FERS retirement now requires 4.4% payroll deduction

[Sandygirl]

I'm on table 2 paying 4.4% into fers and 5% into tsp. As an RCA on the lower pay scale I made much more money and struggle now because of deductions. They cut my route an hour during the special count and I fought it but they still took it away. My DR said he didn't want to pursue it, to which I think it bull$_-+. I thought I would feel better about my job after going regular but I do feel worse. I think they will try to take some of my mileage away after this gps study and route inspections too. I feel trapped in this job. My mother retired as a rural carrier a few years ago and my grandfather's brother was also a retired rural carrier. It's not the same post office, I know things change over time.
I should have more pride but mostly feel depressed. Knowing that I make so much less, pay more for the same retirement benefit and feel like I'm stuck on this crappy route really gets into my head day after day. I think someone should write a book or start a podcast to out this information. Everyone I know thinks we have such a great job outside of the PO, rumors of great pay and retirement but that's not exactly true to how I feel. After health insurance and everything else I'm bringing home about $13/hour. It's hard to support a family and pay my obligations on that. This is pretty close to what I posted on Facebook a while back in regards to fers and got bombarded by other regulars saying that the problem with my generation is that millennials think they are owed everything, well I'm indeed a millennial but I'm also in my 30s have a wife and 3 children. I work the same job as my mother did, in fact in the same office alongside my mother for 2 years doing the same job.
Something needs to be done for table 2 regulars before too many feel like me and find something else. Believe me, I think about other options daily. I also wonder about the future of the PO. Bottom line is, the majority of the people working here, are here for the money and security of the job, what if both of those are constantly up for debate? I've seen what they were trying to do to the clerks union. It probably won't be better for us or improve in the future. Please don't be disrespectful and tell me "the door swings both ways", I've heard that before and it's not funny.

This is why I may stay an RCA If I am offered a regular position?

 

[Sandygirl]

Wish I never joined this site...coming up on a year as an rca and enjoy the job, but after reading threads on here the past few weeks my job search has commenced!

No! Don't do it I feel the same way from time to time - just visit site less often and look to positive -?

 

[Voglio-il mio]

Question- I do not need health insurance or retirement can I bypass these deductions IF I make regular ?

Yes I know you can bypass health insurance if you choose to do so because I have done that due to having my health insurance through Tricare I opted out. As fare as the retirement piece I don't think you can opt out of that.

 

[btdtret]

Sandygirl -- "I do not need health insurance or retirement can I bypass these deductions IF I make regular ?"

-- Agreeing with "Voglio-il mio", health care is optional.

-- Same for life insurance. The USPS covers "basic" life insurance, but you can opt for additional coverage.

-- Be sure to always wear the shoulder and lap belts and obey the laws. Let's just say it is an added bonus -- for the family. Look into Section 844.1 of the ELM.

-- Retirement - that is a "given", well actually a "taken" as your "contribution" to your retirement fund. It will show up in the bottom right hand corner of the pay stub ( at least the old ones ).

 

[UnknownUser]

Yeah like said before somewhere, that it's a federal retirement policy to pay the 4.4%... so any government job requires that if your hire date was after a certain date. It just really hurts being table 2 and having to pay that in addition to making less. Over time I'm sure we will get raises and what not but it really sucks that to get the most out of the job you have 9.4% taken off the top and make less overall.

 

[stillfirstclass]

Question- I do not need health insurance or retirement can I bypass these deductions IF I make regular ?

health ins.,yes.. retirement no

 

[Voglio-il mio]

Yeah like said before somewhere, that it's a federal retirement policy to pay the 4.4%... so any government job requires that if your hire date was after a certain date. It just really hurts being table 2 and having to pay that in addition to making less. Over time I'm sure we will get raises and what not but it really sucks that to get the most out of the job you have 9.4% taken off the top and make less overall.

So you are looking at this as the glass being half empty.

