Army Benefits Center - Civilian

Army Benefits Center - Civilian Welcome to the official page of the Army Benefits Center - Civilian. The Army Benefits Center-Civilian (ABC-C) is located at Ft. Riley, Kansas.

The Army Benefits Center-Civilian strives to set the standard as a diverse, unified center through our attitudes, behaviors, communication and culture. We are committed to our values, resilient through out challenges and will demonstrate our dedication as caring civilian human resource professionals. The ABC-C provides automated benefits support to Army-serviced appropriated fund employees through

the GRB Platform and trained Benefits Specialists. If you are looking for more information about Army Benefits Center-Civilian please visit https://abc.chra.army.mil/abc

02/25/2025

📍 ABC-C TIP TUESDAY: Post-56 Military Buyback - Retirement Point Statements.

Questions? Use the 'Contact Us' tab at https://abc.chra.army.mil to speak with a Benefits Specialist.

02/24/2025

💪 MONDAY MOTIVATOR: Wishing everyone a wonderful week!

🍽 ICCoE TIDBIT: Injury Compensation - Supervisor's Responsibilities and the CA-7 Form.
02/20/2025

🍽 ICCoE TIDBIT: Injury Compensation - Supervisor's Responsibilities and the CA-7 Form.

02/18/2025

📍 TIP TUESDAY: Post-56 Military Buyback Requirements

02/17/2025

🇺🇸 HISTORY BEHIND THE HOLIDAY: Presidents' Day

Honoring all United States Presidents, past and present! Check out the HBTH below 👇👇

02/14/2025

❤️🩷 The Army Benefits Center - Civilian wishes everyone a Happy Valentine's Day 2025!

🍽 ICCoE WEEKLY TIDBIT: WORKERS' COMPENSATION CLAIMS
02/13/2025

🍽 ICCoE WEEKLY TIDBIT: WORKERS' COMPENSATION CLAIMS

02/12/2025

🔦 FEBRUARY BENEFITS SPOTLIGHT: FERS ANNUITY SUPPLEMENT

Are you aware that if you are covered by the FERS Retirement System and meet eligibility requirements to retire before age 62 you can receive a ‘supplement’ to bridge the income gap until Social Security eligibility?

WHAT IS THE FERS ANNUITY SUPPLEMENT?
Also known as the ‘Special Retirement Supplement, the FERS Annuity Supplement may be paid in addition to your monthly FERS basic annuity upon retirement. It represents what you would receive for your FERS civilian service from Social Security and is calculated as if you were eligible to receive SSA benefits on the day you retired. It’s designed to bridge the gap between retirement and age 62, when a retiree first becomes eligible for Social Security.

If you are eligible to receive the supplement, it will continue until the earlier of:
1. The last day of the month before the first month you are entitled to Social Security benefits, OR
2. The last day of the month in which you reach age 62

AM I ELIGIBLE?
If you meet your Minimum Retirement Age (MRA) and time requirements to retire voluntarily on an immediate annuity not reduced for age, you may receive the FERS Annuity Supplement in addition to your FERS Annuity amount each month. Additionally, you may also be eligible if you retired involuntarily before attaining your Minimum Retirement Age (MRA) or voluntarily because of a major reorganization or reduction in force. That being said, in times of Voluntary Early Retirement opportunities or Discontinued Service Retirement opportunities, you are not eligible until you reach your Minimum Retirement Age, at which time, the FERS Annuity Supplement will commence.

You become ineligible for the supplement In cases of deferred retirements, coverage under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and retiring on a disability retirement or voluntary immediate MRA +10 benefit.

If your annuity has both a CSRS and FERS component, you can still receive the supplement; however, you must complete one full calendar year of federal service subject to FERS. One full calendar year means a year beginning January 1 and ending on December 31.

HOW IS THE AMOUNT CALCULATED?
The supplement is computed as if you were age 62 and fully eligible for a Social Security benefit. By law, OPM first estimates what your full career (40 years) Social Security benefit would be and then, they calculate the amount of just your federal civilian service under the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) and reduce the full career social security benefit accordingly.

For example, if your estimated full career Social Security benefit would be $1,000 and you had word 30 years under FERS, OPM would divide 30 (years) by 40 (full career) and multiply the answer (.75) by the estimated amount ($1,000), which would equal $750. $750 would be your calculated annuity supplement.

