Law makers vs. fed career employees

[Topspinmo]

I think some are confused between elected officials and there aids, vs career fed employees. IMO The retirement benefits are NOT the same. The so called LAW MAKERS get 100% and FREE health care Vs, compared to the working calls GS or WG fed employee. Fed employees pay into there retirement after I think 86 to be more inline with civilian counter part even though the hourly wage or salary was for the most part lower than civilian counter part.
IMO Once Your so called Civilian CEO's started outsourcing and cutting the fat federal wage maybe equaled civilian counterpart. Fed employees (NOT ELECTED OFFICIALS) pay for health care and their retirement fund.

I was Veteran Non-commissioned officer with 24 years service. Which includes moving all over the world and getting shot at. Compared to teacher I retirement pay is probably half and I was NOT able to retire at the 20 year mark due to my retirement pay was enough to verily make house payment. Some Civilian counterpart usually has house paid for by retirement time.

IMO SO you can't slop all federal retires into the LAW Maker category and their aids or staff retirement plans.. they are totally different.

By the time I retire I will have 40 years federal service and 6 years civilian service. That should be worth something IMO. After all if the federal retirement plans were so great everybody had the change to Join the military and get those great benefits of 125 bucks every two weeks and that free military health care every body raves about that they are not getting.

Lets Do little research before we lump all fed employee's in with the career elected officials that YOU elected to run the country in the ground.

[gomoho]

Military pension is pathetic - it's all those other folks that are getting 80% plus of their ending salary we have a problem with. I personally know of 2 federal retired employees whose combined retirement income (pension) is $13,000 a month! And while they were collecting this pension they were called back as contract workers making their old salaries and call me during the day because they were bored and nothing to do. Sorry if I sound irritated, but this is a big beef with me.

[njbchbum]

gomoho - i thought maybe we knew the same retirees - until i got to the part where your friends went back to work after a call back! my retired friends are lovin' the retiree life they're livin' too much to ever thing about a call back! :) god bless 'em!

[Golfingnut]

When I decided to make the army my career friends said I was crazy, now they are mad that I have free medical for life. I am sorry some folks have fallen short of their financial goal, but that should not cause one to be angry at someone else that chose a wiser path. I salute all military and federal workers for their service.

[rubicon]

Don't get me started:pepper2:

[SoccerCoach]

don't get me started:pepper2:

exactly !

[Bonnevie]

for many years I was called a moron for working for the government because the private sector paid considerably more. It was my choice to work for the government because of the benefits. Now I'm considered a parasite for having those benefits.

[clekr]

There is no 80% plus. Fed pensions capped at 80%. To reach that, in a non-law enforcement position,one has to have 42 years and 8 months of service. BTW, federal employees and retirees play 40% of their medical insurance premiums.

[Topspinmo]

"they were called back as contract workers" (Fed Government don't rehire, Contractor's rehire retiree's and the GOV pays the Contractor and has no control over who contractors hire!) That's not the retiree fault, Contracting is another waste of government money and needs it own thread to cover all the fraud, cheating, and pay backs that goes on.

I agree 13,000 month is way too much and they should be cap for at least half that, but try getting that bill in with your elected officials, Course they would jump at the change to cut someone else pay, but they won't touch their 16,000.00+ month retirement pay with the free medical that Fed career retirees DON'T get.

[De Lis]

"$6500.00 is way too much and they should be capped for at least half that". Excuse YOU?

My guess is that each of those 2 people have advanced degrees, supervised many, and worked far more than your typical 9-5 job - without overtime!

[Bonnevie]

and remember, to get that percentage they would have to be under the "old" system so don't get social security
with that many years, many have spent time in the military so if they've put in all that, they have served their country
newer federal retirees have a much, much lower pension, a 401K system, and social security.

[buggyone]

and remember, to get that percentage they would have to be under the "old" system so don't get social security
with that many years, many have spent time in the military so if they've put in all that, they have served their country
newer federal retirees have a much, much lower pension, a 401K system, and social security.

So many folks do not understand the CSRS retirement system nor the FERS system. They just equate federal employees with the current inept bums in Congress which is 100% wrong.

Both my wife and I are very proud to have been long time Federal employees (me at 36 years, she at 32 years) and we both did a lot of good for the citizens of the USA.

[Monkei]

for many years I was called a moron for working for the government because the private sector paid considerably more. It was my choice to work for the government because of the benefits. Now I'm considered a parasite for having those benefits.

You say it all in your post. I did a combination of 37 yrs federal service and military time. I spent 14 in the military so I am not getting two pensions. My neighbors (in Tennessee) think I get free health care and one actually told me that I pay a reduced federal income tax as a perk.

My main question to any if you on here who thinks that fed workers had it or still have it made tell me, where in the heck do you get your incorrect information?

