AFSA's Coordinator for Retiree Issues, Bonnie Brown, is available Monday-Wednesday. Her phone number is 202-338-4045 ext 509, and her e-mail address is brown@afsa.org. Matthew Sumrak, AFSA's Associate Coordinator for Retiree Counseling and Legislation, is also available by phone at 202-338-4045 ext 522 and by email at sumrak@afsa.org. Please feel free to get in touch with Bonnie and/or Matthew if you have questions about retirement, benefits, surviving spouses, dealing with the retiree offices, etc. They are happy to help.

Retirees also have five individuals advocating for them on the AFSA Governing Board. The Vice President for the retiree constituency is Mary Ellen Gilroy; the four retiree representatives on the board are Robert Houdek, Edward Marks, Hugh Neighbour, and Molly Williamson. You should feel free to contact them regarding issues of importance to Foreign Service retirees.

• AFSA’s supports Akaka Amendment 2034 to S. 1789. (April 19, 2012)
• AFSA’s opposition to federal benefit cuts in budget proposal introduced by Rep Paul Ryan (R-WI). (March 27, 2012)
• AFSA joins unions in urging the Senate not to extend the federal pay freeze for another year. (March 12, 2012)
• Pay and Benefits Tracker (courtesy Federal News Radio)
• Federal-Postal Coalition Letter: The Highway Bill (H.R.7) and Federal Benefits (February 10, 2012)
• Federal-Postal Coalition Letter Concerning FECA (January 31, 2012)
• Federal-Postal Coalition Letter Tax Extension Conferees (January 19, 2012)
• Archive of Letters

Please click here to access the latest AFSA newsletter, as well as archived older editions.

Below are the most recent AFSA Retiree Vice President columns from the AFSA News section of the Foreign Service Journal.

• May 2012
• January 2012
• October 2011
• January 2011

• Department's 2011 Annuitant Newsletter
• Using the Department's HR Service Center
• New Retiree ID Cards
• The Hatch Act
• CFC Deductions
• HR/RET New Workload Management Procedures
• Retiree Accounts Division Contacts
• Retirement Office Contacts
• Retirement Network (RNet) Alumni Organization
• FAM Regulations
• USAID's ADS Regulations

• IRS Guidance: Premium Conversion and Public Safety Officers
• Thrift Savings Plan

• WAE Employment
• Department Ethics Office: Post Employment Restrictions
• Manuscript Clearance Procedures for Retirees

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• Job Opportunities for Retirees

• OPM Medicare and FEHB FAQs
• Medicare and Medicaid Services
• Medicare B and FEHB Coordination: The Basics
• Medicare Basics
• Medicare D: Prescription Drug Coverage
• Social Security Administration
• Social Security Offsets: WEP and GPO
• Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) Chart

• Annuity Deductions
• Death of an Annuitant
• Former Spouse Benefits
• FSPS Annuity Supplement
• Survivor Benefits: Dependent Children

• Federal Employees Group Life Insurance
• Long-Term Care Insurance FAQ
• Making the Transition to Retirement: Insurance Needs
• Long Term Care Programs
  • Federal LTC Programs
  • Hirshorn LTC Programs
• LTC: Who Needs It? (From NPR)

• FEHB Retiree Form
• Federal Dental and Vision Insurance Program
• Federal Employees Health Benefits Program
• Foreign Service Benefit Plan

• Blue Cross and Blue Shield
• Senior Living Foundation
• Foreign Affairs Organizations and Other Resources

• Slouching Toward Retirement
• Things To Do Before Your 65th Birthday

• Survivor Annuities: The Mechanics
• What Your Spouse Needs to Know