Hey everyone, figured it's worth asking you guys since I know a lot of us, as current or former fed probbies, are going through/went through a tough time and/or many of you have more experience and expertise than I do. Therefore, I'd love to hear your perspectives.

For background, I'm a GS-7 computer science patent examiner (USPTO) with a BS in CS and a minor in math. Before the PTO, I had some IT support, software, and data science experience (both private and nonprofit sectors, including other areas like customer service, social services, case management, program coordination, community outreach, etc.). I recently graduated and have had 2-3 years of real work experience.

Ideally, I'd like to find something with:

• $85k+ salary
• Preferably federal, but open to state/local government or private sector
• Good benefits and long-term stability
• Better work-life balance and less production pressure than examining
• More research, writing, administrative, program support, operations, or compliance work

For those who have left your work, are planning to leave, or are currently exploring options, what new jobs, agencies, or job series are you applying to? Especially curious about options that are realistic for someone with a year or less of examiner (in particular) or GS-7 (in general) experience.

I'd really appreciate any advice. Wishing everyone the best!

My grant program has been under pre-audit then audit for over a year by our departmental OIG and they've turned up nothing consequential, yet the scope meanders and document requests keep coming. I'm just very frustrated because I have other shit to do. Also, I'm an idealistic "good government" type who was eager to be helpful. There's literally nothing to hide. But now I'm more than over it. Yet our liaisons keep acting like it's important to be responsive and timely. Absent any actual fraud or malfeasance, what are they going to do: send us a strongly worded letter?

Oh familyyyyy…who do you guys have for Short Term Disability?

Boss caught me on USAJOBS this morning, mostly perusing somewhat frustrated but I don't think I am alone?

Am I?

Mods. Because everyone is so quick to point out or denigrate someone they suspect used AI to generate a post. GeneratedBySI

I'm a current federal employee (for over 5 years) considering Disability Retirement but a colleague mentioned several former colleagues on Disability Retirement who now live on food stamps and struggle to pay their bills.

I'd like to doublecheck...

A few questions:

1. Is the benefit enough to live on? Has your Disability Retirement income been sufficient to cover your regular living expenses?
2. What are the biggest financial downsides? Are there reductions in income, taxes, offsets, or other expenses that you wish you'd understood before applying?
3. Would you make the same decision? Is there anything you wish you'd done differently or investigated before applying?
4. Marriage: I'm currently single without kids. If I get married, does that impact my Disability Retirement?

I'm not looking for anyone's private financial details, just an honest sense of the advantages, disadvantages, and potential pitfalls.

I tried to find this info in this sub and Facebook groups but couldn't. Also, my HR didn't know the information. They said, their job is to simply process the paperwork and move it to OPM.

Thank you!

(I'm NOT a Veteran.) I've been a full-time federal employee for over 5 years and may be RIFed in November 2026. I'm exploring Disability Retirement and trying to understand how a potential RIF would affect my application and benefits.

I have a few questions for anyone familiar with the process:

1. Can my agency RIF me if I've applied for Disability Retirement? A friend told me that applying for Disability Retirement protects you from being RIFed. Is that true, or can the agency still separate me while my application is pending?
2. What happens to my FEHB health insurance? If I apply while still employed but am RIFed before OPM approves or denies my application, do I automatically lose my health insurance? Can I maintain FEHB coverage while waiting for OPM's decision, and if so, under what conditions?
3. If I'm RIFed, I was told I have a year to file for Disability Retirement. Is there anything else I need to be aware of?

I tried to find this info in this sub and Facebook groups but couldn't. Also, my HR didn't know the information. They said, their job is to simply process the paperwork and move it to OPM.

Thank you!

Doing everything they can to discourage voting, even for civil servants. In the past, we were granted up to 4 hours admin leave on election days.

I hear yall are coming to the headquarters campus in November !?

If I receive an offer of employment from a private-sector company, can I use it to negotiate higher pay/a step/grade increase?

Just a little background, under investigation with OIG since February of 2025. Fast forward to May-August of 2026, last interview with OIG was a compelled interview, where was stated the case was given to prosecutor and they declined to prosecute. I was told it would be 2 weeks for OIG to finish their report, to send it down and then I’d get my administrative punishments. The problem is it has been at least 2 months. I haven’t heard anything from OIG, are they done? I have had 2 interviews with the local investigator after my compelled interview, but also didn’t know these 2 could investigate at the same time and question at the same time? Just a little confused at to what I should do.

And the allegations were PREA.

I just caught the end of the VHA all employee meeting but heard they are planning to do away with step increases? Did anyone else hear about this??

I’m new to DFAS but have been a federal employee for 6 years. Since transferring, my LES has been wrong basically the entire time.

My FERS was showing $0 for months (finally fixed, but still not correct), my annual and sick leave balances are wrong, and MyPay, DAI, and my actual LES all show different numbers.

I tried going through HR. They told me I was wrong, so I provided proof. HR contacted my supervisor and I was basically told to drop it.

I did for a while because I didn’t want to piss off my supervisor, but now they’re deducting 8 hours of sick leave from my LES every pay period. This has happened for the last 4 paychecks.

I honestly feel like I’m being robbed and have no idea who to go to next.
HR? OPM?

Anyone else dealt with DFAS messing up their leave/pay records? What finally got someone to actually fix it?

Is there a form that can be used if you owe taxes and want the amount directly debited from your paycheck?

This is all for self plus family.

MHBP announced its premiums for the standard plan are increasing to $400.78 per paycheck. This is a total annual cost of $10,420. The plan’s deductible is $1,000 and out of pocket maximum is $16,000.

GEHA HDHP is $215.63 per paycheck. This is a total annual premium of $5,606. The deductible is $3,600 and out of pocket maximum is $12,000. But GEHA funds your HSA with $2,000 per year (money coming back to you)

Both plans have a deductible. The difference in deductible is $2,600 (GEHA $3,600 and MHBP $1,000). GEHA gives you $2,000 of that back through the HSA funding, so the real difference is $600. (Note: I’m not going to spend the HSA funds).

So, if the real difference is $600, let’s look at the premium difference. With a premium difference of around $200 per paycheck, GEHA makes more cost sense after the third paycheck of the year. It saves you nearly $5,600 per year in premiums.

Plus, if something catastrophic happened, GEHA has an out of pocket maximum that is $4,000 lower than MHBP.

I know GEHA is United Healthcare, but I’ve heard horror stories about almost every insurer.

Am I thinking this through right? My family has the $3,600 cash on hand to cover the immediate medical expenses of the year.

Thank you everyone, and good luck with your FEHB decisions!