Welcome to the website for the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE), Hawaii State Federation (HISF).
- Nine chapters on 4 islands plus State of Hawaii (SOH) National members are part of the HISF.
- Chapter information is accessed via the "Chapters" tab/link and websites with links:
Oahu:1450 Lanakila, 1518 Kaimuki, 1656 Waikiki, 1657 Leeward, 1681 Kaneohe;
Kauai: 1513 Kauai
Hawaii: 1563 Big Island (Hilo); 1802 Kailua Kona
Alzheimer's
The NARFE HI State Federation Team has started to receive online and mail-in donations for the Alzheimer's Association's 2022 Longest Day campaign date: June 21, 2022.
For online donations, go to: https://act.alz.org/site/TR?team_id=709840&fr_id=15144&pg=team.
Today, our team has raised only $120 toward our goal of $2,000. So far, only five other NARFE federations or chapters have registered for the 2022 Longest Day campaign. The top two 2022 LD teams nationwide have already raised $70K and $83K!
Use following for NARFE HI team contributions: check* payable to NARFE Alzheimer's Research and mailed to:
Lawrence Enomoto, Team Captain
NARFE HI State Federation Longest Day Team
1314 Kalakaua Avenue, Apt 602
Honolulu, HI 96826-1903
2022-23 SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION
The deadline for 2022-23 applications has passed. (Thursday, March 24, 2022, at 3:00pm EDT)
The scholarship application information for the 2023-2024 period will be posted in the near future
Eligible students are:
Children or step-children of federal employees. Student may be a high school senior or already in college and must be under age 25 and unmarried. (Grandchildren are eligible for NARFE and BIG-sponsored scholarships only)
Spouses of federal employees
Federal employees
All students must:
Have an unweighted, cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher;
Be in or entering a degree-granting program at an accredited institution;
Be a full-time student (only feds may be part-time), and;
Federal employee sponsors must have at least 3 years of service by the application deadline.
Visit our website at feea.org/scholarships for complete program information, downloadable program instructions, and a link to the application.
2021 FEEA Scholarship Winner
October 1, 2021
I am pleased to announce that Cienna Abara, granddaughter of chapter 1450 member Annette Chang, has won a FEEA scholarship. John
THE DAY WITH THE MOST LIGHT IS THE DAY WE FIGHT”
– to end Alzheimer’s.
The Longest Day is the day with the most light – the summer solstice. On June 21, 2021, people from across the world will come together to fight the darkness of Alzheimer’s through fundraising activities of their choice. In NARFE, we are committed to funding research to find a cure to end Alzheimer’s. Since 1985, NARFE members have raised over $13.8 million and raised its goal to $14 million by end of 2022. Last year, through the efforts of Leeward Chapter/ Waikiki Chapter dual member Larry Enomoto, our HI State Federation topped the NARFE list of donations for the Longest Day fundraising campaign. We were put on the map and hope to achieve this again in 2021! Please donate at our HI Federation Alzheimer’s link at:
Longest Day UPDATE - JUNE 28,2021
https://act.alz.org/goto/narfe-hi-fed.
The team has surpassed its goal to collect $2,000 by June 20, 2021, $ 2.095 collected to date.
Donations can still be received on the team webpage until July 31, 2021 and by mail until August 31, 2021 to:
Larry Enomoto
1314 Kalakaua Avenue, Apt 602
Honolulu, HI 96826-1903
Support our team for the Alzheimer's Association Walk to End Alzheimer's®, the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research.
1. Locality Pay Consideration for Retirees (retired in 1994 through 2009) in Hawaii, Alaska, and the U.S. Territories.
The Federal Employees Pay and Comparability Act established Locality Pay, commencing in 1994, which counts towards retirement, for federal employees in the 48 contiguous states. In 2009 federal employees in Alaska, Hawaii and the Territories began a 4 year phase in to Locality Pay at 25% per year. Those who retired prior were not included.