Hopefully my Villages neighbors are much smarter than my Tennessee neighbors.

[kstew43]

Military pension is pathetic - it's all those other folks that are getting 80% plus of their ending salary we have a problem with. I personally know of 2 federal retired employees whose combined retirement income (pension) is $13,000 a month! And while they were collecting this pension they were called back as contract workers making their old salaries and call me during the day because they were bored and nothing to do. Sorry if I sound irritated, but this is a big beef with me.

it's all relevant,

:beer3: Married couple as federal employees, should equal out to 62-65 percent of high 3 years salaries, if federal CSRS and stay till manditory retirement age 56, $13k is on the lower end.... FAA anyway... no tax breaks but goverment does pay a portion of insurance and will into retirement.
stop and think about it ....used to much more funds a year and soon only half the original salary, a little scary.

Its all what your used to ......
But going back as a contract worker....not gonna happen....
staying till the manditory for the higher percentage...then its time for fun...

[gomoho]

WOW - mid to high level management in corporate America don't come close to that.

[784caroline]

The OP (RcMoser) is entirely wrong with his facts. Just check out Snopes and this site Do Congressmen Pay For Their Healthcare? | House Democrats (http://www.dems.gov/matteroffact/do-congressmen-pay-for-their-healthcare) Congressman pay for their health care the same way all federal employees do. The Govt Contributes 40% and the employee pays 60%. The one benefit Congressman do get is access to Walter Reed medical Center. Also congressmen staff are different than the average Fed Employee when it come s to retirement benefits. Their computation rate is a striaght 2% of high 3 years of pay X the number of years of federal service...whereas the avergae joe retiring under Civil service (...Not FERS since 1984) is 1.5 X 3 years 1.75 X 4-15 years; and 2% for all time after 15 years multiplied by the avg top 3 years of salary. If you retire under CSRS you get NO Social Security.

In retirement, to reach 80% of top 3 years of salary the average Civil servant (under CSRS) would have to have approx 42 years of federal service.

[twinklesweep]

Why are working people attacking other working people? Is this being fomented in some subtle way, kind of along the lines of "divide and conquer"? Ultimately most of us are in the same boat, no matter what the simplicity or complexity of our jobs was and how much retirement income we receive....

For those who are fortunate enough to have pensions, we are probably the last generation to do so; by the time our children—and for sure our grandchildren—reach retirement age, "pension" will be an alien word!

We're here now; let's make the most of it while being supportive of others!

[Monkei]

There is a segment who love to attack those whom they believe are getting more than they deserve from the government. That includes hard working federal retires.

[gomoho]

[QUOTE If you retire under CSRS you get NO Social Security.[/QUOTE]

Nor do you pay into it.

[Monkei]

[QUOTE If you retire under CSRS you get NO Social Security.

Nor do you pay into it.[/QUOTE]

that i correct I am FERS and my wife is CSRS ... She gets none and she did not pay into it.

[Topspinmo]

"The OP (RcMoser) is entirely wrong with his facts." NO not on everything read you won't statement..I don't thing so walter reed is free for them. I have nowhere I can go for free even though I'm 20 year veteran. ONLY disabled Veterans get free health care at VA. they (the LAW MAKERs get 16000 mouth paid for life. their percentage from their pay is far less do to the make more and pay the same rate as I.... I get 1.1% at 20 year mark. You said it yourself STAFF they get striaght 2% early age retirement I think? . CSRS is just about gone hardly any people left on they system... IT is FERS now. Which is at least 2/3 less than CSRS year for year.

[Monkei]

"The OP (RcMoser) is entirely wrong with his facts." NO not on everything read you won't statement..I don't thing so walter reed is free for them. I have nowhere I can go for free even though I'm 20 year veteran. ONLY disabled Veterans get free health care at VA. they (the LAW MAKERs get 16000 mouth paid for life. their percentage from their pay is far less do to the make more and pay the same rate as I.... I get 1.1% at 20 year mark. You said it yourself STAFF they get striaght 2% early age retirement I think? . CSRS is just about gone hardly any people left on they system... IT is FERS now. Which is at least 2/3 less than CSRS year for year.

There are r were some advantages to FERS although I did not have a choice when I started working. With FERS I am collecting SSN now even though I was 57 when I retired. They don't call it SSN but it pays me SSN until my regular SSN starts. I think it is no longer in place but I believe it put in to urge people to start retiring earlier.

[gomoho]

Nor do you pay into it.

that i correct I am FERS and my wife is CSRS ... She gets none and she did not pay into it.[/QUOTE]

Now I understand what's going on.

[buggyone]

that i correct I am FERS and my wife is CSRS ... She gets none and she did not pay into it.

Now I understand what's going on.[/QUOTE]

Remember that we paid 7.3 percent of our salary into CSRS. It was not a free ride.

