2013 FECA Circulars which have previously been issued by the DFEC but have since been superseded by another Circular or inclusion in the FECA Procedure Manual.

Fiscal Year 2013

Circular

Subject

FECA Circular No. 13-01

Dual Benefits - FERS Cost of Living Adjustments

FECA Circular No. 13-02

Bill Pay - Revision in the Reimbursement Rates Payable for the Use of Privately-Owned Automobiles Necessary to Secure Medical Examination and Treatment

FECA Circular No. 13-04

Current Interest Rates for Prompt Payment Bills and Debt Collection


Attention: This circular has been superseded and is inactive.

FECA CIRCULAR NO. 13-01

November 27, 2012


SUBJECT: Dual Benefits - FERS Cost of Living Adjustments


Effective December 31, 2012, benefits issued by the Social Security Administration (SSA) will be increased by 1.7%. This requires the amount of the Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS) Dual Benefits deduction to be increased by the same amount, to ensure the dollar-for-dollar offset remains current.

This adjustment will be made from the National Office for all cases that were correctly entered into the iFECS Compensation program. The adjustment will be effective with the periodic roll cycle beginning December 16, 2012. There will be no adjustment or overpayment declared for the period of December 1, 2012 through December 15, 2012.

The historical SSA cost of living adjustments are as follows:

Historical SSA cost of living adjustments

Date

Percentage

12/01/2012 - 11/30/2013
12/01/2011 - 11/30/2012
12/01/2010 - 11/30/2011
12/01/2009 - 11/30/2010
12/01/2008 - 11/30/2009
12/01/2007 - 11/30/2008
12/01/2006 - 11/30/2007
12/01/2005 - 11/30/2006
12/01/2004 - 11/30/2005
12/01/2003 - 11/30/2004
12/01/2002 - 11/30/2003
12/01/2001 - 11/30/2002
12/01/2000 - 11/30/2001
12/01/1999 - 11/30/2000
12/01/1998 - 11/30/1999
12/01/1997 - 11/30/1998
12/01/1996 - 11/30/1997
12/01/1995 - 11/30/1996
12/01/1994 - 11/30/1995

1.7%
3.6%
0.0%
0.0%
5.8%
2.3%
3.3%
4.1%
2.7%
2.1%
1.4%
2.6%
3.5%
2.4%
1.3%
2.1%
2.9%
2.6%
2.8%

DOUGLAS C. FITZGERALD
Director for
Federal Employees' Compensation

Distribution: All Claims Staff and Fiscal Personnel

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Attention: This circular has been superseded and is inactive.

FECA CIRCULAR NO. 13-02

Issue Date: February 14, 2013


Expiration Date: Date of Next Rate Change


Subject: Bill Pay - Revision in the Reimbursement Rates Payable for the Use of Privately-Owned Automobiles Necessary to Secure Medical Examination and Treatment.

Background: Effective January 1, 2013, the mileage rate for reimbursement to Federal employees traveling by privately-owned automobile was increased to 56.5 cents per mile by GSA. No restriction is made as to the number of miles that can be traveled. As in the past, a determination has been made to apply the applicable rate to disabled FECA beneficiaries traveling to secure necessary medical examination and treatment.

Applicability: Appropriate National Office and District Office personnel.

Reference: Chapter 5-0204, Principles of Bill Adjudication, Part 5, Benefit Payments, Federal (FECA) Procedure Manual and 5 U.S.C. § 8103.

Action: The Central Bill Pay (CBP) facility has updated its system to reflect the new rates. Since there is no action required at the District Office level, the rates are being provided for informational purposes only.

The following is a list of the historical mileage rates used to reimburse claimant travel expense:

historical mileage rates
Date Rate

01/01/1995 – 06/06/1996
06/07/1996 – 09/07/1998
09/08/1998 – 03/31/1999
04/01/1999 – 01/13/2000

30.0 cents per mile
31.0 cents per mile
32.5 cents per mile
31.0 cents per mile

01/14/2000 – 01/21/2001
01/22/2001 – 01/20/2002
01/21/2002 – 12/31/2002
01/01/2003 – 12/31/2003
01/01/2004 – 02/03/2005
02/04/2005 – 08/31/2005
09/01/2005 – 12/31/2005

32.5 cents per mile
34.5 cents per mile
36.5 cents per mile
36.0 cents per mile
37.5 cents per mile
40.5 cents per mile
48.5 cents per mile

01/01/2006 – 01/31/2007
02/01/2007 – 03/18/2008
03/19/2008 – 07/31/2008
08/01/2008 – 12/31/2008
01/01/2009 – 12/31/2009
01/01/2010 – 12/31/2010
01/01/2011 – 04/16/2012
04/17/2012 – 12/31/2012
01/01/2013 to Present

44.5 cents per mile
48.5 cents per mile
50.5 cents per mile
58.5 cents per mile
55.0 cents per mile
50.0 cents per mile
51.0 cents per mile
55.5 cents per mile
56.5 cents per mile

Disposition: This Bulletin should be retained in Chapter 5-0204, Principles of Bill Adjudication, Federal (FECA) Procedure Manual.

Douglas Fitzgerald
Director for
Federal Employees' Compensation

Distribution: All Claims Staff and Fiscal Personnel

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Attention: This circular has been superseded and is inactive.

FECA CIRCULAR NO. 13-04

March 21, 2013

SUBJECT: Current Interest Rates for Prompt Payment Bills and Debt Collection


The interest rate to be assessed for the prompt payment bills is 1.375 percent for the period of January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013. This new rate has been updated in the Central Bill Payment system tables.

The rate for assessing interest charges on debts due the government has not been changed. The interest rate for assessing interest charges on debts due the government remains 1.0 percent for the period of January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013.