Update – In March 2019, we worked with our Hawaii (and Alaska) House congressional delegates to submit a request for appropriations language for the next fiscal year directing OPM to re-calculate pre-2010 retirees’ annuities if locality pay was included in their high-3 years’ earnings. We learned that a similar request was submitted by the former COLA Class Attorney and accepted with OPM’s report due in 90 days. Status is unknown at this time.
We continue to work with the Hawaii and Alaska DC staff members to introduce legislation in both the House and the Senate.
Each year that nothing is done, pre-2010 federal retirees incur an $18+ million pension loss amount.
2. Medicare Part B premiums
While employed, all federal and US Postal Service employees pay the same Medicare withholding taxes as those in the private sectors who are covered by Social Security. As retirees, we receive the same annual COLA adjustments as SSA beneficiaries. As participants in Part B coverage, we all belong to the same risk pool.
Yet, in years of -0- COLA adjustments, those of us not covered by Social Security must pay annual Part B premium increases while SSA recipients do not. The “hold harmless provision” is found only in SSA law. Each year of -0- or minimal COLA adjustments, legislation needs to be passed to minimize the entire premium increase for non-SSA recipients.
Request each of our congressional delegates introduce permanent legislation to provide the same “hold harmless provision” to federal annuitants and their survivors, and also to non-SSA beneficiaries as state/local government teachers, police officers, and firefighters.
3. Fair COLA for Seniors Act H.R. 1553 – This bill requires that Social Security and federal retirement programs use the Consumer Price Index for the Elderly (CPI-E) to calculate cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) to retirement benefits. Request support of this bill.
4. Federal Employees Health Benefit Program (FEHBP) – The program has been in existence since 1959, covering federal employees, annuitants, and their dependents. It is the largest employer-sponsored health insurance program in the nation. Health insurance experts consider the FEHBP a model program. Its framework needs to be preserved and protected, especially in light of current discussions on universal health care.
5. Postal Reform. NARFE supports the following
- maintain 6 days’ delivery per week (H. Res. 60)
- keep small post offices open;
- relieve the burden on the USPS to prefund over 10 years its future retiree health care obligations that are estimated to accrue over the next 75 years (H.R. 2382 passed the House/S. 2965);
- allow OPM to refund monies to the USPS on the condition that the reduction in the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund would not result in the reduction of federal annuities paid to retirees and survivors; and
- keep USPS employees and retirees under the Federal Health Benefits Plan.
- not allow USPS to create its own health benefits plan that would require all retirees to enroll in Medicare Part B in order to retain their health plan coverage.
6. The Social Security Offsets - Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO)
The WEP applies to CSRS retirees who receive a federal annuity and who worked in non-government jobs, earning Social Security benefits. Their Social Security benefits are reduced by their government annuity.
CSRS retirees whose spouses receive Social Security benefits are entitled to receive spousal SSA benefits. However, their SSA benefits are reduced by 2/3 of their federal annuity.
NARFE works to repeal or reform these Social Security offsets:
H.R. 141 and S.521 – the Social Security Fairness Act of 2019 would fully eliminate the WEP and GPO.
H.R. 3934/S. 3401 and H.R. 4540, propose a reduction in the WEP penalty.
Following article was extracted from the NARFE NewsLine, Feb 3, 2020
Federal BenefitsQuestion of the week.
FEHB Coverage for Grandchild
QUESTION: Can my grandchild be covered by my Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) Self Plus One or Self and Family enrollment?
ANSWER: Your grandchild may be eligible for FEHB coverage if he/she meets the eligibility requirements for foster children. The requirements are:
the child must be under age 26 (if the child is over age 26, he/she must be incapable of self-support due to a disability that existed before age 26);
the child must currently live with you;
the parent-child relationship must be with you, not the child's biological parent;
you must currently be the primary source of financial support for the child; and
you must expect to raise the child to adulthood.
For your grandchild to be covered under your FEHB enrollment, you must sign a certification stating that your grandchild meets all the requirements and that you will notify your employing office (if employed) or OPM (if retired) if the child moves out of the home or stops being financially dependent on you. Submit this certification to your employing office or OPM, who will then determine whether your grandchild meets the requirements. If approved, your employing office or OPM will notify your FEHB plan that your grandchild should be added to your enrollment.
