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Pay raises, retirement planning, and benefits — expert guidance for every stage of your federal career, sourced and updated for 2026.
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575 articles · page 10 of 24Career
Deploying While Federal: Your FEHB, FEGLI, and FERS Clock
Every benefit runs on its own clock when a Guard or Reserve fed deploys. The FEHB two-track premium rule, the FEGLI month-12 election, and the FERS deposit.
Career
Tax-Free BAH Quietly Shrinks Your Social Security Check
BAH and BAS never touch your Social Security record. Over a 20-year E-7 career that's ~$618K in invisible earnings and ~$479/month less at 67. The math.
Career
Can You Be Fired for That Post? A Fed's Speech Self-Check
EPA fired employees its own ethics office cleared. Check your situation against 9 real scenarios: what speech is protected, what isn't, and where to fight back.
Retirement
After the FERS Supplement Ends: Claim SS at 62, 67, or 70?
The supplement dies at 62. Claiming then locks in a 30% cut; waiting to 70 adds 24% but costs $240K of TSP bridge. The break-even math for FERS retirees.
Retirement
Skipping the FERS Survivor Benefit: The $440,000 Mistake
Three worked case studies: what the 10% survivor election really buys, the FEHB trap that fires even when you elect, and the 8-to-1 math of declining.
Policy Updates
House NDAA Passes 216-212: What DOD Civilians Won and Lost
H.R. 8800 passed July 22 with termination bans for DoDEA, childcare, and DHA workers, and a collective bargaining fix the Senate already rejected. The stakes.
Career
How an O-3 Making $142K Pays Under 3% Federal Tax
Military pay gives officers a Roth window civilians can't match: 2.9% effective tax stateside, 0.2% with combat months, and $39,500 of annual Roth room.
Career
8,000 Uniformed Retirees' Pensions Can Stop in a Shutdown
NOAA Corps and USPHS retirees missed a pension check in the 2025 shutdown. H.R. 8732 just passed the House to fix it. Which of the 8 services are protected.
Policy Updates
OPM Suitability Rule Hits July 30: 3 Things to Fix First
OPM's suitability rule takes effect July 30, 2026. Late taxes, unreturned equipment, and NDA gaps become removal triggers. The 4-day fix-it checklist.
Policy Updates
IRS and SSA Suspend Advanced Leave: Legal? Your 4 Options
IRS and SSA both suspended advanced sick and annual leave in July 2026, and unions are grieving it. What's actually illegal and the 4 paths still open.
Policy Updates
USACE's NYC Move: 45% Say They'll Quit. Your 3 Options
USACE is moving 465 NYC employees to New Jersey by August 15. Relocate, decline, or wait? The severance, DSR, and reasonable-offer rules that decide it.
TSP
457(b) vs TSP: What Government Workers Miss in 2026
TSP and 457(b) limits are separate: $49,000 combined in 2026 if you hold both. Plus the 457(b) early-withdrawal advantage and the rollover trap that destroys it.
Career
Deployed? Your CZTE Months Are a Roth Conversion Window
BRS match lands in Traditional TSP even with 100% Roth. A combat-zone deployment is the cheapest Roth conversion window — if you understand what CZTE covers.
Career
Federal Hiring Says No Photos. Here's Where They Matter
USAJOBS prohibits resume photos and you can't pick your PIV photo. The three places a headshot actually counts in a federal career, with the rules cited.
Retirement
OPM's 6(c) Injury Rule: Keep Your $14,000/Year Enhanced Pension
OPM rule implements the First Responder Fair RETIRE Act: injured LEOs and firefighters keep 6(c) retirement after transferring. Deadline: Sept 21, 2026.
Career
VA Rating Cuts in H.R. 9237: 8 Rumors vs. What the Bill Says
H.R. 9237 would change VA sleep apnea and tinnitus ratings for FUTURE claims only. Existing ratings are protected by the bill text. 8 rumors, checked against the actual bill.
Career
LinkedIn for Federal Employees: What the Rules Allow in 2026
OGE guidance says feds can list agency and title on LinkedIn. The Hatch Act lines, the security clearance question, and the disclaimer that keeps you safe.
Career
Uniform Photo on LinkedIn? What DoD Policy Actually Says
DoDI 1334.01 and 5400.17 don't ban uniform profile photos, but the job-search gray zone is real. The rules, terminal-leave time crunch, and when to switch.
Career
Military Service Credit in State Pensions: 6 Systems Compared
State pensions let veterans buy military time at very different prices. TRS Texas, CalPERS, FRS, TRS Georgia, NYSLRS, and OPERS vs the FERS buyback, compared.
Policy Updates
OPM's 4-to-1 Hiring Rule: How Agencies Get Out From Under It
One hire per four departures, current fiscal year only. The proposed rule (comments Aug 3), the exempt positions, and the agency staffing-plan escape valve.
Career
Accommodation Approved, Then Revoked? You Have 45 Days to Act
Federal agencies are rescinding approved reasonable accommodations in 2026. What law requires before they can, the 45-day EEO clock, and the complaint path.
Career
76% of Feds Say RTO Hurt Productivity. Here's What You Can Do
A 7,463-person FNN survey found 76% of federal employees are less productive after RTO. Six legal action lanes: accommodation, AWS, grievances, MSPB, VERA, leave.
Career
Getting SBP Bills With No Spouse? The Trap and How to Cancel
Single and medically retired veterans keep getting surprise SBP premium bills. The insurable-interest trap, admin defaults, and the exact cancellation paths.
Career
Your BRS Match Never Goes to Roth TSP. Here's the Fix
Elect 100% Roth TSP and DoD's 5% match still lands in Traditional, by law. The mixed-balance surprise, the January 2026 conversion fix, and the deployment trick.
What we cover
The topics that matter most to federal employees.Policy Updates
Pay raises, OPM guidance, RIFs, and the legislation that reshapes federal employment.
Retirement Planning
FERS guides, High-3 strategy, the supplement, survivor benefits, and real retirement case studies.
TSP Strategies
Data-backed allocation, contribution timing, and withdrawal news for every investing style.
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