Finally!

[nasa1974]

Shortly after my last post, OPM called me asking about my health care change in benefits... they couldn't figure out that I had moved and changed states. Got that straightened out and still waiting. Called OPM this morning and they said my application to the new insurance went out Friday, June 21st. 10 days it sat on someones desk waiting to be sent out. I know th furloughs are tough but you'd think after we straightened out the address change thing it would be sent out that day. Silly me too.

I faxed my request for TSP withdrawal, SEPP based on life expectancy/IRS 72t withdrawal. I got a rejection letter several days later. Called them and took a few minutes going back and forth trying to straighten that out. Seems when you fax something to them, it then gets scanned into a computer that processes it. Their computer read my form as a TSP-75 and automatically rejected my application. We figured out after the rep at TSP researched it and saw I did indeed file the correct form but after faxing and scanning it had become unreadable. Today I copied the form and sent them the original. We'll see how far that goes.

Tomorrow me and the wife are headed off on a much needed vacation scuba diving in the Cayman Islands. I hope that everything is done by the time we get back home... health insurance cards in the mail pile and pension deposited in the bank account. Until then, I'm not going to worry and fret and just enjoy ourselves for a week.

Sounds like things are moving forward again. Good to hear. I can't believe how out of date TSP is relying on snail mail and FAX for everything. Enjoy the Caymans. We've been to Grand Cayman a couple of time on cruises and had a real nice time there.

 

[Stoplight]

...I faxed my request for TSP withdrawal, SEPP based on life expectancy/IRS 72t withdrawal. I got a rejection letter several days later. Called them and took a few minutes going back and forth trying to straighten that out. Seems when you fax something to them, it then gets scanned into a computer that processes it. Their computer read my form as a TSP-75 and automatically rejected my application. We figured out after the rep at TSP researched it and saw I did indeed file the correct form but after faxing and scanning it had become unreadable. Today I copied the form and sent them the original. We'll see how far that goes....

HT,

I detailed some of the problems I had with the TSP's fax/scan system in my retirement thread, too ! As Nasa noted, it's incredible that they rely on a system based on fax machines, or snail mail...

Good luck, and Safe travels !


Stoplight...

 

[Hallatauer]

Shortly after the my last post I called the health insurance carrier and they confirmed that I was in their system... took until July 7th to actually get the cards in the mail but we existed.... well, I did. They didn't have my wife down as being on the insurance. Glad I called and got that straightened out before we left. Vacation was great btw. Now the wait for them to catch up with the final pension payment amount... 6 to 9 months was the latest estimate. and they are one month behind to start with. Glad I have something to fall back on in the meantime.

 

[nnuut]

Shortly after the my last post I called the health insurance carrier and they confirmed that I was in their system... took until July 7th to actually get the cards in the mail but we existed.... well, I did. They didn't have my wife down as being on the insurance. Glad I called and got that straightened out before we left. Vacation was great btw. Now the wait for them to catch up with the final pension payment amount... 6 to 9 months was the latest estimate. and they are one month behind to start with. Glad I have something to fall back on in the meantime.

Sounds like you are moving right along, it took me almost 10 months, Money from Annual leave did me well. Hope they have improved a little.

 

[kafkaesque]

Shortly after the my last post I called the health insurance carrier and they confirmed that I was in their system... took until July 7th to actually get the cards in the mail but we existed.... well, I did. They didn't have my wife down as being on the insurance. Glad I called and got that straightened out before we left. Vacation was great btw. Now the wait for them to catch up with the final pension payment amount... 6 to 9 months was the latest estimate. and they are one month behind to start with. Glad I have something to fall back on in the meantime.

I sent you a private message concerning SS Supplement. Thanks for sharing your experience. I am contemplating retiring the Jan at a very young age. I am very displeased with work and I have worked hard to be ready for retirement, no bills etc. but still have fear of letting go.

 

[Birchtree]

I might be different than some, but I'm making more money investing in a week than I ever did working for a year. Investing is my full time job now.

 

[Hallatauer]

I sent you a private message concerning SS Supplement. Thanks for sharing your experience. I am contemplating retiring the Jan at a very young age. I am very displeased with work and I have worked hard to be ready for retirement, no bills etc. but still have fear of letting go.

Reply sent

 

[Hallatauer]

Well... The 6 - 9 month wait was actually 3 months! They still have my retirement date wrong and owe me a months pay but at least I know what I'll be getting on a monthly basis from now on. I'll post when they straighten this last bit out.

 

[nasa1974]

Congrats. Hope everything gets straightened quickly.

 

[nnuut]

Well... The 6 - 9 month wait was actually 3 months! They still have my retirement date wrong and owe me a months pay but at least I know what I'll be getting on a monthly basis from now on. I'll post when they straighten this last bit out.

Wow! 3 Months, I think that's a record. Congratulations!

 

[jimijr]

Dynamite! But there goes your back-pay, I got a nice check for $7k when they finally caught it up after 9 months. How are you doing on your sleep schedule? Got the rotation out of your system?

 

[Scout333]

Congrats Hall!

 

[Hallatauer]

I'm sleeping like a normal person TYVM! And been keeping very busy. Signed the contract to start building the new house... waiting on the town approval and permits... should break ground in about 4 weeks. Of course it's over budget... seems there is a real building/housing boom in the nearby areas and it's sucking up resources and driving prices up.

 

[Cactus]

Congratulations on building the new house, Hallatauer. Don't get too stressed out during the building. Nothing ever goes the way it is suppose to. We had one guy in the office just move into the one he had built. It took a year and was quite a straine on his marriage. having to live in a camper the last few months because they sold their previous home didn't help. Remeber, it will all be over one day.

 

[Hallatauer]

We're leasing a house in the interim that is quite comfortable and the landlady is super nice. Being retired gives us the time to go around and pick out cabinets and granite and stuff. Overall we're having fun and not stressing over money... It'll all fall,into,place eventually.

 

[Scout333]

We're leasing a house in the interim that is quite comfortable and the landlady is super nice. Being retired gives us the time to go around and pick out cabinets and granite and stuff. Overall we're having fun and not stressing over money... It'll all fall,into,place eventually.

Hall you've got the right attitude! Just add about 20% to the budget in both time and money and enjoy it!