Human Resources Division (HRD) - Benefits

Printable Version

Welcome to MRP’s Benefits website created for you by the Benefits servicing team located in the Human Resources Operations office in Minneapolis, MN. We provide information, guidance, and resources on Federal employee retirement and insurance benefits programs to our employees located throughout the nation. We process retirement applications, TSP contribution elections, and life and health insurance election forms. We determine creditable service for retirement, provide retirement calculations, and individual counseling to employees. We also assist beneficiaries with filing retirement and insurance claims when an employee dies. In addition, we provide retirement and benefits webinar and VTC sessions for agency employee meetings.

Specific Benefits information can be accessed using the Related Topics menu to the Right.

2012 Benefits News

January:

OPM releases new version of benefit forms:

• SF-2809, Federal Employees Health Benefit Enrollment form http://www.opm.gov/Forms/pdf_fill/SF2809.pdf
• SF-2818, Continuation of Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance form http://www.opm.gov/Forms/pdf_fill/SF2818.pdf

New requirement for agencies to pay to the Civil Service Retirement & Disability Fund to cover the costs of retirements resulting from 2012 Voluntary Separation Incentive Payments (VSIP) and Voluntary Early Retirement Authorities. http://www.opm.gov/retire/pubs/bals/
2012/12-302.pdf

OPM releases strategic plan for processing a backlog of retirement applications: http://www.opm.gov/StrategicPlan/pdf/
StrategicPlanforRetirementServices.pdf

March:

OPM approves Voluntary Early Retirement Authority for USDA’s APHIS and GIPSA agencies. For complete details, go to http://www.aphis.usda.gov/mrpbs/hr/benefits/
vera_vsip.shtml

The Thrift Savings Plan Roth Option is Coming!  For more information see the Fact Sheet on the Roth Option: https://www.tsp.gov/PDF/formspubs/high12a.pdf

To watch a video on the Roth Option, go to https://www.tsp.gov/whatsnew/roth/index.shtml

April:

April is Financial Awareness Month! In an effort to increase awareness of the importance of financial planning for retirement, Long Term Care Partners invite you to attend five webinars on the following financial planning topics:

• Retirement planning for women (May 10th, 2 p.m., ET) - Women face special considerations when planning for a secure retirement. Join us as Tammy Flanagan shows Federally employed women how to develop a plan and stay on track.
  
  
• FEHB, FEGLI, FLTCIP, FSA, FEDVIP - it’s all alphabet soup! (June 19th, 2 p.m., ET) - The world of Federal benefits and insurance can be confusing. Which benefits and elections should you opt for and what changes should you make along the way and into retirement? Join us as Tammy Flanagan highlights the top tips to help you manage your own Federal benefits package.
  
  
• Retirement planning for singles (July 12th, 2 p.m., ET) - Unmarried individuals face special considerations when planning for retirement - and sometimes the answers depend on whether you are a single parent, a widow or widower, or an independent adult. Join us as Tammy Flanagan highlights the top tips unmarried Federal employees need to consider when developing a plan.
  
  
• Retirement: It’s not too early (or late) to think about it! (archived - simply register to view event) - Retirement expert Tammy Flanagan presents this webinar, designed for those interested in learning more about planning for retirement at any age. This webinar also reviews the importance of planning for long term care and the FLTCIP.
  

To register for any of the events listed below, visit www.LTCFEDS.com/webinar. Webinars may be viewed “live” the day of the event, or as an archived event for up to 90 days afterwards.

May:

• The Roth TSP is here! The Thrift Savings Plan program will implement the Roth TSP Option on May 14, 2012.  Updated TSP-1 and TSP-1C election forms are available on-line.  The National Finance Center Employee Personal Page will begin accepting elections on May 14, 2012. Information on the Roth TSP may be found at https://www.tsp.gov/whatsnew/
  roth/index.shtml.

June:

In a press release dated May 25, 2012, the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) announced that a cyber-attack had occurred at Serco Inc., a third party service provider to the TSP. The incident resulted in an unauthorized release of personal information for approximately 123,000 Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) participants or other recipients of TSP payments. According to FRTIB, there is no indication the data has been misused or TSP’s website has been affected by the breach. The FRTIB sent letters over the Memorial Day weekend to all affected individuals offering participant’s information on how to contact the call center that has been established to provide support and offer services such as credit monitoring. In addition, FRTIB will place alerts on the impacted TSP accounts to ensure that any account activity receives the highest scrutiny. TSP has provided the following information on their web site: links to the incident report; the press release; and answers to frequently asked questions regarding the incident.

• Computer Hacking Incident Report
  https://www.tsp.gov/whatsnew/plan/planNews.shtml

• TSP Press Release
  https://www.tsp.gov/PDF/formspubs/Press.Release.
  2012-05-25.Cyber.pdf

• Frequently Asked Questions
  https://www.tsp.gov/whatsnew/plan/planNews.shtml#
  pii.faq

November:

• The Federal Benefits Open Season begins on Monday, November 12.  For complete details and information, please visit http://www.aphis.usda.gov/mrpbs/hr/
  benefits/open_season.shtml

• The Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program is offering Fall webinars!

FEHB, FEGLI, FLTCIP, FSAFEDS, FEDVIP: It's all alphabet soup!
(November 8, 2 p.m. ET)
The world of Federal benefits and insurance can be confusing. Which benefits and elections should you opt for and what changes should you make along the way and into retirement? Join Tammy Flanagan as she highlights the top tips to help you manage your own Federal benefits package, including updates for this open season.

Making the Most of Your Military Service
(November 19, 2 p.m. ET)
Are you currently a Federal employee with military service or a full military retirement? Learn how to receive credit for your military service and how it can affect your Federal civilian annuity. Join James Marshall of Federal Retirement Planning, LLC, as he demonstrates options you might not have considered and shows how to utilize all the retirement benefits available to you.

Great Expectations: The Countdown to Retirement
(December 6, 2 p.m. ET)
Whether you've set your retirement or are still deciding on the date, there are last-minute steps you can take to smooth the retirement process. What are the best days to retire this December and in 2013, and what can you expect to happen with your Federal pay and benefits before and after you go? Join Tammy Flanagan as she highlights the top tips on how to prepare for retirement.