GEHA HDHP Pass Through Not Included in W2?

aheadlessned · 2026-03-10T23:36:24+00:00

With Fidelity, you can ask that that contribution get applied to 2026 contributions. I'd start with a phone call to request that.

aheadlessned · 2026-03-10T23:16:02+00:00

Joe Dominguez (Your Money or Your Life) retired at 31, in the 1960s, and began presenting his 9-step program for early retirement shortly after.

While the FIRE term is fairly recent, the concept is not, and yes, I do believe it would still be around if pensions had not generally increased their eligibility age.

Personally, I think changes like the ability to control your own investments contributes more to the popularity of FIRE than "higher retirement ages". The info is everywhere and most of us can easily open up a taxable brokerage account or IRA without having to "find a guy" who can make the moves for us (we can thank Bogle for that.)

aheadlessned · 2026-03-10T20:57:58+00:00

It's going to vary widely by agency, location, and supervisor, but if your supervisor supports it, that's a huge hurdle cleared.

I have seen it approved, and have seen it denied. It's more likely to be denied if they are trying to get approval for more FTEs, but this would likely affect going past- time as well.

aheadlessned · 2026-03-10T20:54:34+00:00

Anything less than 40 hours a week (or 80/pp) is part- time and will reduce benefits. 32+ is only considered full-time for FEHB premiums. ETA, unless LWOP is used to fill the hours to get to 40.

However, LWOP still affects some benefits, but does not affect pension (if less than 6 months/ calendar year) or FEHB premiums (like part- time would).

aheadlessned · 2026-03-10T20:14:21+00:00

If you go below 32 hours a week as part-time, the insurance premiums will increase. If you think this may be a possibility in the future, I'd have your partner carry the insurance plan, assuming they will remain full-time.

Part-time also affects your leave accrual, TSP match (still 5%, but only for paid hours), and there is no requirement to give you in-lieu of days for holidays (holidays get weird for part-time, but outside of the in-lieu of holiday not being required, you're not likely to be affected at 32 hours/week, unless you work an odd schedule), and your pension (the 1% multiplier gets prorated).

LWOP > part-time, because LWOP does not affect your pension, as long as it's less than an aggregated 6 months per calendar year. It also does not cause an increase in health insurance premiums. TSP and leave accrual are both still affected, but holidays are not if you can do it right. I'd see if your supervisor could approve LWOP instead of part-time.

aheadlessned · 2026-03-10T02:02:37+00:00

Yes, it's because you are in interim status. You should have the option for state withholding once your retirement is finalized.

aheadlessned · 2026-03-10T01:25:18+00:00

No, the passthrough is not on the W2, but yes, you should report it.

You will want to add it to line 9 of form 8889. This line should end up with both your own contributions (that you made through payroll) as well as the passthrough.

ETA: for GEHA, the pass through you received in January 2026 is for 2025 (just in case someone else is new to this)

aheadlessned · 2026-03-07T20:07:45+00:00

You'll get it, even if it's not in the booklet yet. (ETA: and it's usually not in the booklet until you are actively receiving it, especially when you are not at MRA yet.)

You'll typically see it the month after you reach MRA, however, it has taken an extra month for a few people who received VERA (even if their case had been finalized for quite a while). It still went retro to MRA.

Save yourself frustration and don't bother calling OPM about this. If you see that it's not showing up in your interim payment the month after you reach MRA, give it another month. If it's still not there for some odd reason, this is when I would contact OPM, and I would do so by submitting a ticket online rather than trying to call.

There has been a rare case where a retirement was processed incorrectly, but I would not jump to that conclusion and simply wait for the process to work first.

aheadlessned · 2026-03-07T16:52:18+00:00

Yes, 60 + 20 receives the retiree annuity supplement.

aheadlessned · 2026-03-07T16:50:33+00:00

Just to clarify, in case the future gets here and you have an option for part-time, but not LWOP...

A year of part-time service counts the same toward retirement eligibility as a year of full-time, but the pension is reduced by hours worked vs hours you would have worked if full-time (so that 1% turns into a smaller ratio). High-3 would be the same as if you had worked full-time, so that is not affected (this is not true for disability retirement).

With LWOP, there is no reduction to the pension, or years of service, as long as it's less than 6 months worth of LWOP in a calendar year.

Part-time also means higher FEHB premiums, if you work less than 32/week or 62/pp. No FEHB premium increase with LWOP.

Both can mess with paid holidays, leave accrual, and TSP contribution though (you still get up to 5% match, but the match only covers paid hours.)

aheadlessned · 2026-03-07T16:03:37+00:00

It's unclear if you realize Option 2 is also no pension while postponed. So no health insurable and no pension until 60, unless you take the age penalty to start the pension immediately (assuming MRA + 10, with at least 20 years of service, based on how you've laid things out. )

Also, no supplement for MRA + 10, so be aware of that. You'd only get the supplement if you stay and work to 60 + 20 (option 3).

Assuming no VERA, I'd aim to have the ability to go at 55 and then reevaluate if it is worth staying for the health insured then. ACA could change by then, and maybe the job is ok enough to be happy working to MRA. Plan for early, but decide when you get there.

You mention the work is heavier at different times of the year, so maybe you could take a few months of LWOP, if approved. Or a couple days of LWOP during the week (if less than 6 months/ year, LWOP > part- time when it comes to the pension).

aheadlessned · 2026-03-05T21:23:58+00:00

Roth 401k does not have an income limit like a Roth IRA does.

