Why I Support NARFE

I joined NARFE in 2011, just before my retirement, wish that I found it earlier. It is an EXCELLENT resource  for ALL of your benefit questions. Keep in mind that what you do with some of your benefits in your early work years, WILL have an impact on when/how you will retire. Will you land on your feet or on your backside ? Look at the benefits that a FERS employee needs to juggle : Annuity, TSP, SSA, FEHB, Medicare, etc etc.
  
The typical HR Office is not trained/equipped to serve/answer retiree questions and problems. That isnt their mission. So who do you turn to with your questions on the selection and use of your benefits ? The answer is the One Stop Shop called NARFE. That is their expertise. Their magazines are always timely with informative articles and they have their own Federal Benefits Institute, a group of experts, available to its members. No need to dial an 800 number and be told that "you are caller number 34 in line."

I also enjoy the local Chapter Meetings where I get to socialize with members who have the same interests as my self. I have learned a lot from the "senior" members in the Chapter who have already made certain decisions such as with Medicare, etc. Many benefits have pitfalls that you need to avoid.         

So why should someone join NARFE ?
- They have over 100 years of experience serving the federal public.
- Where else can you get advice that is in YOUR BEST interest ? 
- Where else can you get such expertise for only $ 4.00 per month.
- Are your benefits worth more than $ 4.00 ?
- Are your benefits worth than the price of a cup of coffee ? 

So check out NARFE's website today, grab a friend and join. Be sure to also join a local Chapter and maximize your membership.

Have a nice day !!! 








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John Hockenbury
NY Chapter 2340
( Hudson - Mohawk )
Recruitment Chair
Service Officer
Chaplain
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Although John Hockenbury's excellent post is 2.5 years old, here is my $.02 contribution now.

I joined our NARFE in late 2016. I had already been working my full time "retirement job" (minimum wage + a bit), for nearly 5 years. (When I retired as an USPS City Carrier; [30+years], in late 2011, I knew that I would have to supplement my hard earned CSRS pension). One of my former mail route customers was an active NARFE member, and was "recruiting" me for some time, Bless His Heart! 

Having worked & paid FICA Taxes for 10 years prior to my civil service, I knew that I was going to continue to add many more Social Security credits over the years. I knew then, that NARFE supported Repeal Of the Punitive WEP & GPO, and if I was ever going to receive the Social Security Retirement Benefit I was working so hard for, it was going to continue to be an uphill BATTLE with Congress.

I began my Social Security Benefit at my FRA of 66, while still working my retirement job, out of necessity. 4 years later, the WEP continues to penalize my family & I by over $500 each month, nearly 50% of my earned S.S. Benefit. (A dear, former coworker who took an early out & worked another "job", said: "you won't get the Social Security you paid for"...he passed away a few years ago...RIP my Friend "Red").

None of the folks like me; Federal or State WEP or GPO sufferers, deserve to be financially punished for our employment choices; by arbitrary formulas, heavily weighted against the worker or surviving spouse, from our Federal Government of 1983.

Our NARFE, my NALC, the CalRTA & others too, especially our "grass roots efforts", have been instrumental in moving our struggle for fairness ever closer to where we are today. (Even S.597 has enough cosponsors if they vote accordingly)

A few years ago, we knew that 290 House cosponsors was enough to require a floor vote...BUT, when we surpassed that number in 2022, the Ways & Means Comm. AND the Speaker would Not move H.R. 82 and a Discharge Petition fell short. A Bitter Pill, Indeed!

Here We Are, Again. Now with 323 cosponsors, including Speaker Johnson... likely faced with needing another Discharge Petition (requiring 218 House Rep in person signers) to get the floor vote we have worked so hard for. 

218 IS DOABLE!!! BUT, folks...we need ALL of the HELP we can GET! This is what is meant by Government Of, By & For the People!

THANK YOU, NARFE National President Shackelford and ALL of YOU, fellow members, for your steadfast efforts and support for our worthy cause, especially including those who do not have a "stake" in our fight.

We Can & Will Prevail, as we persevere for Fairness...the 1983 Congress be danged!

IMHO. Wayne

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Wayne DeVries
USPS City Carrier, ret.
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Thank you Wayne, glad to have you "on board".

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John Hockenbury
NY Chapter 2340
( Hudson - Mohawk )
Recruitment Chair
Service Officer
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 08-09-2024 21:50
From: WAYNE DEVRIES
Subject: Why I joined NARFE

Although John Hockenbury's excellent post is 2.5 years old, here is my $.02 contribution now.

I joined our NARFE in late 2016. I had already been working my full time "retirement job" (minimum wage + a bit), for nearly 5 years. (When I retired as an USPS City Carrier; [30+years], in late 2011, I knew that I would have to supplement my hard earned CSRS pension). One of my former mail route customers was an active NARFE member, and was "recruiting" me for some time, Bless His Heart! 

Having worked & paid FICA Taxes for 10 years prior to my civil service, I knew that I was going to continue to add many more Social Security credits over the years. I knew then, that NARFE supported Repeal Of the Punitive WEP & GPO, and if I was ever going to receive the Social Security Retirement Benefit I was working so hard for, it was going to continue to be an uphill BATTLE with Congress.

I began my Social Security Benefit at my FRA of 66, while still working my retirement job, out of necessity. 4 years later, the WEP continues to penalize my family & I, because of my modest public service pension, @ over $500 each month, nearly 50% of my earned S.S. Benefit. (A dear, former coworker who took an early out & worked another "job", said: "you won't get the Social Security you paid for"...he passed away a few years ago...RIP my Friend).

None of the folks like me; Federal or State WEP or GPO sufferers, deserve to be financially punished for our employment choices; by arbitrary formulas, heavily weighted against the worker or surviving spouse, from our Federal Government of 1983.

Our NARFE, my NALC, the CalRTA & others too, especially our "grass roots efforts", have been instrumental in moving our struggle for fairness ever closer to where we are today. (Even S.597 has enough cosponsors if they vote accordingly)

A few years ago, we knew that 290 House cosponsors was enough to require a floor vote...BUT, when we surpassed that number in 2022, the Ways & Means Comm. AND the Speaker would Not move H.R. 82 and a Discharge Petition fell short. A Bitter Pill, Indeed!

Here We Are, Again. Now with 323 cosponsors, including Speaker Johnson... likely faced with needing another Discharge Petition (requiring 218 House Rep in person signers) to get the floor vote we have worked so hard for. 

218 IS DOABLE!!! BUT, folks...we need ALL of the HELP we can GET! This is what is meant by Government Of, By & For the People!

THANK YOU, NARFE National President Shackelford and ALL of YOU, fellow members, for your steadfast efforts and support for our worthy cause, especially including those who do not have a "stake" in our fight.

We Can & Will Prevail, as we persevere for Fairness...the 1983 Congress be danged!

IMHO. Wayne

------------------------------
Wayne DeVries
USPS City Carrier, ret.
------------------------------