Notices & Past Federation Events
2019 COLA & Social Security Increases
From NARFE.org 2019 COLA 7 Social Security article
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (October 11, 2018) - The cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) annuities and Social Security benefits will be 2.8 percent in 2019, but only 2 percent for Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) retirees, pursuant to federal law and the latest consumer price data released this morning by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Richard Thissen, president of the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE), issued the following statement in response:
“CSRS retirees and Social Security recipients will be pleased to see their benefits increase by 2.8 percent in 2019, the largest increase since 2012. Unfortunately, hundreds of thousands of FERS retirees will be wondering why they are only receiving a 2 percent COLA when the relevant measure of consumer prices increased by 2.8 percent. That’s due to the bargain struck in Congress in the 1980s when FERS was created, which limits COLAs to 2 percent when consumer prices increase between 2 and 3 percent. But that was the wrong policy then, as it is now. It prevents FERS annuities from keeping up with inflation, which is the whole point of a COLA. It is past time for Congress to ensure FERS retirees receive a full COLA each year.
“Retirees already receive COLAs that fail to represent how seniors spend their money. COLAs are currently based on the CPI-W, which measures how urban wage earners and clerical workers under the age of 62 spend their money. Yet, since 1982, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has been calculating a consumer price index measuring prices experienced by those 62 years of age or older, called the CPI-E. The CPI-E has shown that prices increase for seniors by 0.2 percent more, on average, than for the population measured by the CPI-W. In other words, seniors’ COLAs aren’t keeping up with their rising cost of living, which is what they are designed to do. That’s why I’m also calling on Congress to pass H.R. 1251, the CPI-E Act, which would require the BLS to use the CPI-E to determine COLAs for Social Security recipients, CSRS retirees and FERS retirees alike.
“Without adequate COLAs, FERS retirees, as well as CSRS retirees and Social Security recipients, will see inflation erode the value of their retirement income year after year. Yet that is exactly what they are supposed to prevent. Federal retirees are not asking to be made better off than they were last year. We just want to maintain the value of what we have rightfully earned through careers of service.”
FEEA Disaster Relief
NARFE Offers $500 Disaster Relief Assistance for Federal/USPS Employees and Retirees
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The following Disasters have been officially declared for Hawaii:
Hawaii Kilauea Volcanic Eruption And Earthquakes (DR-4366)
Incident period: May 03, 2018
Major Disaster Declaration declared on May 11, 2018
Hawaii Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (DR-4365)
Incident period: April 13, 2018 to April 16, 2018
Major Disaster Declaration declared on May 08, 2018
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As a result of these declarations, federal employees and retirees who have suffered damages may apply for disaster relief by going to the website: www.feea.org - Disasters - and find the form to complete on-line which may provide $500 assistance for their damages along with the instructions to file a claim.
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NARFE (National Active and Retired Federal Employees) works in partnership with FEEA (Federal Employees Education and Assistance Fund) to provide direct disaster relief to federal/USPS employees and retirees. NARFE covers its members in good standing and FEEA covers full and part-time federal/USPS employees employed for more than one year. NARFE-FEEA offers up to $500 to help cover temporary lodging, major home repairs not covered by insurance and beds.
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-- https://feea.org/our-programs/disaster-relief
NARFE is a membership association of active and retired federal and USPS employees and their survivor annuitants. Like other union and employees’ associations, NARFE fights for active employees’ pay and benefits but it is the only organization that works to protect our earned retirement benefits. Join NARFE today.
Scam Alerts:
1. SCAM ALERT – NEW MEDICARE CARD
Just a heads up that there is a scam going around involving the new Medicare Cards coming out in April. We will get new Medicare cards but NO one will call us or visit us.
Starting 4/1/18 Medicare will start a year-long project to replace all current Medicare cards for beneficiaries to convert to alphanumeric ID numbers. Currently, the ID number is your social security number. The new cards will be mailed out from April 2018 to April 2019. You don't need to request it or do anything.
