UNITED BENEFITS BLOG
Protecting your paycheck. Protecting your life. Protecting your retirement.

New Changes to Thrift Savings Plan for 2020
As a federal employee your Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) is one of your most valuable benefits. This retirement account allows you to accumulate savings on a pre-tax or after-tax basis and, if you are a FERS employee, you can also receive matching contributions on...

Will You Have Enough Income in Retirement?
The number one fear of retirees is running out of money- either out living their assets or not having enough income to keep up with future expenses. This fear is justified as we are all living longer and as inflation goes up, so do our expenses. So how do you protect...

What are the Main Principles of TSP?
When it comes to saving for retirement as a federal employee, one of the options at your disposal with the widest variety your TSP, or Thrift Savings Plan. WHAT ARE THE FIVE PRIMARY GOALS OF TSP? Income Replacement Protection of Principal Growth Potential...

Planning and Budgeting for Retirement
DO YOU HAVE A WRITTEN BUDGET AND A PLAN!? As a federal employee preparing for retirement, there are several things that you need to be concerned about. The key to making sure that everything goes smoothly is to have a budget and a plan. You wouldn’t go on a road trip...

What is Life Insurance and How Does It Protect Myself and My Family?
What is Life Insurance? Life Insurance is an Insurance Policy in which you pay a small premium amount at a certain frequency and in return the insurance carrier agrees to pay a large sum to your beneficiaries in the event of your death. This tax-free lump sum will...

When Can I File for Social Security, and How Much Will I Receive?
Whenever retirement in the United States is discussed in any capacity, even by non-federal employees, Social Security always comes up. Many people have arranged their retirement plans with Social Security assumed as part of it…but many times they are unaware of...

Calculating Your FEGLI Rates & Benefits
The cost of your Federal Employee Group Life Insurance and the amount of coverage you receive from it are difficult to understand unless you know how it’s calculated. Trying to figure out how much coverage you’ll retain after retirement (or reaching age 65,...

What are VERA & VSIP?
While not always common, it’s important to understand what might happen if you’re ever going through a RIF: a reduction in force. If you’re a federal employee that’s losing your position, or the position is moving to another area where you cannot relocate, then you...

What Does My Retirement Look Like Under the Civil Service Retirement System?
The Civil Service Retirement System is a defined benefit contributory pension plan. It was established August 1st, 1920, and was later replaced by FERS in 1987. If you became a federal worker before 1987, then more than likely calculating your retirement funds and...

What is the FERS Survivor Annuity Plan?
Retirement under the Federal Employee Retirement System doesn’t affect government workers alone. If you’re a federal employee, you’ve probably also been choosing and arranging your coverage to provide for your family under FERS as well. No one wants to imagine what...
United Benefits
Protecting your paycheck. Protecting your life. Protecting your retirement