. All forms must be completed and returned within 30 days.

 

 

David B. Snell, Director

Retirement Benefit Services Department

dsnell@NARFE.org

OPM has a web site to answer questions about annuities and federal and state income taxes. go to http://www.opm.gov/retire/announcements/TaxTips.asp.

Dave Snell, Retirement Benefits Service Dept.

 

I am not sure what category this should go under so I put it under misc..  I would like further information on this act.  I have a federal retiree that keeps referring to this act.  Her ex-husband died in Sept. 2011 (He had remarried 5 yrs before his death).  She is also a retired CSRS Federeal employee.  According to her they each provided for the other with a survivor annuity and there were court orders to this effect.  However since his death, she said she is not getting any surviror annuity from his and they are still taking out a survivor annuity from her check for him, although she has asked to have it stopped.  According to her, she has talked to OPM several times, gotten form 2800 online and filled it out and mailed it in (she has a receipt it was received).  Talked, faxed, and sent several letters, messages to a Rick Carlintino(sp?) at OPM - received calls from survivors benefits in Boyer (doesn't remember why).  She has also contacted senators and reps. of Congress regarding this Act.  Today she called me and told me she has contacted Sen. Sessions office and they are asking her to send all info to them and they will act on it.  She also wanted me to find out from OPM what I can as she has been only receiving a half check on her own annuity since her ex-husband died.  She is 85 years old and getting quite upset.   She said she had sent a letter by the deadline provided in the act also.  I have not seen any of the paperwork she has referred to.

OPM posted a notice on its Retirement Center site that the Form 1099Rs needed when filing Federal income tax returns for 2011 earnings will be available on line the last week in January 2012.  OPM will also be mailing individual 1099Rs to retirees the same week.

To view your individual form on-line go to www.opm.gov/retire and click on Service On-Line. You will need to enter your OPM provided PIn and your retirement claim  number to gain access. Again, these will be available on-line by the end of Janaury.

Dave Snell, Retirement Benefits Service

OPM has published a calendar of annuity payment dates showing the last date a change to the next annuity payment must be made  to be reflected in that check. Go to

http://www.opm.gov/retire/annuity/payment/calendar.asp.

Dave Snell, Retirement Benefits

After completing a funding and claims experience study, OPM concluded that changes in premiums were needed. The claims experience for Option B enrollees below age 75 and enrollees in Option C under age 45 indicated a slight decrease in premiums was called for. By the same token, the OPM study showed a hike was needed in the extra premium retirees pay for not having their Basic insurance amount reduce at all or reduce only 50% when they reach age 65.

The effective date to the premium changes is January 1, 2012, for retirees and others whose premiums are withheld and paid monthly, and on the first pay period on or after January 1, 2012 for those active employees paid bi-weekly. 

 

OPM‘s announcement stated the new premium rates will be available on its website www.opm.gov/insure/life in January 2012.

Dave Snell, Retirement Benefits Service

 

CMM announced today that the basic monthly Medicare Premium in 2012 will be $99.90. This is a decrease for most CSRS retirees who have been paying $115.40 for the basic premium.