What's Next in 2025?

With the recent passage of the Social Security Fairness Act, we have successfully navigated the repeal of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO). APWU members are now facing another life-changing decision with the announcement of the Postal Service’s Voluntary Early Retirement (VER) incentive offer. Before you decide if you should take the VER and the $15,000 incentive, consider the following questions:

Have you discussed your retirement plans with your family? Retirement is a family decision, not an individual decision.

Have you given due consideration to how this decision may impact you – are you financially prepared to retire or no longer work for the Postal Service? If you accept the VER or incentive, what bene ts do you keep or lose?

Have you made realistic calculations for how much money it will take to maintain your standard of living?

Do you understand the estimated amount of annuity you will receive each month from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM)? In addition to federal income taxes, what other deductions will reduce your monthly annuity?

Did you provide a survivor benefit? How much will that optional life insurance cost you?

Did you talk to the USPS retirement counselor and get all your questions answered?

If you are not satisfied with your answers to these questions, ask yourself, “Why not wait until I am ready to retire?” For more information, visit apwu.org/VER-2025

The Work to Protect Our Benefits Continues

Passage of the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82) was a historic win for millions of Social Security bene ciaries; now, over two million public-sector retirees and their spouses will collect full Social Security bene ts. APWU President Mark Dimondstein, Legislative and Political Director Judy Beard, and I, Retirees Department Director Nancy Olumekor, were all in attendance on Jan. 5, 2025, when President Biden signed this historic bill into law at the White House, praising it as a “big deal” for the public servants “who dedicate their lives to their communities.” Those retirees now will receive an average $360 monthly increase in Social Security benefits in 2025, and a lump sum payment for benefits they would have earned in 2024. Unfortunately, there is no fixed timeline for when the benefits will be implemented by the Social Security Administration, and we anticipate delays ahead.

On Jan. 28, 2025, OPM announced: “During the first week of his administration, President Trump issued a number of directives concerning the federal workforce.” In its “Fork in the Road” notice to Federal Employees, the OPM stated, “At this time, we cannot give you full assurance regarding the certainty of your position or agency, but should your position be eliminated you will be treated with dignity and will be afforded the protections in place for such positions.” The announcement included an offer of a deferred resignation program to full-time federal employees, which would give employees an opportunity to resign while still receiving full pay and benefits through Sept. 30, 2025, provided they accepted the offer by Feb. 6, 2025. Postal workers were among those excluded from the program.

This is a direct attack on our union family in the AFGE. The time is now to join with all workers to protect our jobs and services. With a potential reduction in the federal workforce, we can expect longer waiting times for services at OPM, Social Security, Veterans Administration, and all other federal agencies. We must continue the fight against the threat of privatization of the Postal Service and seek congressional support for House Resolution (H. Res.) 70, which reaffirms our public Postal Service is essential and must remain in the hands of the people, not private interests. Retirees know that it is important for us to continue the fight. The struggle continues! ■