Who is

Looking Out

for Your

Retirement

Benefits

?

• 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.

NARFE…NARFE…

…nearly 350,000 strong, representing 3.5 million 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

NARFE is…NARFE is…

FEDERAL RETIREMENT FEDERAL RETIREMENT BENEFITS ARE NOT A GIFTBENEFITS ARE NOT A GIFT

Benefits are earned through long term

government service and your contributions

• Protect income security

•Protect health benefits

•Receive fair and equal

treatment

NARFE Goals:NARFE Goals:

“Everything we gain, everything we lose, is by act of Congress.”

LEGISLATION IS A LEGISLATION IS A MAJOR FOCUSMAJOR FOCUS

• A Top legislative staff

• Close contact with Congress and OPM

• Nationwide network of legislative activists

NARFENARFE is highly respectedis highly respected

Because of:

NARFE has helped to NARFE has helped to bring you: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)

NARFE will:

• Sponsor and support needed legislation

• Oppose adverse legislation

• Foster public recognition

• Cooperate with other organizations to

accomplish goals

Preserving Your Preserving Your Retirement Benefits Retirement Benefits

•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.

Preserving Your Preserving Your Retirement Benefits (2)Retirement Benefits (2)

SOME CURRENT ISSUES SOME CURRENT ISSUES FOR 110thFOR 110th CONGRESS:CONGRESS:

•Repeal or modify Government Pension Offset (GPO)

•Repeal or modify Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP)

•FEHBP Premium conversion for Annuitants Tax Equity

Why are these important?Why are these important?

•GPO prevents retirees from collecting both federal annuity and any Social

Benefit based on spouse’s work

• GPO affects 401,200 S.S. beneficiaries –

•75% women

•42% widowed

•85% lost entire benefit

(GPO and WEP in place since 1983)

Why are these important?Why are these important?

•WEP causes loss of up to 50% of retiree S. S. benefits

• WEP affects 971,300 S.S. beneficiaries –

•2/3rds were Men

•20% had paid into S.S. for at least 21 years.

(GPO and WEP in place since 1983)

Holding the LineHolding 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.

““Harbingers of things to Harbingers of things to come”:come”:

Pensions:

Defined pension benefits almost unheard of today

•In 1980, 80% of workers had them, now only 33%

•Could generate “envy factor”

Health Care:

•Private health care programs hard hit, and FEHBP one of few fee-for-service options left.

OTHER NARFE PROJECTSOTHER NARFE PROJECTS

•Alzheimer’s Research (over $7.3 million)

•Federal Employees Education and Assistance Fund (FEEA)

•Scholarship Fund (60 $1,000 scholarships)

•NARFE-PAC

WHO CAN BELONG?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”

WHO DETERMINES WHO DETERMINES NARFE ISSUES?NARFE ISSUES?

•Grass Roots

•Chapters

•Federation convention of delegates

•National convention of delegates

•Focus on issues

•Political, but non-partisan

WHERE CHAPTERS ARE:WHERE CHAPTERS ARE:

•1476 Chapters in US, Panama, Philippines and Puerto Rico

MEMBER BENEFITS:MEMBER BENEFITS:

•Effective voice in Washington DC

•NARFE monthly magazine

•Liaison with Office of Personnel Management

•Insurance

•Perks

•Social contacts

The Magazine

The Web Site

www.narfe.org

Legislation

Retirement Tips

NARFE Magazine

Member Discounts

Q & A

Current Federal Employee Info

Insurance Benefits

NARFE:NARFE: A key source for A key source for answers on retirement issuesanswers on retirement issues

•Most chapters have a Service Officer•State Service Centers

•Online assistance through www.NARFE.org

•Procedures re annuity checks•Insurance – FEGLI and FEHBP

•Notification of death•Survivor benefits

All services provided without cost to user!

WHAT DOES IT COST TO WHAT DOES IT COST TO BELONG?BELONG?

•As of January 1, 2008

•Membership dues are $33 the first year which includes chapter dues

The following year dues are $29 plus chapter dues

Options include “Bill Pay” & “Dues Withholding”

Protect Your Benefits

Through NARFE!