Federal Benefits Links
Teal blue text are links to program websites. Make suggestions for additions to this page on the Contact Webmaster form in the footer.
PROGRAM NEWS
NEW! Federal employees and spouses who are 70 years or older may be leaving benefit money on the table. If you paid into Social Security for any job, read the Social Security Factsheet, Retirement Ready Fact Sheet For Workers Ages 70 And Up. Pay close attention to the details about claiming spousal benefits.
RECENT! Members impacted by the Windfall Elimination Provision/Government Pension Offset (WEP/GPO) who have questions about how the Social Security Fairness Act is changing their benefits can visit the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) Questions and Answers web page about the Act. Share this information with others impacted by WEP/GPO. NARFE also has a Frequently Asked Questions page about how the Act repealed WEP/GPO and how SSA has implemented it (scroll down the page to find them).
BENEFIT PROGRAMS
Benefits for federal employees/retirees and their spouses/survivors are listed alphabetically.
BENEFEDS is used to enroll in the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) and to collect FEDVIP and Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) premiums and Federal Flexible Spending Account Program (FSAFEDS) allotments.
The Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program provides many health care plans for Federal employees, retirees, their survivors and eligible family members. Under the FEHBP is the newer Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) that offers plans for Postal Service employees, retirees and families.
The Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) is a voluntary program available to federal civilians, uniformed service members and qualified family members. It funds care needed if you can not do everyday tasks by yourself such as bathing, dressing and eating, that may last for the rest of your life.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) provide health coverage to more than 100 million persons through Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and the Health Insurance Marketplace.
- Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that provides health coverage for some people with limited income and resources. Medicaid offers benefits, like nursing home care, personal care services and assistance paying for Medicare premiums and other costs.
- Medicare is federal health insurance for anyone age 65 and older and some people under 65 with certain disabilities or health conditions. To estimate when you’re eligible and your premium amount, visit their Eligibility and Premium Calculator.
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) “serves as the chief human resources agency and personnel policy manager for the Federal Government”. It oversees civil service hiring and the employment process, directs employee management services, manages healthcare and insurance programs and administers retirement benefits.
OPM Retirement Services Online “lets annuitants (federal retirees or their spouses, ex-spouses, and children) manage their account online”.
The Social Security Administration (SSA) administers “retirement, disability, survivor and family benefits and enrolls individuals in Medicare. We also provide Social Security Numbers, which are unique identifiers needed to work, handle financial transactions, and determine eligibility for certain government services.”
The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) is a retirement plan for Federal employees and the uniformed services, including the Reserve and National Guard. The TSP offers savings and tax benefits similar to businesses’ 401(k) plans. Their Online Learning page offers free webinars; click the webinar name to see its schedule. The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) administers the TSP program.
USAGov is the official online government guide that “helps you locate and understand government benefits, programs, and information”.