Federal Employee, We were where you are, We are where you will be.

1. Federal Employee, We were where you are, We are where you will be. Come join us in preserving your Retirement Benefits. The members of NARFE

2. Who is Looking Out for Your Retirement Benefits ?

4. NARFE… • Founded in 1921 by 14 federal workers. • Now a major force on Capitol Hill and across the nation. • Highly respected legislative voice for federal workers and retirees.

5. NARFE is… • … 297,000 strong and 22,800 of them are Active Federal Employees. We represent 4.0 million plus federal employees and retirees. • … The only association of federal workers and retirees united to preserve and improve the economic security and well-being of federal employees • and their families • in retirement

6. FEDERAL RETIREMENT BENEFITS ARE NOT A GIFT Benefits are earned through long term government service and your contributions

7. NARFE Goals: • Protect income security • Protect health benefits • Receive fair and equal treatment

8. LEGISLATION IS A MAJOR FOCUS “Everything we gain, everything we lose, is by act of Congress.”

9. NARFEis highly respected Because of: • A Top legislative staff • Close contact with Congress and OPM • Nationwide network of legislative activists

10. NARFE has helped to bring you: • Survivor Benefits (1950s) • Creation of the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (1960s) • Thrift Savings Plan and Federal Employee Retirement System (1980s) • Long Term Care (1990s)

11. Preserving Your Retirement Benefits • NARFE will: • Sponsor and support needed legislation • Oppose adverse legislation • Foster public recognition • Cooperate with other organizations to accomplish goals

12. Preserving Your Retirement Benefits (2) • Inform members about relevant issues – • Retirement income, health care benefits, taxation and COLAs. • Strengthen political influence through NARFE-PAC. • Partner with OPM to answer questions about retirement.

13. F SOME CURRENT ISSUES BEFORE CONGRESS: • For years, NARFE has fought to: • Repeal or modify Government Pension Offset (GPO) legislation affecting CSRS • Repeal or modify Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) legislation affecting CSRS and FERS • Include FEHBP Premium Conversion for Annuitants Tax Equityin Legislation

14. Why are these important? (GPO and WEP in place since 1983) • GPO affects 464,537 S.S. beneficiaries – • 77% women • 43% widowed • GPO prevents CSRS retirees from collecting both federal annuity and any Social Security Benefit based on spouse’s work • 75% lost entire benefit

15. Why are these important? (GPO and WEP in place since 1983) • WEP causes loss of up to 50% of retiree S. S. benefits • WEP affects 972,000 S.S. beneficiaries – • 2/3rds were Men • 20% had paid into S.S. for at least 21 years.

16. NARFE SUPPORTED ISSUES IN 111thCONGRESS: • Automatic TSP Enrollment • “Roth” Option for TSP • Allow surviving spouse to retain TSP rights • Allow agencies to temporarily hire retirees without affecting annuities • FERS Sick Leave Credit

17. HOLDING THE LINE • Actions to reinstate or add new benefits are important, but – • Our first legislative priority is to prevent any loss of current benefits. • So far, NARFE has been successful in fending off attempts to cut back or curtail funding of our current benefits.

18. “Harbingers of things to come”: • Pensions: • Defined pension benefits almost unheard of today • In 1980, 80% of workers had them, now only 21.3% • Could generate “envy factor” • Health Care: • Private health care programs hard hit, and FEHBP one of few fee-for-service options left. Health Care. Reform will impact.

19. Some defeated, but recurring, Congressional proposals: • 2009 Proposals: • Cut Federal Retirement & Health Benefits • by $10.2 B. • Cut COLAS • Change from “High 3” to “High 5” computation • Cut FEHBP support on retirees with less than 30 years

20. But they are still not done: • Sept 2010: “Pledge to America” called for: • Hiring freeze on all non-security federal workers • On the Hill, calls to: • Block 1.4% pay increase • Furlough federal workers for two weeks • Fire workers who owe federal taxes • Freeze bonuses

21. Some defeated, but recurring, Congressional proposals: • 2010 Roadmap for America: • Cut COLAS • Change from “High 3” to “High 5” computation • Cut FEHBP support on retirees with less than 30 years

22. But they are not done yet: • Dec 2011 Bill in House to: • Extend the pay freeze through 2013 • Increase retirement contributions • Create a different retirement structure for new employees • Change FERS pension formula multiplier

23. Sen. Tom Coburn, R-OK July 23, 2009 (Was a member of the Entitlement Commission) “By the way, if you are a federal employee and unhappy with me trying to defeat this amendment, you should pay attention to something. There is no guarantee to your federal pension based on the economics we face today in this country. If you think it is guaranteed, you have another thought coming because the world economic system is going to determine whether we can honor that pension. That is what is coming. We are very close.”

24. NARFE is still helping • FY2010 Defense Authorization Act, signed in October 2009, includes • Allowing federal agencies to re-employ federal retirees on a limited, part-time basis without offset of annuity • Letting FERS workers credit unused sick leave toward retirement (initially half, then all). • FERS re-deposit • CSRS Part-Time fix • - Ending NSPS

25. How Can You Help? • Join NARFE – recruit others • Stay informed: Sign up for GEMS • Read NARFE Magazine and newsletters. • Call, Write and/or E-mail your Representative and Senators (Often) • Use CAPWIZ • Refute inaccurate and misleading statements • Pass The Word to others – members and non-members - Encourage them to act. • Give the NARFE Legislative Staff numbers to work with – every voice counts.

26. How Can You Help? • Help set the public record straight about Federal Employee and Retiree contributions, pay and benefits • Take part in the “Protect America’s Heartbeat” Campaign • Go to www.protectAmericasHeartbeat.com to send letters and other information to your Legislators and to tell your personal story. • Write letters to the editor of your local newspaper • Pass information about this effort to your Federal Employee co-workers

27. OTHER NARFE PROJECTS • Alzheimer’s Research (over $9.3 million) • Federal Employees Education and Assistance Fund (FEEA) • Scholarship Fund (sixty $1,000 scholarships) • NARFE-PAC

28. Another NARFE Resource • Federal Retirement Benefits for Employees (FRB – E) • Financial Benefits Maximizer (FBM) • eSeminar • All Online • Available to NARFE members only • for small fee

29. WHO CAN BELONG? • Active employees • Former employees • Retirees • Survivors • Spouses • Former spouses “Civilians who are or will be eligible to receive an annuity or survivor annuity from the federal retirement programs”

30. WHO DETERMINES NARFE ISSUES? • Grass Roots • Chapters • Federation convention of delegates • National convention of delegates • Focus on issues • Political, but non-partisan

31. WHERE CHAPTERS ARE In Washington State: • 1398 Chapters in US, Panama, Philippines and Puerto Rico

32. MEMBER BENEFITS: • Effective voice in Washington DC • NARFE monthly magazine • Liaison with Office of Personnel Management • Insurance • Perks • Social contacts

33. The Magazine

34. The Web Site www.narfe.org Legislation Q & A NARFE Magazine Current Federal Employee Info Retirement Tips Insurance Benefits Member Discounts

35. NARFE: A key source for answers on retirement issues • Most chapters have a Service Officer • State Service Centers • Online assistance through • www.narfe.org • Insurance – FEGLI and FEHBP • Notification of death • Survivor benefits All services provided without cost to user!

36. WHAT DOES IT COST TO BELONG? New membership dues are $45 the first year which includes chapter dues The following year dues will be $40 plus chapter dues Payment options include bill pay, credit card, & money order

37. Join Today!

38. Protect Your Benefits Through NARFE!

39. “Be Prepared for Life’s Events • Useful NARFE Publication • Lets you log important information for your beneficiaries