Medicare does not charge for cards or want your personal information over the phone. DO NOT give out any information over the phone or to anyone who comes to your home.
Example of the new Medicare cards
WHAT'S THE SCAM?
Somebody from "MEDICARE " will call to tell you that you are getting a new Medicare card. But until it comes you will need a temporary card. Fee for the card is between $5-50 dollars. They want personal information, bank account or credit card so they can process your temporary card.
THINGS TO REMEMBER: Medicare will never call you unless you ask them to. Medicare does all communications by mail unless you ask them to call.
Ditto for anybody saying they "work with Medicare to make sure you get everything you are entitled to" .
If it has happened to you or your friends or loved ones and personal info has been given out immediately take action to protect yourself against identity theft.
2. IRS Warns Taxpayers, Tax Pros of New Email Scam Targeting Hotmail Users
WASHINGTON — The Internal Revenue Service today warned taxpayers and tax professionals of a new email scam targeting Hotmail users that is being used to steal personal and financial information.
The phishing email subject line reads: “Internal Revenue Service Email No. XXXX | We’re processing your request soon | TXXXXXX-XXXXXXXX”. The email leads taxpayers to sign in to a fake Microsoft page and then asks for personal and financial information.
The IRS has received over 900 complaints about this new phishing scheme that seems to exclusively target Hotmail users. The suspect websites associated with this scam have been shut down, but taxpayers should be on the lookout for similar schemes.
Individuals who receive unsolicited emails claiming to be from the IRS should forward it to phishing@irs.gov and then delete it. It is important to keep in mind the IRS generally does not initiate contact with taxpayers by email to request personal or financial information. For more information, visit the “Tax Scams and Consumer Alerts” page on IRS.gov.
The IRS reminds tax professionals to be aware of phishing emails, free offers and other common tricks by scammers. Tax professionals who have data breaches should contact the IRS immediately through their Stakeholder Liaison. See Data Theft Information for Tax Professionals.
What NARFE Has Done for You Lately
In the 114th Congress, the federal community continued to face assaults on its earned benefits. Thus, NARFE’s legislative efforts focused on defeating proposals attacking federal employees and retirees, as well as working toward solutions to other concerns facing NARFE members. Here are highlights of the Association’s accomplishments as the 114th Congress (2015-2016) concluded in December.
Full-size print/view handout version or Webpage single column version
HSFC 2017 Convention Hilo, HI -- April 27-28
Kaneohe Chapter Vice President Receives Congressional Gold Medal
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Upper Left - Federation President John Priolo and Dr. Ernest Harris
Upper Right- First Lady Dawn Ige, Senator Brian Schatz, Dr. Ernest Harris and Betty Jo Harris
Lower Front - Sandra Kawate, Grace Kramer, Dr. Ernest Harris, Betty Jo Harris, Audrey Choy and Lucy Ige
Lower Back - John Priolo, Marvin Iseke, Virginia Rolland and Kathryn Tsumura
Dr. Ernest J. Harris, Kaneohe Chapter 1681, Vice President, received the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest congressional honor given to a civilian, in a presentation at Washington Place on Saturday, November 12, 2016 for his service as a member of the Montford Point Marines. He was among the first wave of African Americans who volunteered to become U.S. Marines at Monford Point, North Carolina. He was grateful that as a result of his military service , he was able to receive financial support for a college education under the GI Bill.
Dr. Harris earned a Bachelors degree in Chemistry with a minor in Zoology from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, a Master's degree in Entomology from the University of Minnesota and a PhD in Entomology from the University of Hawaii.
He worked for the USDA in Hawaii for 40 years and was recognized for his work on eradication of the fruit fly, in over 20 countries and has published over 120 peer-reviewed papers.
The Hawaii Federation is extremely proud of his accomplishments and along with his wife Bettyre Jo and their children Mark, Tanya and Greg.