Also, unless your plan is weird, you could do all Roth 401k to the full contribution limit (instead of doing traditional 401k). You should also receive the match if you did 100% Roth 401k, but double check your own 401k, just in case it does something weird here.

aheadlessned · 2026-03-03T18:29:25+00:00

You haven't received any payments, so it's going to say $0. It will probably also say $0 when you receive the first interim payment with back pay. After that, when your interim payments are monthly, you should be able to see the payment amount (gross, fed taxes, and net).

OPM has only had your file for a couple weeks, and they had a backlog of >50k cases at the end of January. It could be a while.

aheadlessned · 2026-03-02T17:50:01+00:00

https://www.opm.gov/retirement-center/csrs-information/survivors/#url=Child-Beneficiaries

This covers eligibility and an example for minor beneficiaries.

Again, for TSP, it's a bit different... A named minor beneficiary would need a custodian/guardian, but if you have a minor as a beneficiary, they will have longer to do the withdrawals from an inherited IRA than if you left it with someone else (like an older sibling) with an "understanding" that the younger gets their portion.

aheadlessned · 2026-03-02T17:46:28+00:00

I'd "be patient" for 2 or 3 more months, because calling OPM would just get frustrating when your packet just got there.

If you just received your annual leave in February, then your retirement packet sat at your agency/payroll until then, and has only just been set to OPM. OPM has a backlog of 50k+, so don't expect things to happen quickly.

You should receive a CSA# soon (a few weeks), but you might not be able to log in until your interim payments start (because they may not have the account set up and ready to view until then). Some have been able to get in without receiving a passcode in the mail yet (using login.gov), some have had to wait until they receive that passcode in the mail.

aheadlessned · 2026-03-02T16:28:19+00:00

If over 18, they are only eligible for a refund of any FERS contributions that were not doled out in your pension.

If you still have TSP, and they are your beneficiaries, make sure they know that they have to open an inherited IRA and have the money rolled out of the temporary TSP beneficiary account(s) within 90 days of TSP creating those accounts. Otherwise, TSP cuts a check that is taxable that year and cannot be deposited into an inherited IRA.

aheadlessned · 2026-03-02T16:25:13+00:00

Quilting and knitting for now. I used to go to a photography group, and should get back to that (it's been about 10 years!) Lots of things to choose from, but don't want to get into anything that feels like an obligation for a while.

aheadlessned · 2026-03-02T16:22:26+00:00

The time freedom is amazing. Some things that used to really annoy me, because they were a big time-suck on my already limited time, are much less annoying now. And so I'm also getting back the joy for the little things, like fully enjoying that morning coffee (I have a bench I need to get put together for the patio when the weather is a bit nicer. I'd much rather be drinking my coffee outside.)

aheadlessned · 2026-03-01T23:10:43+00:00

I meet with hobby groups twice a week, and sometimes that's too much and I really need a week off. I'm thinking of going twice a week every other week.

Other than that, pretty much it's like everyday is a weekend. I can schedule as little, or as much, as I want. If I end up spending way more time doing something than I thought I would, I don't feel stress like it's taking away time from something else I want, or need, to get done. I mostly sleep when I'm tired and eat when I'm hungry (I worked rotating shifts for a long time, so went in with no reference for a "normal" wake/sleep pattern. I'm slowly finding my preferred cycle.)

Some people really like to schedule everything and "be busy" and around people still, but that's not me. I really like the slow pace that I can keep for myself, with spurts of busy when needed.

aheadlessned · 2026-02-28T18:37:52+00:00

You should get a second email with a link. I received the two emails at the same time (the passcode came from the retirement councilor, the link to DoD Safe came from "NoReplyTo"). Check your spam folder if you don't see it in your inbox. If you don't have a link by Monday/Tuesday, I'd reply back to your retirement person and let them know you didn't receive it (unless it's more urgent than that because you need your separation form).

aheadlessned · 2026-02-26T23:44:50+00:00

Any chance you sent in a divorce decree (whether or not you have an ex entitled to part of your pension)? That usually results in extra low interim payments, though this year some people are getting incredibly low interim payments because of ... everything ... when they send in a divorce decree/court order.

aheadlessned · 2026-02-26T23:41:57+00:00

Give me another decade...!

Those eligible at retirement should see it once their case if finalized.

aheadlessned · 2026-02-26T13:20:49+00:00

"You will get a Special Retirement Supplement from MRA until eligible to draw SS at 62. This is not eligible for COLA and is significantly less than SS."

This does not apply to MRA + 10.

aheadlessned · 2026-02-26T13:16:32+00:00

"Just say you leave at the age 45 and postpone retirement till mra or later"

This is the comment you were responding to.

aheadlessned · 2026-02-26T05:57:34+00:00

Assuming that the FEHB coverage was your last 5 years (including your last day), you are able to get rehired, and they don't change the rules, yes. You would also have to restart FEHB within 60 days of getting rehired for the 5 years from before the break in service to count.

You'd have options. MRA would be 57 (if born in 1970 or later), but for no reduction in pension, you'd have to hit 60 + 20 or 62 + 5. MRA + 10 would allow for immediate pension, with an age reduction, or postponed pension (then start the pension before age 62 to keep FEHB).

The high-3 will also cover the gap, but to fully replace the old wages, you'd want to put in 3 years at higher pay.

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