RECRUITMENT & RETENTION will respond to concerns about membership development, recruitment, retention, pre-retirement seminars, special exhibits (including tabletop displays and supplies), membership awards, and other projects regarding recruitment and retention. Call this group for membership information, or to join NARFE by telephone.
Recruitment & Retention
1-800-627-3394

MEMBER RECORDS works on changes-of-address, billing, Dues Withholding, Life and Honorary memberships, chapter transfers/assignment questions, additional magazine copies, reporting the death of a member, and transfers of membership to surviving spouses. Member Records is also responsible for the monthly chapter activity report (M112), and the semi-annual membership roster (M114).
Member Records
1-800-456-8410

FEDERATION AND CHAPTER SERVICES assists with recording changes in designated chapters and leadership, activations, deactivations, reactivations, requests for chapter anniversary and distinguished Service Certificates, and processing by-law revisions.
Federation and Chapter Leadership Services

CHAPTER & FEDERATION DEVELOPMENT serves to strengthen chapter-member involvement and communication, guidance on meeting attendance, training chapter officers, and designing successful programs.
Chapter and Federation Development

FREQUENTLY ASKED MEMBERSHIP & CHAPTER QUESTIONS

Q: What does NARFE do?

A: The National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE) was founded in 1921 to establish equitable pensions for federal civil service workers. Today, NARFE is a non-profit, non-partisan organization of nearly 350,000 current and retired federal employees and their spouses or survivors dedicated to protecting the earned benefits of all federal service employees.

Q: Why should I join NARFE?

A: There is strength in organization and NARFE’s sizable membership. The Association has one of the largest Political Action Committees (NARFE-PAC) in the nation, allowing it to pursue an aggressive legislative agenda. You also receive an informative monthly magazine, and many other valuable, cost-saving benefits.

Q: What are the requirements of membership?
A: Membership is open to civilians in any agency of the federal or the District of Columbia governments who have a federal retirement plan (under either CSRS or FERS). Included are retirees; former employees; current employees and their spouses; spouses and surviving spouses of those eligible to join NARFE and former spouses who are legally eligible for a federal or survivor annuity. You don’t have to be retired to join NARFE. One out of every five new members is a current federal employee. There is no minimum age requirement.

Q: Can military retirees join NARFE?
A: Military service does not qualify for membership in NARFE.

Q: If I work(ed) for the Postal Service, can I join NARFE?
A: Yes, postal employees and retirees are eligible for NARFE membership.

Q: How much does it cost to join?
A: Retired members, their spouses and survivor annuitants can enroll for $33.00 for the first year in lieu of national and chapter dues. Upon the anniversary date for renewal, these members will have the option of renewing for multi-years. The one-year rate is $29.00 plus one-year chapter dues of record, the two-year rate is $52.00 plus two years chapter dues of record, or the three-year rate is $74.00 plus three years chapter dues of record. Current federal employees (CFE) and their spouses can join at a different rate as long as the member(s) continues working for the federal government. A one-year CFE membership is $25.00, two years are $45.00, and three years are $60.00. Multi-year rates, for both retired and current federal employees, represent considerable cost savings.

Q: How can I become a NARFE member?
A: All you have to do to join other active and retired federal workers is to contact Recruitment & Retention at 1-800-627-3394 or Recruitment & Retention to get started. You can also join via the NARFE Web site at www.narfe.org: under "Membership", "Review Your Record", and then "Join".

Q: Can my spouse join NARFE?
A: Spouses are encouraged to join NARFE so they can participate in activities of the association, vote, hold office, and become more knowledgeable about retirement benefits.

Q: What is Dues Withholding?
A: By signing an authorization form, retired members and survivor annuitants instruct the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to withhold 1/12 of their annual association dues each month from their annuity. OPM will send the money to NARFE. This can be arranged for both national and chapter dues. Dues cannot be deducted from the paychecks of current federal employees.

Q: Is life membership available, and how much will it cost?
A: Yes, National Life Membership is available. A member can pay for all future national dues with one payment or with four consecutive quarterly payments in the first year. The amount of dues is based on age. Members are invoiced each year for chapter dues. Contact Member Records at 1-800-456-8410 or Member Records to find out more information.

