United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office General Government Division author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 1996-08-14 monographic deposited born digital 69 p. GA 1.13:GGD-96-138BR https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GGD-96-138BR P0b002ee18039e2ea f:gg96138b DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-28 GAOREPORTS-GGD-96-138BR machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GGD-96-138BR GGD-96-138BR Disability benefits Retirement benefits Proposed legislation Federal employee disability programs Federal employee retirement programs Beneficiaries Elderly persons Workers compensation Federal personnel legislation Disabled persons Civil Service Retirement System Federal Employees Retirement System Briefing Report GGD Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed issues related to possible changes to the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA), focusing on: (1) a profile of long-term FECA beneficiaries; (2) supporting and opposing views on changing FECA benefits for retirement-age beneficiaries; and (3) issues for congressional consideration in revising FECA benefits.<p/>GAO found that: (1) in June 1995, persons age 55 and older comprised 60 percent of long-term FECA beneficiaries and 37 percent of FECA beneficiaries were 65 years or older; (2) $611 million of the $1.28 billion in 1995 FECA benefits went to older long-term beneficiaries who would most likely be affected by proposed FECA changes; (3) proponents of changing benefits for older FECA beneficiaries believe that lifetime income replacement under FECA is too generous because it does not reflect typical lower retirement income and that excessive FECA costs put an undue burden on federal agencies' discretionary program budgets; (4) beneficiaries' survivors would more likely receive survivor benefits if the long-term beneficiaries are switched from FECA benefits to retirement benefits; (5) opponents believe that high FECA compensation for older beneficiaries is justified and that reducing benefits for older recipients constitutes age discrimination and could cause economic hardships; (6) opponents believe that charging federal agencies with FECA costs may motivate them to comply with FECA objectives and that implementing injury prevention programs and returning injured workers to productive employment would be more cost-effective and equitable approaches; and (7) issues for consideration include the equity, cost savings, complexity, and tax consequences of converting FECA benefits to retirement benefits, the permanence of a FECA annuity, and potential legal challenges on the basis of alleged age discrimination. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GGD-96-138BR/html/GAOREPORTS-GGD-96-138BR.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GGD-96-138BR/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GGD-96-138BR.pdf GAO/GGD-96-138BR https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GGD-96-138BR Briefing Report GAO/GGD-96-138BR; Federal Employees' Compensation Act: Issues Associated with Changing Benefits for Older Beneficiaries; Disability benefits Retirement benefits Proposed legislation Federal employee disability programs Federal employee retirement programs Beneficiaries Elderly persons Workers compensation Federal personnel legislation Disabled persons Civil Service Retirement System Federal Employees Retirement System Volume 39 Page 743 39 Stat. 743 Volume 63 Page 858 63 Stat. 858 Public Law 93-416 S. Rept. 93-1081 H. Rept. 104-286