Hawaii State Federation
HISF - NARFE
National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association
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Welcome, HISF members and visitors!
Welcome, HISF members and visitors!
You are viewing the information website for: the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE), Hawaii State Federation (HISF).
You are viewing the information website for: the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE), Hawaii State Federation (HISF).
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5 chapters on Oahu plus State of Hawaii (SOH) National members are part of the HISF.
Basic chapter information can be viewed via the Chapters page, or chapter websites.
Oahu: 1450 Lanakila, 1518 Kaimuki, 1656 Waikiki, 1657 Leeward, 1681 Kaneohe
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Chapters closed: 2024: 1802 Kailua Kona, 1563 Big Island (Hilo);
2025: 1513 Kauai
Revised eSO Contact Information
New HISF-eSO email -- narfe.hisf.eso@gmail.com
eSO phone for voicemail -- 808 377-4277. (no change)
SSA Fairness Act – Applying for SSA Benefits: August 5, 2025
The SSA Fairness Act repealed the WPO/GPO penalties and provided for retroactive payments to January 1, 2024. SSA procedures for those who received SSA benefits on 1/1/2024 were paid 12 months’ retroactive payment for 2024. Many of us entitled to spousal benefits did not receive any benefits on 1/1/2024 due to full offset by the GPO penalty. For this group, SSA procedures allows retroactive payments for only 6 months from the date of application. If you applied in February, 2025, the 6-months “lookback” period covered August 2024 to January 2025. (This actually covers July 2024 to December 2024 as SSA payments have a one-month lag.) Others may not have received a SSA benefit on 1/1/2024 due to the WEP penalty. We asked our HI congressional delegates to follow up with SSA as the law’s intent was retroactive payments beginning January 1, 2024.
Some of us enrolled in Medicare Part B and paid our premiums through our government annuity. Generally, now that we receive a SSA benefit, SSA will withhold Part B premiums from our monthly SSA benefit. SSA will pay a lump sum payment for the 6-months period without any Part B premium deductions. SSA will notify OPM to stop withholding Part B premiums and to reimburse the annuitant for the premiums withheld from government annuities for the months we began receiving SSA benefits, reduced by Part B premiums. OPM will send you a notice of adjustment reporting the lump sum reimbursement of Part B premiums in your next annuity payment.
Go to www.ssa.gov, SSA Fairness Act for a complete update.
Update -- Social Security Fairness Act, H.R. 82
Act was signed into law, Jan 5 2025.
Questions related to the milestones/dates related to the dkstribution and amount to be paid to those affected by the WEP and/or GPO penalities should be directed to Social Security Administration (SSA). Visit the SSA.org website for details.
****** Current - July 21, 2025 SSA UPDATE. ******
click on link below
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Published in FedHub, Dec 22, 2024
A Win for BiPartisanship in Congress
Since 1982, public workers receiving non-SSA government pensions who work other jobs covered by Social Security, do not receive their full SSA benefits upon retirement due to the Windfall Elimination Penalty. Spouses who draw non-SSA government pensions do not receive their full SSA spousal benefits due to the Government Pension Offset Penalty. Impacted are state and local workers including firemen, policemen and teachers and federal and Postal Service employees hired before 1984. For over 40 years, NARFE tirelessly helped lead the fight to repeal these penalties. Finally, the House and Senate passed the Social Security Fairness Act HR 82 and S597, respectively, which repeal both penalties. Now President Biden needs to sign them into law. Corrected SSA benefits are to be payable after December 31, 2023.
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Joyce K Matsuo
Honolulu HI
Why We Have Our Retirement Benefits - Power Point - rev 9-7-2024.pdf2025 COLA
The 2025 COLA adjustment will be 2.5% for CSRS retirees and SSA beneficiaries.
FERS retirees will receive only 2.0%
See table below for comparing CSRS and FERS COLA. The FERS COLA difference is cumulative over the years of retirement.
The table below shows the FERS COLA in relation to the CSRS COLA:
CSRS COLA FERS COLA
Up to 2.0%. Same as CSRS COLA
2.0% to 3.0% 2.00%
Above 3.0% CSRS COLA minus 1.0%
Hawaii State Federation Alzheimer’s Report – July 2025
Collected $2,041.00 as of 30 June for F/Y 24/25 including $710.00 collected at the HISF Conference on May 14, 2025. You may donate using the form in the NARFE magazine. The 2024 Walk to End Alzheimer’s raised $3,750.00.
The 2025 Longest Day raised $700.00 at http://act.alz.org/goto/Hawaii-NARFE-2025LD
As of 31 May 2025 NARFE total fund raising was $16,705,500.00. The new goal is $17 million by 31 December 2026.
NARFE-FEEA
HAWAII WILDFIRES DISASTER RELIEF ANNOUNCEMENT – Aug 2023
Hawaii Wildfires (DR-4724-HI)
- Major Disaster Declaration declared on August 10, 2023
Hawaii Upcountry Fire (FM-5476-HI)
Hawaii Lahaina Fire (FM-5475-HI)
Hawaii Mauna Kea Beach Fire (FM-5478-HI)
Hawaii Pulehu Fire (FM-5477-HI)
Hawaii Kohala Ranch Fire (FM-5474-HI)
- Fire Management Assistance Declaration declared on August 9, 2023/August 8 for Kohala Ranch Fire)
As a result of these declarations, federal and Postal Service 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.
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, replacement beds, and major home repairs not covered by insurance or other disaster aid.
HISF 37th State Conference, April 20, 2023
YouTube video by Chieko Higuchi, Chapter 1657
Photos by Art Kluvo, Chapter 1657
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.
Kaneohe Chapter Vice President Receives Congressional Gold Medal
Kaneohe Chapter Vice President Receives Congressional Gold Medal
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.
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
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 narfe.hisf.eso@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.
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
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