Fraud Alert July 13, 2016
FRAUD ALERT
NARFE does not have a new credit card affiliation
Members receiving a Platinum Business Account credit card from -- Select Funding -- should not activate the card and should shred it.
National Convention Highlights, from John Priolo (Sep. 5, 2016)
The 34th NARFE National Convention was held at Grand Sierra Resort and Casino in Reno August 28 to September 1, 2016.
National President Dick Thissen and Secretary/Treasurer Jon Dowie were re-elected. Thissen will be in his final term. Region Vice President Helen Zajac was also re-elected. It appears that she may make a run for higher office in 2018.
Bylaws changes were discussed for several hours. A ballot vote led to adoption of only two - Optional Chapter Membership and One Member One Vote. Subsequent to the Convention the NEB voted in Executive Session to end Chapter 2363. Their members will be assigned as National Members only to Chapters in their Zip Codes. Future elections and Bylaws changes will be via mail or email and not at Conventions.
Our Locality Pay Resolution passed. Our Care Act Resolution was rejected as the issue was a State and not a National issue. State Federations and Chapters were encouraged to support legislation in their State. As you know Hawaii enacted such legislation this year.
Our 2020 National Convention will be in Scottsdale. As previously announced the 2018 National Convention will be in Jacksonville.
Hank Magee made a presentation at our Region VIII caucus. Afterwards I was approached by several Federation Presidents who were interested in establishing their own. I will follow up with them.
A successor to Steve Bauer as FEEA Executive Director was selected by a FEEA Search Committee. In his honor a Resolution was approved to name the NARFE-FEEA Scholarship the “Steve Bauer NARFE-FEEA Scholarship”. I spoke with Steve and he will participate in our April 2017 State Convention.
A resolution was passed to establish an Official motto for NARFE: “NARFE - while the “E” is silent we are not”.
John
FEGLI Changes - 2016
Did you carry your FEGLI coverage into retirement? Are life insurance premiums coming out of your annuity payment every month? If so, this change may apply to you.
As of January 1, 2016, premiums for many options and age brackets under the FEGLI program will change due to actuarial adjustments.
The new premium charts can be viewed at:
https://www.opm.gov/retirement-services/special-notices/2016-fegli-premium-chang e.pdf
You can reduce or cancel coverage at any time but annuitants cannot increase coverage, even during an open season. If you elect to reduce or cancel all or any part of your FEGLI coverage, that election is irrevocable.
Click to view additional details from the OPM notice.
Smart 911
Smart 911 is a new tool currently being utilized by the HPD to provide first responders with additional information about the person and/location identified with a emergency/911 request.
Today, many of the calls to 911 originate from cell phones. The 911 system can only provide the general location for cell call location, unlike the wired landline phone.
The Smart 911 system allows individuals and households the capability to provide information "prior to the emergency call", about the resident's home physical location, health condition or environmental/household situation that can be provided to first responders prior to arriving at requiring location.
For the Honolulu public to use the system, all that is required is .... registration in the Smart 911 system. All information is private and not available to the 911 dispatchers until a call is initiated, and limited period following the call.
Visit the HPD website http://www.honolulupd.org/news/index.php?page=main&story=1800 which describes the new system.
Visit https://safety.smart911.com/smart911/ , for additional information on the benefits of the additional information in the 911 system..then register at https://www.smart911.com/smart911/registration/registrationLanding.action to place information in the 911 system that could potentially save time in the event of a emergency call to 911.
Self Plus One Option
The Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 establishes a Self Plus One enrollment type in the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program. Coverage under a Self Plus One enrollment was available beginning in January 2016.
The first opportunity to enroll in Self Plus One was November 2015.
Visit opm.gov site for additional information--
http://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/special-initiatives/self-plus-one/
Click to view page Henry J. Magee - 2015 National Service Officer of the Year
Security Notice
The article posted in this space was the original notice on the first OPM breach prepared by NARFE President Thissen. Since the initial breach, a second breach was detected in June raising the count of potentially affected individuals +from 4 to 22 million.
