I’m an AFSA member that retired from the USAF a few years ago. When I did, my contributions by allotment to the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) stopped by law. I have written AFSA asking to have their legislative director advocate changing the law to allow TSP contributions from people who retire honorably from the military. And I suggested the contributions could perhaps continue by voluntary allotment from retired pay. That allows retirees to use the power of dollar cost averaging to increase their savings throughout their working life.

I encourage everyone to write their Congressman and Senators advocating such an idea.

Lee Reedy
SMSgt (Ret), USAF
Proud AFSA Member

Posted on November 8th, 2008 by Lee Reedy
Filed under: Legislative Action | No Comments »

As reported in the Oct 17, 2008 edition of the AFSA Weekly Newsletter, military retiree and annuitant cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) that goes into effect on Dec 1, 2008 and will be reflected in the Jan 2, 2009 payment will generally be 5.8 percent. More details are now available. According to the Defense Finance and Accounting Service, the increase will be less for some retirees and annuitants, depending on actual service and retirement dates.

For retirees who first entered military service on or after Sept. 8, 1980, the COLA will be:

– 5.8 percent for those retiring before Jan. 1, 2008

– 5 percent for those retiring in the first quarter of calendar 2008

– 3.8 percent for those retiring in the second quarter of calendar 2008
– 1.2 percent for those retiring in the third quarter of calendar 2008
– No increase for those retiring in the fourth quarter of calendar 2008
For those retirees who first entered service on or after Aug. 1, 1986, elected to receive a Career Status Bonus, and retired before Jan. 1, 2008, the COLA will be:
– 4.8 percent for those retiring before Jan. 1, 2008
– 4.2 percent for those retiring in the first quarter of calendar 2008
– 3.3 percent for those retiring in the second quarter of calendar 2008
– 1 percent increase for those retiring in the third quarter of calendar 2008
– No increase for those retiring in the fourth quarter of calendar 2008
For more information, contact the Defense Finance and Accounting Service at (800) 321-1080, or click HERE.

Posted on November 7th, 2008 by Lee Reedy
Filed under: News, The Latest | No Comments »

Just a quick note to all that the AFSA Chapter 1182 website was updated with the latest stable version of WordPress. This install includes new widgets to make the site more fun and easier to access. Probably the best of these is the addition of a new events calendar that you can subscribe to in ics format. There’s also a daily Dilbert, the local weather forecast, and a NASA Image of the Day. Log in (you may have to register) and let me know what you think.

Posted on November 2nd, 2008 by Lee Reedy
Filed under: Website News | No Comments »