Bulletin Board Entries

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

Even though the annual Open Season for health benefits ended Monday December 12, OPM will keep  the open season website and open season express available to annuitants until December 30, 2011.  Annuitants that make any type of transaction on the website or open season express will automatically be granted an extension.  No extension will go beyond December 30, 2011.

Dave Snell, Retirement Benefits Service

 

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.

There is a current class action lawsuit against MetLife, the underwriter for the Federal Employees Group Life Insurance.  MetLife and OPM are working on the suit which concerns how interest is paid to FEGLI claimants. Recently lawyers for the plaintiffs sent out close to a million postcards to claimants who they think meet the criteria for the suit. Neither OPM nor MetLife had anything to do with these notices so if you get an inquiry refer the member to the website www.fegliclassaction.com and/or the toll-free number 888-689-9302. Do not refer the member to OPM.

Dave Snell, Retirement Benefits

When you sign up for part b are the premiums automatically withheld from your annuity?

OPM has established a new telephone number - a Tax Hotline - for retirees who want to change their federal income tax withholding.  The number is 1-800-307-8298.

Dave Snell, Retirement Benefits Service Department.