Information for Federal Benefits Officers
Quick Links
Tools and Aids
This page provides Federal retirement resources for Federal
Benefits Officers.
What's New in Retirement Benefits
Retirement Services, Benefits Officers Training and Development (BOTD) announce their 2012 Fall Festival of Training. We will be conducting an array of 27 workshops on November 27 – 29, 2012 at the Sheraton Station Square Hotel in Pittsburgh, PA. These workshops consist of full and ½ day workshops.
During the Benefits Training, BOTD is offering these workshops to help you increase your knowledge of the Federal benefits programs and to improve your counseling skills. These workshops will be led by OPM experts and will offer an intensive, high-energy learning experience on selected topics. If you are responsible for administering benefits in your agency or providing counseling to employees about their benefits, you don't want to miss out on these informative workshops.
Attendance at the Benefits Training meets the requirement in 5 U.S.C 8350(3) that "once each year, each retirement counselor of an agency shall successfully complete a training session conducted under the [U.S. Office of Personnel Management] training program."
Be sure to register for the workshops early. When we have held this training in the past, workshops have filled quickly.
As in the past we will have a Customer Service Center available for you to check status of cases you are working on. Bring the identifying information with you to receive assistance on the questions you have.
Workshop Descriptions and the complete registration announcement are available at https://registration.golearnportal.org/index.aspx
Registration for those using a training form or purchase order is open now. Visit https://registration.golearnportal.org/index.aspx or use the attached form.
Credit card registration will open on Monday, October 1, 2012.
The registration deadline for this event is Friday, October 26, 2012.
We're looking forward to seeing you in Pittsburgh.
Attachments
Online Course
Benefits Officers Training and Development is very happy to announce the availability of our first on-line course—CSRS Offset.
OPM's CSRS Offset training covers the major aspects of the CSRS Offset program from a benefits officer's point of view including:
- Coverage determinations
- Decision factors
- Service requirements and other benefits
- Annuity provisions
- Offset computations
- Interrelationship with Social Security
Register for the course at our secure on-line registration site: https://registration.golearnportal.org.
Recent Benefits Administration Letters
Retirement In Focus
Federal Ballpark Estimate
OPM developed the Federal Ballpark Estimate: a savings goal worksheet. You can use the Federal Ballpark Estimate to automatically calculate estimates of future Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) or Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) retirement benefits and Thrift Savings Plan account balances. It will also let you know how well you are doing in meeting your savings goal. The Federal Ballpark Estimate was developed in partnership with the American Savings Education Council (ASEC) of the Employee Benefits Research Institute.
Retirement Financial Literacy and Education Strategy
OPM has developed a retirement financial literacy and education strategy for Federal employees. The plan is designed to educate Federal employees on the need for retirement savings and investment, provide information on how to plan for retirement and how to calculate the retirement investment needed to meet their retirement goals. View additional information on the Benefits Officers Training page.
Implementation of Retirement Coverage Error Corrections Legislation
The online FERCCA Database is now closed. Agencies are encouraged to continue to notify and educate employees on FERCCA and to review employee's personnel records as needed. Agencies are reminded to notify your agency's headquarters level Benefits Officer if you identify any individual(s) who have a retirement coverage error and are eligible for relief under FERCCA; the Benefits Officer will then notify OPM.
Visit our FERCCA Home Page for further information and to view the FERCCA FAQ's. The FERCCA Homepage provides you with everything you need to know about FERCCA and it's implementation. We suggest that you bookmark it for future reference.
Visit the Insure site for more information on the other part of this legislation, long-term care insurance.
Benefits Administration Information Online Mailing List
Are you registered for the Benefits Administration Information (BENEFTS INFO) online mailing list? The Benefits Administration Information list emails information, primarily Benefits Administration Letters (BAL), to subscribers. While the primary customers for the Benefits Administration Information list are agency benefits officers, anyone, anywhere can subscribe to the list. Benefits Administration Letters will be sent to list subscribers automatically.
Subscribe to retirement benefits mailing lists.
Information about this mailing list can be found in BAL 00-701
[24 KB].
Retirement Resources Summary
This website provides theses resources for HR Specialists.
Benefits Officers Publications - Retirement and Insurance handbooks, administration letters, and pamphlets
FERRCA - Federal Erroneous Retirement Coverage Corrections Act (FERCCA) Homepage provides you with everything you need to know about FERCCA and it's implementation.
Resource Links - Quick links to retirement and insurance web pages at OPM and other agencies.
Sales - Retirement videos and posters for purchase.
Tools and Aids - Federal retirement Tools and Aids for Federal Benefits Officers.
Training and Education - Retirement workshops for HR Specialists and education programs for agency staff.
Additional information is added to the Federal Benefits Officers Page on a regular basis. Suggestions for information and services that you would like to see added to these pages, should be directed to the Benefits Officers Training and Development Group at benefits@opm.gov.