Let me explain why I say this; As an example lets say you work (your route is 40k) 9.4% of your wage for that route would be approx.. $3829 per year or $147 per pay period. Now that you have become a Regular Carrier you have the ability to be paid while having time off. Leave time that is comprised of Annual, Sick and Holiday Leave comes to a total of 36 day per year. Using that same route as above (the 40k) this give you the added income of $5640 per year or $216 per pay period while being away from work.

Now the glass half full view is that you are working up to at least 36 days fewer while earning $1811 per year or $70 per pay period more plus having security for senior years being contributed to as well as health insurance to cover that journey.

 

[DB.Cooper]

Question- I do not need health insurance or retirement can I bypass these deductions IF I make regular ?

Yes & No... Yes you can skip paying for insurance... No, you'll have to pay the 4.4% in to retirement (FERS)... but you can get it back later if you don't retire from the USPS... you can draw USPS retirement at age 62 with as little as 5 years of career service...

 

[Windindaface]

For myself, after working as an RCA for 12.5 years before becoming regular, this deduction is extremely disappointing. I have always envisioned a retirement based on net assets instead of age. It appears I must now do the exact same thing most everyday for the next 12 years.
I am now very unhapppy as a regular rural carrier. Perhaps Bank of America will bail me out.

The only way to change doing the exact same thing every day for the next 12 years is to bid on other routes hopefully larger than your current one for a change of scenery, a new case to learn, new people to meet and a new circle to drive.

How ironic the film Groundhog Day is relevant these days.

 

[DB.Cooper]

I'm on table 2 paying 4.4% into fers and 5% into tsp. As an RCA on the lower pay scale I made much more money and struggle now because of deductions. They cut my route an hour during the special count and I fought it but they still took it away. My DR said he didn't want to pursue it, to which I think it bull$_-+. I thought I would feel better about my job after going regular but I do feel worse. I think they will try to take some of my mileage away after this gps study and route inspections too. I feel trapped in this job. My mother retired as a rural carrier a few years ago and my grandfather's brother was also a retired rural carrier. It's not the same post office, I know things change over time.
I should have more pride but mostly feel depressed. Knowing that I make so much less, pay more for the same retirement benefit and feel like I'm stuck on this crappy route really gets into my head day after day. I think someone should write a book or start a podcast to out this information. Everyone I know thinks we have such a great job outside of the PO, rumors of great pay and retirement but that's not exactly true to how I feel. After health insurance and everything else I'm bringing home about $13/hour. It's hard to support a family and pay my obligations on that. This is pretty close to what I posted on Facebook a while back in regards to fers and got bombarded by other regulars saying that the problem with my generation is that millennials think they are owed everything, well I'm indeed a millennial but I'm also in my 30s have a wife and 3 children. I work the same job as my mother did, in fact in the same office alongside my mother for 2 years doing the same job.
Something needs to be done for table 2 regulars before too many feel like me and find something else. Believe me, I think about other options daily. I also wonder about the future of the PO. Bottom line is, the majority of the people working here, are here for the money and security of the job, what if both of those are constantly up for debate? I've seen what they were trying to do to the clerks union. It probably won't be better for us or improve in the future. Please don't be disrespectful and tell me "the door swings both ways", I've heard that before and it's not funny.

Thank you for a very enlightening post... as more and more peeps move on to Table 2 as Regs, you peeps need to band together and demand better... maybe when some Table 2 peeps get in positions of power then maybe things will change??? I dunno how long that might take... demand better NOW... 50 year anniversary of the 1970 Postal Strke is coming up... just sayin'....

 

[Windindaface]

DB, the GOLDEN DAYS of that time are now long gone. They have honored many great events, people, and cartoon characters over the years... Why not a stamp issue in 2020 recognizing that event?

 

[DB.Cooper]

They named a PO in NYC after Vinnie Sombrotto... he's like a hero... and then everybody sez don't do it because you'll get in trouble... Vinnie went on to be the longest serving NALC Prez... wth???

 

[Offspeed]

Should have been grandfathered for RCA’s hires before Sept 20th 2010 but wasn’t.