I thought the military got 50 percent of their pay at 20 years or 75 percent at 30 years for retirement.

[Topspinmo]

IMO seen from the inside! Neither is FERS Two part retirement system Thrift we have to match up to 5% to get full 5% the Gov adds. With FERS and SS it's still falls about short of CSRS.. Then you say we got Thrift Saving if you can afford to invest in it. If not you get nothing from it. Military does get 50% at 20. Was good back in the day when you got free health care at any military facility. Tri-care prime (going up like every other health insurance) Life Insurance, Survisor's benefits comes out of that. Then, there is the divorce rate which usually higher than Civilain world ex-Wife get's half in she's put up with it for 10 years or more. Enlisted are the bottom feeders when it comes to Government Benifits. Even up to the rank of E7 that don't go to far after deductions and remember most military has mandatory moved average 4 times or more thorough their career and Most just brought house after they retired. Some in certain career fields was able to homestead on base for 20 years and have house paid for, most don't have that luxury. IMO Not as Rosie as most think at the end of the day. Especially now days military gets little respect from our civilian counterpart, but they sure do like the free choices they get don't they.

[784caroline]

"The OP (RcMoser) is entirely wrong with his facts." NO not on everything read you won't statement..I don't thing so walter reed is free for them. I have nowhere I can go for free even though I'm 20 year veteran. ONLY disabled Veterans get free health care at VA. they (the LAW MAKERs get 16000 mouth paid for life. their percentage from their pay is far less do to the make more and pay the same rate as I.... I get 1.1% at 20 year mark. You said it yourself STAFF they get striaght 2% early age retirement I think? . CSRS is just about gone hardly any people left on they system... IT is FERS now. Which is at least 2/3 less than CSRS year for year.

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Where are you getting your information from. I said a Congressmen has access to Walter Reed hospital..I did not say it was free..I am not certain it is. I do know certain Govt Civilians overseas have access to military care/ hospitals and it is not free, you use your health insurance to reimburse the military and most likely it is the same way with congressmen using Walter Reed..and Congressmen pay for their health care. Following your rationale what happens if/when a congressmen gets sick in their home district or their family members need health care..they use their health insurance just like you or i buy.

Where are you getting congressmen get 16000/month for life???? As quoted from Wikipedia Congressional pension - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congressional_pension)

The pension amount is determined by a formula that takes into account the years served and the average pay for the top three years in terms of payment. For example, a member elected before 1984 and thus qualifying under the CSRS plan, who worked for 22 years and who had a top three-year average salary of $153,900 would be eligible for a pension payment of $84,645 per year. A member elected after 1984 would have been enrolled under the FERS plan, and their pension payment under the same conditions ($153,900 top three-year average salary and 22 years of service[not in citation given]) would be $55,404.[not in citation given].[3]

Or from "CNN Money" Will your congressman retire richer than you? - Jul. 29, 2013 (http://money.cnn.com/2013/07/29/retirement/congress-pension/index.html)
Based on current salaries, members of Congress who serve just five years are guaranteed annual pensions of more than $14,000 at age 62, according to current pension formulas. And those who serve 20 years or more can qualify for a pension of at least $59,000 as early as age 50. NOTE that was an ANNUAL pension of $16000 not monthly.

In 2011, 280 former lawmakers who retired under a former government pension system received average annual pensions of $70,620, according to a Congressional Research Service report. They averaged around 20 years of service. At the same time, another 215 retirees (elected in 1984 or later with an average of 15 years of service) received average annual checks of roughly $40,000 a year.

Look no one is saying that their benefits are not good..they are very good, but dont try and take someone down by using false or misleading statements.

[Topspinmo]

They should get SS like the rest of us "O" wait they do" add another 20K plus annually I for one don't believe Wiki and I sure don't believe the CNN. You could of provided wiki with information and now it the truth. CNN misleads all the time when it fits there agenda.

[buggyone]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Where are you getting your information from. I said a Congressmen has access to Walter Reed hospital..I did not say it was free..I am not certain it is. I do know certain Govt Civilians overseas have access to military care/ hospitals and it is not free, you use your health insurance to reimburse the military and most likely it is the same way with congressmen using Walter Reed..and Congressmen pay for their health care. Following your rationale what happens if/when a congressmen gets sick in their home district or their family members need health care..they use their health insurance just like you or i buy.