Ordinarily, the rate of interest charged on debts due the U.S. Government is only changed in January and is effective for the entire year. However, the rate may be changed in July if there is a difference in the Current Value of Funds (CVF) interest rate of more than two percent. The rate will be reviewed on July 1, 2013 to determine if the Treasury has changed the rate.

Attached to this Circular is an updated listing of both the Prompt Payment and Debt Management interest rates from January 1, 1985 through the current date.

DOUGLAS C. FITZGERALD
Director for
Federal Employees' Compensation

Attachments

Distribution: List No. 2--Folioviews Groups A, B, and D (Claims Examiners, All Supervisors, District Medical Advisors, Technical Assistants, Rehabilitation Specialists, Staff Nurses and Fiscal Personnel)

FC 13-04 EXHIBIT 1 –

PROMPT PAYMENT INTEREST RATES

Date

Percentage

Date

Percentage

01/1/13 - 12/31/13
07/1/12 - 12/31/12
01/1/12 - 06/30/12
07/1/11 - 12/31/11
01/1/11 - 12/31/11
01/1/10 - 12/31/10
07/1/09 - 12/31/09
01/1/09 - 06/30/09
07/1/08 - 12/31/08
01/1/08 - 06/30/08
07/1/07 - 12/31/07
01/1/07 - 06/30/07
07/1/06 - 12/31/06
01/1/06 - 06/30/06
07/1/05 - 12/31/05
01/1/05 - 06/30/05
07/1/04 - 12/31/04
01/1/04 - 06/30/04
07/1/03 - 12/31/03
01/1/03 - 06/30/03
07/1/02 - 12/31/02
01/1/02 - 06/30/02
07/1/01 - 12/31/01
01/1/01 - 06/30/01
07/1/00 - 12/31/00
01/1/00 - 06/30/00
07/1/99 - 12/31/99
01/1/99 - 06/30/99

1 ⅜ %
1 ¾ %
2.0 %
2 ½ %
2 ⅝ %
3 ¼ %
4 ⅞ %
5 ⅝ %
5 ⅛ %
4 ¾ %
5 ¾ %
5 ¼ %
5 ¾ %
5 ⅛ %
4 ½ %
4 ¼ %
4 ½ %
4.0 %
3 ⅛ %
4 ¼ %
5 ¼ %
5 ½ %
5 ⅞ %
6 ⅜ %
7 ¼ %
6 ¾ %
6 ½ %
5.0 %

07/1/98 - 12/31/98
01/1/98 - 06/30/98
07/1/97 - 12/31/97
01/1/97 - 06/30/97
07/1/96 - 12/31/96
01/1/96 - 06/30/96
07/1/95 - 12/31/95
01/1/95 - 06/30/95
07/1/94 - 12/31/94
01/1/94 - 06/30/94
07/1/93 - 12/31/93
01/1/93 - 06/30/93
07/1/92 - 12/31/92
01/1/92 - 06/30/92
07/1/91 - 12/31/91
01/1/91 - 06/30/91
07/1/90 - 12/31/90
01/1/90 - 06/30/90
07/1/89 - 12/31/89
01/1/89 - 06/30/89
07/1/88 - 12/31/88
01/1/88 - 06/30/88
07/1/87 - 12/31/87
01/1/87 - 06/30/87
07/1/86 - 12/31/86
01/1/86 - 06/30/86
07/1/85 - 12/31/85
01/1/85 - 06/30/85

6.0 %
6 ¼ %
6 ¾ %
6 ⅜ %
7.0 %
5 ⅞ %
6 ⅜ %
8 ⅛ %
7.0 %
5 ½ %
5 ⅝ %
6 ½ %
7.0 %
6 ⅞ %
8 ½ %
8 ⅜ %
9.0 %
8 ½ %
9 ⅛ %
9 ¾ %
9 ¼ %
9 ⅜ %
8 ⅞ %
7 ⅝ %
8 ½ %
9 ¾ %
10 ⅜ %
12 ⅛ %

Prior to 01/01/85 Not Applicable

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FC 13-04 EXHIBIT 2 –

DEBT MANAGEMENT INTEREST RATES

Dates

Percentage

01/1/13 - 12/31/13

1%

01/1/12 - 12/31/12

1%

01/1/11 - 12/31/11

1%

1/1/10 – 12/31/10

1%

1/1/09 - 12/31/09

3%

7/1/08 - 12/31/08

3%

1/1/08 - 6/30/08

5%

1/1/07 - 12/31/07

4%

7/1/06 - 12/31/06

4%

1/1/06 - 12/31/06

2%

1/1/05 - 12/31/05

1%

1/1/04 - 12/31/04

1%

1/1/03 - 12/31/03

2%

7/1/02 - 12/31/02

3%

1/1/02 - 06/30/02

5%

1/1/01 - 12/31/01

6%

1/1/00 - 12/31/00

5%

1/1/99 - 12/31/99

5%

1/1/98 - 12/31/98

5%

1/1/97 - 12/31/97

5%

1/1/96 - 12/31/96

5%

7/1/95 - 12/31/95

5%

1/1/95 - 06/30/95

3%

1/1/94 - 12/31/94

3%

1/1/93 - 12/31/93

4%

1/1/92 - 12/31/92

6%

1/1/91 - 12/31/91

8%

1/1/90 - 12/31/90

9%

1/1/89 - 12/31/89

7%

1/1/88 - 12/31/88

6%

1/1/87 - 12/31/87

7%

1/1/86 - 12/31/86

8%

1/1/85 - 12/31/85

9%

Prior to 01/01/84

Not applicable

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