Q: Can I pay dues over the phone or via the NARFE Web site?
A: Yes. Member Records at 1-800-456-8410 or Member Records can respond to questions regarding billing, dues withholding, renewals, or change of information. Dues may also be submitted via the NARFE Web site at www.narfe.org: under "Membership", and then "Review Your Record".

Q: What else will I have to pay for as a NARFE member
A: It’s your choice. You can donate to NARFE’s Alzheimer’s Fund, NARFE-PAC, the scholarship fund, or other areas of interest. However, these are all voluntary contributions, and none is required.

Q: Do I have to join a chapter?
A: Yes. According to NARFE bylaws, "all new members are required to belong to both the Association [NARFE] and one of its Chapters". A member’s assignment to a chapter is usually based on the zip code assignment of the member’s permanent legal residence; however, each member retains the right and option of belonging to any chapter. Member Records at 1-800-456-8410 or Member Records can answer chapter assignment and transfer questions

Q: Is there a chapter near me?
A: With more than 1,500 chapters in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Panama, Guam, the Philippines and the Virgin Islands, it is likely that there is a chapter close to your home or workplace. Contact Member Records at 1-800-456-8410 or Member Records to find a chapter near you.

Q: How much are chapter dues?
A: Chapter dues are set by chapters, and range from $2.00 to $20.00, with the average being about $6.00. As a chapter member, you have a voice in setting your chapter’s dues, based upon the programs developed within that chapter.

Q: Is there a closer chapter to me when I move?
A: Contact Member Records at 1-800-456-8410 or Member Records to locate area chapters and to register your chapter transfer.

Q: If I have trouble reaching OPM and need help with retirement issues, can NARFE help?
A: NARFE’s Retirement Benefits Services Department (Retirement Benefits) is staffed with skilled professionals waiting to assist you in resolving benefit and insurance problems. In addition, there are 122 service centers nationwide maintained by NARFE in federal agencies or on military installations. Chapters also have volunteers called Service Officers ready to help.

Q: I haven’t been receiving the magazine (or Life pin, or annual calendar, etc.). Who can I talk to about this?
A: Member Records at 1-800-456-8410 or Member Records can respond to questions regarding missed magazines and other membership mailings.

Q: Does a chapter have to submit an F-7 Chapter Officers Roster every year? Even if the officers have not changed?
A: Yes, it is necessary to submit an F-7 annually to ensure the proper collection of chapter dues, and to register accurate chapter officer information. By January 1^st, annually, chapters shall submit to Federation & Chapter Services (Federation & Chapter Services) an F-7 Chapter Officers Roster. The amount of chapter dues, and any officer additions, deletions, changes, and/or vacancies, should be indicated on this form.

Q: Our Chapter has lost its charter or bylaws. Who at NARFE maintains copies of these documents?
A: Federation & Chapter Services ( Federation & Chapter Services) keeps these documents, and can be reached directly at 703-838-7760.

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION & TELEPHONE DIRECTORY
National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE)
606 North Washington Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
1-800-456-8410
http://www.narfe.org

Chapter changes/transfers/corrections
Member Records
1-800-456-8410

Chapter by-laws and constitutions
Federation and Chapter Services
703-838-7760 ext. 338 or 366

Chapter charters
Federation and Chapter Services
703-838-7760 ext. 338 or 366

Chapter development
Chapter and Federation Leadership Development

Chapter dues changes
Federation and Chapter Services
703-838-7760 ext. 338 or 366

Chapter dues inquiries
Member Records
1-800-456-8410

Chapter dues payment inquiries
Member Records
1-800-456-8410

Chapter locations
Member Records
1-800-456-8410

Chapter officer roster (F-7)
Federation and Chapter Services
703-838-7760 ext. 338 or 366

Chapter openings/closings/reactivating
Federation and Chapter Services
703-838-7760 ext. 338 or 366

Honorary memberships
Member Records
1-800-456-8410

Life memberships
Member Records
1-800-456-8410

Member death notices
Member Records
1-800-456-8410

Membership eligibility
Recruitment & Retention
1-800-627-3394

Membership recruitment/Retention
Recruitment & Retention
1-800-627-3394

Member transfers
Member Records
1-800-456-8410

Pre-retirement seminars & Material
Recruitment & Retention
1-800-627-3394