Where are you getting congressmen get 16000/month for life???? As quoted from Wikipedia Congressional pension - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congressional_pension)

The pension amount is determined by a formula that takes into account the years served and the average pay for the top three years in terms of payment. For example, a member elected before 1984 and thus qualifying under the CSRS plan, who worked for 22 years and who had a top three-year average salary of $153,900 would be eligible for a pension payment of $84,645 per year. A member elected after 1984 would have been enrolled under the FERS plan, and their pension payment under the same conditions ($153,900 top three-year average salary and 22 years of service[not in citation given]) would be $55,404.[not in citation given].[3]

Or from "CNN Money" Will your congressman retire richer than you? - Jul. 29, 2013 (http://money.cnn.com/2013/07/29/retirement/congress-pension/index.html)
Based on current salaries, members of Congress who serve just five years are guaranteed annual pensions of more than $14,000 at age 62, according to current pension formulas. And those who serve 20 years or more can qualify for a pension of at least $59,000 as early as age 50. NOTE that was an ANNUAL pension of $16000 not monthly.

In 2011, 280 former lawmakers who retired under a former government pension system received average annual pensions of $70,620, according to a Congressional Research Service report. They averaged around 20 years of service. At the same time, another 215 retirees (elected in 1984 or later with an average of 15 years of service) received average annual checks of roughly $40,000 a year.

Look no one is saying that their benefits are not good..they are very good, but dont try and take someone down by using false or misleading statements.

Excellent post. Thank you for looking all that material up. However, some people - as you can see - still do not believe in reality but just in what they want to be fact. :shrug:

[Bavarian]

Welcome fellow retired Feds, We need to stick together to counter the misconceptions.
I get CSRS, no Social Security. A while back, we had to pay into Medicare and now will get that hopfully our FEHP health care continues. If we want Long term Care, Dental or Vision insurance, we pay 100%

If I work at another job under SS, my benefits are reduced by the Windfall Pension Exclusion, my spousal benefit from my wire's private sector work is reduced by the Government Pension Offset. A few retired high graders may get a total pension that you think is high, so would two private sectore high earners. And by what right does anyone have the right to cap pensions, or salaries? We pay a lot more income taxes so the money goes back.

When FERS came out twice we were pushed to change, no one I knew did and we all felt, if its pushed so much it can't be good for us.

We could put %5 with no match to TSP, only in Government bonds.

[Monkei]

I am proud to be a 37 year federal worker, my wife 36 year. We worked hard for our high GS ranking and when anyone gives us crap about federal workers we politely tell them that every business has workers who don't work hard but I had 12 employees and was happy with each one of them. They worked hard, endured half of the time on the road and were all happy to work for the government. Each one of them were Microsoft certified engineers and could have made a lot more money had they gone to any of our contractors, who were constantly pursuing them.

[pspano]

I find this thread very interesting. I am still a full time working federal employee. I will retire with over 33 years service when I am eligible and I won't be getting anywhere near 80%. For 33 years I contributed to my pension plan, contributed to my health insurance costs, contributed to my life insurance costs and probably put in more volunteer time that I wasn't paid for to get the job done. I will continue to pay for my health insurance and my life insurance in to retirement. I also worked for private industry prior to my federal career so I did contribute to social security but because i will collect a CSRS pension I won't be able to take advantage of any social security benefits other than Medicare which I pay into. I am very thankful for my federal career and the contributions that I have been able to make in direct support of the fleet. I opted not to work in private industry with the opportunity to make more money and get more perks so I could give back (indirectly) to those that serve and protect us. Kindly get the facts before making assumptions.

[dotti105]

I don't have any beef with federal or state employees.

I do have a serious issue with our elected federal officials who serve one term and have the best possible pension and free health care for life. Seriously???

I am an RN and I see a serious disparity between the "have" and the "have nots".

It is sickening...stomach turning to see the elect few in the corporate world with their golden parachutes and the elected officials who have made government SERVICE into their own personal golden goose.

Those responsible for ruining our nations economy are still pulling the strings of the political puppets. I have lost all respect for elected officials.

Look into the background of Fla Gov Rick Scott. The medicaid fraud is mind boggling. The more corrupt, the higher they rise in our twisted system.

Excuse the rant!! Just touched a very sensitive nerve.......

[buggyone]

No, Dotti, elected members of Congress DO NOT get free healthcare for life. They have a good health insurance plan (FEHB) but it is not free.

All this information is available online. Just look on a reliable site and not FOX News.

[Monkei]

I don't have any beef with federal or state employees.

I do have a serious issue with our elected federal officials who serve one term and have the best possible pension and free health care for life. Seriously???

I am an RN and I see a serious disparity between the "have" and the "have nots".

It is sickening...stomach turning to see the elect few in the corporate world with their golden parachutes and the elected officials who have made government SERVICE into their own personal golden goose.

Those responsible for ruining our nations economy are still pulling the strings of the political puppets. I have lost all respect for elected officials.

Look into the background of Fla Gov Rick Scott. The medicaid fraud is mind boggling. The more corrupt, the higher they rise in our twisted system.

Excuse the rant!! Just touched a very sensitive nerve.......

Dottti, your post is right on except for the free health care bit.