CAN THE AMOUNT I RECEIVE DECREASE OR CEASE BEFORE I TURN 62?
Like Social Security benefits, your annuity supplement is subject to an earnings test. It is reduced if you earn more than the exempt amount of earnings (also known as the minimum level of earnings) in the preceding year. While your FERS annuity itself is not considered earnings, any money earned from employment or self-employment during the previous year will be totaled and compared against the minimum level of earnings. For every $1 you are over the minimum level of earnings, your FERS annuity supplement is reduced by $2.

While it is possible your FERS annuity supplement may reduce to $0, your FERS basic annuity is not affected. If you are receiving the FERS annuity supplement, you must report your earnings to OPM on an annual basis. You will receive instruction on how to report your earnings when it is required. For more information about the Minimum Level of Earnings for the current year, visit www.ssa.gov/pubs/10003.html.

For more information on the FERS Annuity Supplement, please visit https://www.opm.gov/retirement-center/fers-information/types-of-retirement/ =Annuity-Supplement.
Resource: www.opm.gov

🍽 ICCoE TIDBIT: Injury Compensation Claim - Federal Supervisor Responsibilities
02/06/2025

🍽 ICCoE TIDBIT: Injury Compensation Claim - Federal Supervisor Responsibilities

02/05/2025

🤔 DID YOU KNOWEDNESDAY: Post-56 Military Buyback

🍽 ICCoE TIDBIT: Unemployment Compensation (UCFE) Billings
01/23/2025

🍽 ICCoE TIDBIT: Unemployment Compensation (UCFE) Billings


01/21/2025

📍 TIP TUESDAY: Service Computation Dates for Retirement

01/20/2025

The Consolidated Services Division honors and remembers Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

01/17/2025

📈 JUST FOR FUN SURVEY #2:

There's a big football game coming up on Monday, January 20!

In an effort to make our social media more interactive, we've created the Just For Fun Survey series that's, well.....just for fun! We encourage you to record your vote for who will win the NCAA National Football Championship on Monday evening.

Will it be the Notre Dame Fighting Irish or the Ohio State Buckeyes? Data will be collected and results posted next week.

We thank you in advance for your participation!

ICCoE THURSDAY TIDBIT: Standard Form 8 (SF-8) Importance
01/16/2025

ICCoE THURSDAY TIDBIT: Standard Form 8 (SF-8) Importance

01/15/2025

🔦 JANUARY BENEFITS SPOTLIGHT: I've Retired. Now What?

As 2025 has finally arrived, the Army Benefits Center-Civilian (ABC-C) again, sees a surge in federal employee retirements. As federal employees approach that time, many individuals may be unaware of the complexities involved in the retirement process. The ABC-C is dedicated to providing valuable information to ensure a smooth transition for those considering retirement. In this month’s Benefits Spotlight, we aim to shed light on key aspects of the retirement process that federal employees need to know as their packet moves through the complete retirement process. While we outline a “perfect world” scenario regarding the steps and timeframes involved, it is important to note that any timelines mentioned in this article may be extended due to the increased volume of retirements at the year’s end. The ABC-C is committed to supporting our federal workforce as they embark on this new chapter in their lives.

THREE DIFFERENT AGENCIES INVOLVED
The employee may submit their retirement packet via hardcopy or by using the GRB Retirement Application Process (GRB RAP) methods. Both of these methods are sent directly to the Army Benefits Center-Civilian (ABC-C), where an audit of the employee’s eOPF is done to complete the employee’s work record history and to move the packet toward final adjudication. This process can anywhere from one week to months, as the processing time is primarily dependent upon the submission of a ‘healthy’ and complete retirement packet. Missing forms and requests for packet corrections will always add time to the personnel record audit process.

Once the Army Benefits Center–Civilian has finalized the employee’s complete personnel record history, the employee’s retirement packet and federal work history is certified by the employee through the signing of the SF 3107-1, Certified Summary of Federal Service. This form documents an employee’s complete federal service history and must be signed by the employee before the packet moves on to its next destination, the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS).

Once the retirement packet is sent to the Defense Finance and Accounting Service, specialists will complete a pay history audit for the employee’s entire federal pay history for the final adjudication process. Given this is a function by the DFAS agency, the ABC-C does not have recourse for any questions or concerns during this time. If the employee is seeking information regarding the ongoing process, they may contact DFAS directly at 800-729-3277 to inquire. Once DFAS has completed the pay history audit, it is added to the packet and sent forward for the final adjudication process.

