Federal Employee's CSRS & FERS Federal Civil Service Retirement
& Financial Planning Resources
Explore hobbies and interests through
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Resource Menu
- CSRS and FERS Handbook
- Federal Jobs Net
Web Address: Government Jobs Career Center -
http://federaljobs.net
Description: Career center for federal government jobs. Includes helpful
information for federal employees.
- Federal Career Guidance Center
Web Address: Federal Employee Career Center -
http://fedcareer.info
Description: Career guidance for federal employees including the development
of comprehensive goals and objectives through the use of the Individual
Development Plans. Sample forms and templates are provided.
- Federal Employee Benefits and Assistance
Web Address: Federal Employee Web Site -
http://federaljobs.net/fed.htm
Description: Provides general information on benefits, internal transfers,
reinstatement, application and KSA guidance, helpful resources, and much
more.
- Divorce after retirement:
http://www.opm.gov/retire/post/life/marriage.asp
- Court ordered benefits and attorney information:
http://www.opm.gov/retire/pubs/pamphlets/other.asp
- (OPM) Office of Personnel Management (Retirement Support Site)
Web Address: http://www.opm.gov/retire,
E-Mail: retire@opm.gov
Description: Retirees can call toll free 1-888-767-6738
weekdays between 7:30 AM to 7:45 PM EST, fax requests to 1-724-794-6633, or email
questions to retire@opm.gov anytime to ask
questions or request assistance with their personal retirement issues.
Call early in the day if possible to get through and
you must have your retirement claim number or Social Security number
available. OPM advises that "the internet is not a secure environment
for transmitting personal information via email." Replies via email
typically take 15 days or more.
Survivors can also report an annuitant's death. Active federal employees must go through their agency's personnel office.
Federal retirees can sign up for online support, add or change allotments,
purchase savings bonds, and view monthly pay statements at
http://www.servicesonline.opm.gov. You must obtain a user ID from OPM
to access this site. If you call their number and give them your CSA number
they will send you a user ID and password to access this excellent site.
- Direct Deposit
Information
- Change of Address
Contact OPM at the phone number or web site listed above. You will need to
have your CSA number handy when you call. Call early in the morning, they
get very busy during the day. If you switch to direct deposit you can avoid
this in the future and you generally get your funds deposited sooner than
with a paper check. I use direct deposit. Go to
http://federalretirement.net/retireforms.htm and read the instructions
on completing the SF-1199 direct deposit forms and the process.
- Retiree Benefits Identification Card (OPM Issued)
When you retire OPM should send you a Retirement Services Reference Card.
Most retirees that I’ve talked to never receive one. To receive your card call
OPM at 1-888-767-6738. I called and received my card in 5 days. Your annuitant
claim number and OPM contact information is printed on the back. You can use
this card to receive certain discounts and DOD retirees are able to book stays
at military resorts with this card.
-
Annuity Confirmation for Financial Institutions
If your bank or mortgage company requires an official confirmation
of annuity you must have the fax number of the financial institution
available and call OPM at either 1-888-767-6738 or 202-606-0500. The OPM
retirement specialist will ask you for your name and Claim number
(Retirement CSA #). They will fax the confirmation of annuity to your
financial institution immediately. You can also fax the request toOPM at
724-794-6633 however this could take up to a week or longer to receive a
reply depending on the workload at the office.
- Duplicate 1099-R - How to obtain
You can download duplicate 1099-R forms from OPM's web site if you are a
registered user. To become a user you have to call OPM, their contact
numbers are listed on our site, go to
http://federalretirement.net/faqs.htm and click on the Contact OPM link
for the web address and phone number. If you call,
see contact phone numbers above, they
will also send out a hard copy of the form to you.
The Federal Records Center is the depository for official personnel folders
of persons no longer in the Federal service. Federal agencies, generally,
transfer employment records to the Federal Records Center thirty days after the
employee has been separated from Federal service.
The telephone numbers and e-mail addresses listed may only be used to contact
the facilities regarding procedures for submitting written requests for
information. The Privacy Act of 1974 (5 USC 552a) and OPM require a signed and
dated written request for information from Federal records. No requests for
information from personnel or any other type of records will be accepted by
telephone or e-mail.
Federal Records Center
National Archives and Records Administration
111 Winnebago Street
St. Louis, Missouri 63118
(314) 801-9250, FAX: 314-801-9269
Email: cpr.center@nara.gov
Inquiries must include your full name under which formerly employed, social
security number, date of birth, and to the extent known, former Federal
employing agencies, addresses and dates of such employment.
DD-214 Copies - To obtain a
copy of a DD-214 form to prove military service you or a family member must
mail or fax a
SF-180
form to the National Archives. The phone numbers for this service are
1-866-272-6272, FAX: 301-837-0483.
Graduate Degrees:
Academic or Professional?
Typically over 500,000 students earn a master's degree in each year. Of that
number, only 52,000 students earn a doctoral degree according to the U.S.
Department of Education. The majority of professional master's degrees were
awarded by private nonprofit universities, whereas the majority of academic
master's degrees and doctorates were awarded by public universities.
A master's degree is earned after baccalaureate level studies have been
completed. Some enter into a graduate program immediately after earning an
undergraduate degree. Student are able to enroll in an academic
master's
degree program or a professional master's degree program.
An academic master's degree program is designed and structured to prepare a
student to continue with their academic work into a doctoral program. Graduate
students earning academic master's degrees will focus on conducting research
centered around an original idea, practicing or developing research methods to
test an original theory or demonstrate the idea. For those continuing their
studies and earning a
doctorate
degree, the goal is mastering research methodology. One of the most
well-known credentials for earning a doctorate is doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.).
A professional master’s degree program emphasizes the application of
knowledge, rather than original research. Academic work completed for a
professional master’s degree cannot be applied towards a doctorate. Some
universities refer to professional master’s degrees as terminal
masters
degrees because there no further study can be completed. For example, a
master of business administration degree (M.B.A.) is a well-known professional
master’s degree as well as the master of education degree (M.Ed.).
For those interested in continuing on to work in the area of education, the
humanities, or the sciences, an academic master’s degree is more likely to lead
to long-term career advancement.
For someone interested in a career relating to civics, the applied arts, or
commerce, a professional, or terminal, master’s degree will provide long-term
benefits related to a person’s career.
Attaining the appropriate education can be time intensive, but many are
turning to online education to begin a new or enhance their current career.
eLearners.com is one resource offering a comprehensive list of accredited,
online graduate degree programs in business, accounting, nursing, mental health
counseling and human services among many others. The site’s searchable database
allows people to compare different programs to find the perfect fit for their
individual needs. Visit our
Education
Center today for more information.
- FedBens
Web Address: FREE Retirement Planning Calculators -
http://fedbens.us
Fedbens has a number of helpful and easy to use calculators tailored to the
federal retirees including, annuity estimates, full retirement analysis,
Thrift Savings Plan, military deposit, social security, and others.
- Medicare and Medicaid
Web Address:
http://www.medicarevsmedicaid.com
Description: Information on Medicare and Medicaid, learn about differences,
health insurance, health care, plans.
- Retiree Career Center (Part time, full time,
temporary and consulting jobs)
- SearchFedJobs.com (http://searchfedjobs.com)
Use this site to search a broad cross section of federal, state, and private
sector job vacancies in your area from multiple sources. A comprehensive and
FREE job listing service tailored to those looking for ALL potential
vacancies from ALL sources in any area including overseas.
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