Author: Brian Lund
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The federal pension insurer searches unclaimed benefits on four SSN digits
The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, the federal agency that insures private pensions, runs an online search for retirement money it is holding for people who were never paid. It asks for just two things, a last name and the last four digits of a Social Security number. The database was last updated on August 5,…
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The comptroller said on October 14 that the OCC has struck reputation risk from bank supervision
Comptroller of the Currency Jonathan V. Gould said on October 14, 2026 that the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has eliminated reputation risk from its supervision of banks. He spoke as the agency released a report finding that the nine largest national banks it oversees had policies that limited or denied services to…
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The CFPB lists 30 open redress cases and no payment dates
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is tracking 30 ongoing cases in which money is meant to reach people harmed by financial companies, and it has not posted a payment date for a single one. Another 49 cases are listed as closed. For anyone who dealt with one of the companies named, the list shows that…
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The FTC is now paying old refund rounds by Zelle
People who let a Federal Trade Commission refund check sit in a drawer, or never tapped the PayPal payment, are getting a second chance by Zelle. The FTC is now paying some older refund rounds that way, putting the money straight into a bank account. The new method appears on several refund programs, including AT&T…
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Treasury now requires every federal benefit payment to be electronic unless a waiver applies
The U.S. Treasury Department says all federal benefit payments must now be paid electronically. That covers Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, Veterans’ benefits, civil service retirement, military retirement and railroad retirement, according to the Bureau of the Fiscal Service’s direct deposit FAQ. The rule is firm but not absolute. Treasury’s own site says electronic payment…
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The IRS gave farmers and ranchers in drought-listed areas of 49 states and the District of Columbia more time to replace livestock they sold because of drought
Farmers and ranchers who sold livestock because of drought now have more time to buy replacement animals and still put off the tax on the gain. The IRS announced the extension on September 15, 2026, for drought-listed areas of 49 states and the District of Columbia. Trade coverage of the announcement confirms Alaska is the…
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Federal workers get their civilian service, and honorable active military service, counted toward family and medical leave eligibility from December 14 unless significant adverse comments arrive by November 16
The Office of Personnel Management has published a rule that changes who qualifies for family and medical leave in the federal government. Civilian federal service, and honorable active military service, would both count toward the 12 months a federal employee needs before taking that leave. The change is set to take effect on December 14,…
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Federal agencies face a 12-week ceiling on administrative leave for any single workforce realignment unless OPM and OMB approve more, under a rule effective November 18, alongside the 10-workday yearly limit on investigative use
Federal agencies that reorganize can keep an employee on paid administrative leave for no more than 12 weeks in any single workforce realignment, unless the Office of Personnel Management and the Office of Management and Budget jointly approve more. The rule that locks that in takes effect November 18, 2026. A separate 10-workday yearly limit…
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State unemployment agencies must hand confidential claim information to federal officials from November 16, with slower states given until September 2027
State unemployment offices will be required to share confidential claim information with federal officials starting November 16, 2026, under a final rule from the Labor Department. States that must change their own laws to comply have until September 16, 2027. The rule turns what had been a permission into a duty for every state agency…
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Federal workers and retirees have from November 9 to December 14 to change 2027 health coverage, choosing among 118 FEHB plan options from 45 carriers
Federal employees and retirees will have five weeks this fall to change their health coverage for 2027. The Office of Personnel Management says its yearly Open Season runs from November 9 through December 14, 2026. In the Federal Employees Health Benefits program, known as FEHB, the choice this year is among 118 plan options from…