The final stop for the employee’s retirement packet is the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), where the packet undergoes a lengthy final adjudication process to ensure the employee’s work history and pay history match and there are no questions that an over or underpayment has occurred at any point in the employee’s federal career. This is also the time where all legal and binding documents are reviewed for legitimacy and any corrections required will be requested directly from OPM. This process can take many months to complete and, again, relies much on the submission of a healthy and error-free packet. Any question regarding the final adjudication process can be address with OPM directly at 888-767-6738 between the hours of 0740 to 1700 EST or by submitting an email to [email protected]. Please know the wait times are generally long and the phone queue is limited in the number of calls it can hold, so it is always best to contact OPM as early as possible in the day.

THE FINAL ADJUDICATION PROCESS
During OPM’s final adjudication process, OPM has three separate phases it goes through. OPM Intake gets the employee entered into the OPM retirement system and includes setting up the employee’s interim annuity payment. This part of the process can take 10-15 days. From the intake specialists, the packet then travels to OPM processing specialists where the review and benefit calculations take place. This process is generally the longest and can take 15 to 90 days if the retirement packet is error-free and what OPM deems ‘healthy’. After this step is completed, OPM finalizes the retirement and issues the annuitant a booklet that documents everything the employee should know about their retirement benefits and amounts being paid each month. Any questions about this information should be directed to the Office of Personnel Management at 888-767-6738 within their normal business hours or an email can be sent to [email protected].

INTERIM PAYMENTS AND BENEFITS DURING THE INTERIM PERIOD
During the OPM processing period, the annuitant will receive an ‘interim payment’, typically 60 to 80% of your estimated net annuity amount will bridge the gap between when you leave active federal service and your first annuity payment arrives. Any health and life insurance the employee elects will be available, but premiums for these benefits are withheld during this time until the final adjudication process is finalized. Additionally, the new annuitant is provided a Civil Service Annuitant number by OPM, which provides them access to OPM’s Services Online, an online portal that will serve as the annuitant’s retirement and benefits one-stop for information, similar to the Army Benefits Center – Civilian during the annuitant’s active federal career.

RESOURCES
All employee records are transferred to and managed by OPM during retirement. While the Army Benefits Center – Civilian can answer an employee’s questions during their active federal employment, once an employee retires, most questions must be addressed with OPM by calling 888-767-6738 during business hours or emailing them directly at [email protected].
Many great tools and information for the entire retirement process can be found at www.opm.gov/retirement-center/.

Address

305 Marshall Avenue
Fort Riley, KS
66442

Website

https://portal.chra.army.mil/abc/, https://abc.chra.army.mil/

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📍 ABC-C TIP TUESDAY: Post-56 Military Buyback - Retirement Point Statements. Questions? Use the 'Contact Us' tab at https://abc.chra.army.mil to speak with a Benefits Specialist. #themoreyouknow #FederalBenefits #CHRAABCC

💪 MONDAY MOTIVATOR: Wishing everyone a wonderful week!

ABC-C Tip Tuesday
ABC-C Tip Tuesday

📍 TIP TUESDAY: Post-56 Military Buyback Requirements

HBTH: Presidents' Day
HBTH: Presidents' Day

🇺🇸 HISTORY BEHIND THE HOLIDAY: Presidents' Day Honoring all United States Presidents, past and present! Check out the HBTH below 👇👇

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY FROM ABC-C
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY FROM ABC-C

❤️🩷 The Army Benefits Center - Civilian wishes everyone a Happy Valentine's Day 2025! #valentinesday2025 #CHRACSD #HBTH

ABC-C Post-56 MIlitary Buyback Process
ABC-C Post-56 MIlitary Buyback Process

📍 TIP TUESDAY: Post-56 Military Buyback Process For more information, visit https://abc.army.mil/abc?id=kb_article&sysparm_article=KB0011120 #themoreyouknow #FederalBenefits #ABCCCSD

🤔 DID YOU KNOWEDNESDAY: Post-56 Military Buyback #FederalBenefits #themoreyouknow

Just for Fun Survey #1 Results

📍 TIP TUESDAY: Service Computation Dates for Retirement #themoreyouknow #FederalBenefits #CHRAABCC

Celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The Consolidated Services Division honors and remembers Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. #MLKDay #CHRACSD

📈 JUST FOR FUN SURVEY #2: There's a big football game coming up on Monday, January 20! In an effort to make our social media more interactive, we've created the Just For Fun Survey series that's, well.....just for fun! We encourage you to record your vote for who will win the NCAA National Football Championship on Monday evening. Will it be the Notre Dame Fighting Irish or the Ohio State Buckeyes? Data will be collected and results posted next week. We thank you in advance for your participation! #ABCC #justforfun #NotreDameFootball #ohiostatefootball #ncaafootball

ICYMI: Federal Employee Retirement System Overview presentation link.

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