Accordingly, this site now contains links to NARFE HQ and OPM sites which provide current status or information and the history/chronology of the breach investigation, recommended actions for potentially affected individuals.
http://www.narfe.org/legislation/action.cfm?ID=3835
October 1, 2015
OPM Begins Mail-Only Notifications
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) announced October 1 that notification letters are being sent, starting September 30, to those individuals whose personal information was stolen in the cyberattack on background investigations and security records at OPM. The announcement emphasized that official notifications from OPM will be mailed via the U.S. Postal Service and that email will not be used. The mailed notifications will contain a personalized identification number (PIN), which is necessary for the individual to enroll in the three years of identity theft protection and credit monitoring services being provided free of charge by the government.
OPM cautions that neither it nor anyone else acting on OPM’s behalf will directly contact individuals to confirm personal information. If you receive an email or a phone call, it is a scam.
OPM and the Department of Defense also are preparing to provide victims of the background investigation cyberattack with a website that will help users determine whether they’ve been affected by the hack.
OPM has updated its special website www.opm.gov/cybersecurity with additional information and answers to common questions.
FEEA Disaster Assistance
For NARFE members who have suffered a loss due to our recent hurricanes/tropical storms or the lava flow, help is available from the NARFE-FEEA Disaster Fund. Contact FEEA at www.feea.org or 1-800-338-0755.
HSFC Virtual eService Office
Notice
The HSFC eService Virtual Office opened on Tuesday, 28 May, 2014.
This new office is virtual since there is no "real" physical office building or room like the prior office in the Federal Building.
Two contact options support the virtual office.
Option 1 -- Telephone on Oahu 377-4277 or (808) 377-4277
The caller will be greeted by a short message describing the virtual office and will be requested to leave a message with - contact/callback information, following the "beep".
1. name
2. phone number
3. a short description of the request
The message will be recorded like traditional voicemail and forwarded to the HSFC Virtual Office e-mail system.
Option 2 -- e-mail narfe808@gmail.com
The sender's e-mail request will be delivered to the HSFC Virtual Office e-mail system.
New mail (in the HSFC Virtual Office e-mail system) will be viewed on non-holiday week days by a HSFC eService Office staff member.
Initial contact/response for new requests:
Option 1, telephone - Via phone call to the request originator will be made by 4 pm HST, if the request is received by 2 pm HST and the recorded voice message contains useable information, contact/callback phone number.
Option 2, e-mail - Via e-mail, to the request originator's address will be made by 4 pm HST, if the request is received by 2 pm HST.
OPM's FEGL Services now On-Line
OPM's Retirement Services announced yesterday that retirees can now see their current Federal Employees Group Life Insurance coverage on-line at Services Online.
Once the retiree has logged in to SOL, they can select the Verification of Life Insurance link and follow the instructions to print their FEGLI coverage information.
While the retiree can see the insurance coverage amount, they will not be able to view their designation of beneficiary form that is in their retirement file.
The online address for Services online is www.servicesonline.opm.gov.
CAPWIZ Communications Tool
Link to the capwiz messaging system has been added, (sidebar/National Links/CAPWIZ) to the HSFE website to provide an easy means for members and friends an easy means to send e-mail to our congressional representatives and the media on legistative issues.
For example, email and traditional snail mail letters related to the proposed COLA computation method can be drafted and sent by e-mail, or printed for regular mail. The basic text addressing the issue is provided for starters, like a form letter. Just a few custom touches in the body and identification of the sender is required.
(note: The addition of the NARFE capwiz capability by a link in the HFSC website was requested during the Kauai Convention by Gail Browne, chapter 570, to allow members at a chapter meeting to easily send e-mail to our representatives.)
Relocated Notices and Alerts (click on topic below to view)
FEEA Disaster & Assistance IRS SCAM Notice TSP Fraud Federal Budget Issues
Website http://tinyurl.com/narfehi e-mail narfe808@gmail.com
NARFE Service Center (Federal Bldg, Honolulu) -- Closed Jan 18, 2013
