Comprehensive Federal Benefits Seminar

Cost: $1,200

This hands on 5-day workshop is designed to provide individuals responsible for the personnel and benefits area with an in-depth understanding of the following:

  • Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS)
  • Offset CSRS
  • Federal Employees’ Retirement System (FERS)
  • Social Security (SS) and Medicare
  • Thrift Savings Plan
  • Federal Employees’ Health Benefits Program
  • Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance

The workshop begins by reviewing provisions of coverage, then progresses to eligibility for benefits, and the interrelationship between federal benefits and Social Security benefits. Exercises of the following calculations are included: CSRS & FERS (regular and early retirement benefit computations), the Offset which occurs at 62 for a CSRS Offset employees, Social Security, and Annuity Supplement benefits.

The CSRS, FERS and Offset CSRS are covered extensively. Upon completion participants will be able to understand & explain:

  • FERCCA Rules
  • Types of Retirement (Regular, Early Out, DSR, MRA & 10, Deferred) and Eligibility Requirements for each
  • Disability Retirement
  • Special Category Retirement Provisions
  • Retirement, Disability, and Survivors Benefits Computations
  • The Offset which occurs at age 62 in the Offset CSRS
  • The Annuity Supplement Computation.

Social Security provisions are covered to assure that participants understand the basics of Social Security (insured status, quarters of coverage, eligibility requirements, etc.). Emphasis is placed on the computation of the Social Security benefit since every step of the Social Security benefit computation is used in the computation of the Annuity Supplement.

The two Social Security provisions which impact most CSRS employees are covered in detail—the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset. The basics of Medicare are also discussed. The Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance Program and the Federal Employees’ Health Benefits Program are covered extensively.

Additional areas of the federal benefit package are covered (these may be covered generally or in detail depending on need of participants): (1) Reemployed Annuitants; (2) Voluntary Contributions for CSRS & Offset CSRS; and (3) Taxation of Federal Benefits, and (4) Leave—Annual, Sick, LWOP, FMLA and FFLA.

The Thrift Savings Plan is covered from an operational perspective:

  • About the TSP
  • Vesting
  • TSP Loan Program Basics
  • Effect of Nonpay Status on TSP Participation
  • Correction of Administrative Errors
  • In-Service Withdrawals
  • Withdrawal Options for Separated Employees

This seminar is approximately 65% lecture and 35% quizzes. exercises and discussion of completed examples. Of course questions and discussions of “live” cases are welcome.