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575 articles · page 5 of 24Pay & Compensation
The 2027 Raise Feds Didn't Get: $1,223 to $4,440 by Grade
The pay law's own formula called for a 3.1% raise in 2027 plus a locality catch-up the White House priced at 20.6%. FedTools computed what each GS grade gave up.
Pay & Compensation
Air Traffic Controllers: Where Is the Rest of Your 3.8% Raise
Congress funded a 3.8% controller raise in April; FAA has paid 1%. FedTools computed the withheld 2.8%, about $140 a pay period at $130,000, and what the statute allows.
Retirement
Your FERS Pension Is Rarer Than You Think: Only 9% Have One
Only 9% of private-sector workers have a defined benefit pension, and many are frozen. FedTools priced GS-9, GS-12, and GS-14 FERS pensions two ways: $244K to $1.35M.
Career
Guard/Reserve Military Deposit: What Counts, What Doesn't
Drill weekends don't count, annual training does, Title 32 usually doesn't: the OPM Handbook rules for a Guard or Reserve FERS deposit and which form proves it.
Pay & Compensation
The Real 2027 Federal Pay Cut: 3.4% Inflation, 0% Raise
August CPI is in at 3.4% and the 2027 raise is 0%. FedTools computed the purchasing-power loss for every GS grade in DC and Rest of US, from $923 to $6,523.
Retirement
Retire at 57? The 8-Year FEHB Bridge Costs $69,000 to $82,000
FedTools projection from OPM premium history: bridging FEHB Self Plus One from a 57 retirement to Medicare at 65 costs $69,000 to $82,000, plus the Part B enrollment trap.
Policy Updates
Does a September 30 Deadline Apply to You? 5 Real, 4 Rumors
Nine September 30 deadlines feds are hearing about, checked against the source: five real (CR, OPM breach protection, Navy review, DRP leave cap, appraisals), four rumors.
Policy Updates
USPS Paid $866 Million in Grievances: Where the Money Went
A USPS OIG audit counts $866 million across 3.5 million grievance payments, FY2022 to 2024. FedTools computed averages by union, the overtime share, and why Chicago leads.
Career
VA Cut Your Disability Rating? A Third of 2024 Reductions Had Errors
VA's watchdog found errors in a third of 2024 rating reductions. The five rules VA must follow before cutting a rating, and the 30-day request that freezes your pay.
Career
Veterans Data Order: What Changes for Your VA Claim and When
EO 14426 gives DoD 30 days to share records with VA and 180 days for AI claim tools. It does not speed up a claim filed today. What to do before you separate.
Pay & Compensation
Federal Wage System (WG) Pay Scale 2026: How It Works
WG, WL, and WS pay is set by local survey, not a national table. Grades, steps, the 96-to-112% payline, differentials, and a four-city WG-10 vs. GS-7 test.
Benefits
FEHB and Your Child Turning 26: What Ends and What It Saves
FEHB covers children to their 26th birthday, student or not. What ends that day, the 31-day extension, TCC at 102%, and what Self Plus One saves on 8 plans.
Retirement
61 vs. 62: The FERS Rule Worth Up to $5,250 a Year for Life
Retire at 62 with 20 years and FERS pays 1.1% instead of 1.0% on every year, for life. We computed the dollar gain at four salaries and the 11-year payback.
Career
Does 'Not a Declared War' Cost Families Death Benefits?
A viral thread says troops killed in the Iran operation lose death benefits because Congress never declared war. Every claim checked against the statute.
Retirement
Does the 2027 Pay Freeze Change When You Should Retire?
A 0% year cuts the High-3 gain from working one more year almost in half. We computed retire-January-2027 vs. January-2028 at GS-11 to GS-14 in DC locality.
Career
Bump and Retreat Are Gone: Your New RIF Assignment Rights
Since Sept. 2, a RIF'd federal employee gets one assignment right, in their own tenure group, within 3 grades. Who lost reach, who gained cover, and the pay math.
Career
Clearance Suspended or Revoked? Your Rights, Explained
GSA cut hundreds of clearances without firing anyone. The three clearance actions, which appeal rights attach to each, what MSPB can review, and your pay.
Retirement
Is My Social Security Taxed If I Also Get a Federal Pension?
Yes, almost always. Your FERS or CSRS pension counts toward the income test that taxes up to 85% of Social Security. We computed 16 retiree scenarios.
Career
Do Veterans Need Medicare Part B With VA Health Care?
VA health care is not creditable coverage for Part B. Skip it at 65 and the penalty is permanent. We computed the lifetime cost of a 3, 5, 8, and 10-year delay.
Policy Updates
Agency HQ Relocations 2026: Agency-by-Agency Tracker
Every 2026 federal HQ move and directed reassignment in one table: USDA hubs, HUD, CFPB, Army Corps NY, the blocked FBI move. Headcounts, deadlines, decline rules.
Retirement
Congressional Inquiry: How to Unstick OPM, DFAS, or the VA
A congressional inquiry puts a person and a deadline on a stalled OPM, DFAS, or VA case. What it can and cannot do, how to file, and agency response windows.
Pay & Compensation
The County-Line Locality Pay Cliff: $39,391 Apart in 2026
Locality pay is set by county. We computed 14 real adjacent-county pairs where crossing one line changes a GS salary by $4,470 to $39,391. Full table inside.
Career
DD-214 Correction: Fix Missing Deployments and Awards
DD-214 correction guide: which form fixes a missing deployment or award, where it goes, the 3-year and 15-year clocks, and what a wrong record costs a fed.
Policy Updates
FY2027 Appraisal Cycle Starts Oct 1 Without a Level 2 Rating
The FY2027 appraisal cycle opens Oct 1 with no Level 2 rating. The three deadlines (Sept 20, Oct 1, Jan 1) and what to check by Oct 31.
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