82 SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2025 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL RETIREMENT SUPPLEMENT 10. Stay Up to Date. Each year, the State Department’s Office of Retirement posts an updated Foreign Service annuitant newsletter on https://www. state.gov/rnet/. All retirees should at least skim through that newsletter to make sure they are aware of important rules and procedures governing their federal benefits. That website is also where you will find a form to change your health insurance during Open Enrollment or to file an annual earnings statement if you receive the annuity supplement. In addition, the 2025 AFSA Directory of Retired Members has 25 pages of guidance on retiree issues. A larger collection of fact sheets, guides, and videos is on the AFSA website at www.afsa.org/retirement. 11. Age Milestones. Are you approaching age 62 and need to decide when to file for Social Security? Are you approaching 65 and need to decide whether to sign up for Medicare Part B (note that there are stiff financial penalties for signing up late)? Are you approaching 73 and need to figure out what to do about required minimum distributions from your investments? The AFSA website at www.afsa.org/ retirement has information on these topics. 12. AFSA Membership. The final potential pitfall is letting your AFSA membership lapse. AFSA membership qualifies you to be assisted by AFSA’s Counselor for Alumni and Retirees if you have questions or concerns about retirement benefits. Your dues help AFSA defend both the active-duty Foreign Service and the earned retirement benefits of Foreign Service annuitants. For questions about your membership, contact member@afsa.org. n
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy ODIyMDU=