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Benefits Information for Employees Who Resign and Accept a Float-Pool “Per Diem” Position after a Break-in-Service

The following is a summary of information regarding disposition of benefits for employees who voluntarily separate from benefits-eligible positions and are rehired as Float-Pool “Per Diem” employees with no benefits entitlement, following a break-in-service of 4 or more days.

Leave

If you have any accrued annual leave that is not used before the end of your employment, you will be paid for the accumulated annual leave in a lump sum.  You will receive this payment approximately 6-8 weeks after your separation. If you are entitled to be paid for other than regular annual leave, e.g., restored leave, a request for payment must be submitted to payroll.  See your administrative officer for further information.

You will not be paid for any sick leave you have accrued but not used.  However, if you return to a leave-eligible position in the Federal government at a future date, your accrued sick leave will be recredited to your sick leave account.

Reinstatement Eligibility

You may have reinstatement eligibility for Federal positions, depending upon the type of appointment you held prior to your departure.  Contact your HR specialist to discuss your employment options if you decide to seek employment in a non-float pool position in the future. 

Retirement

If you separate before being eligible for an immediate annuity, you have two options regarding your retirement contributions: you may request a refund of your deductions or you may wait to file a deferred annuity when you reach your minimum retirement age.

 Option 1: Refund

You may apply for a refund of your retirement contributions if you have been separated from Federal service for at least 31 days.  NIH/HR will provide you with the appropriate forms for application for refund of retirement deductions. 

Before you can receive a refund, you generally must notify your spouse and any former spouse that you have filed the application.  Also, you may be barred from receiving a refund if the refund would affect the court-ordered right of any spouse or former spouse to future benefits based on your service. 

If you were a CSRS employee and take a refund of your retirement contributions at separation, you can redeposit the refund (with interest) only if you return to a position that is covered by CSRS (offset) or FERS.  FERS employees who withdraw their contributions cannot redeposit them and will not receive credit for the service covered by the refund. 

Note for FERS transferees:  If you elected to transfer to FERS and qualify to have a portion of your annuity computed under CSRS rules, you may apply for a refund of your CSRS contributions only.  (You may redeposit the CSRS contributions according to CSRS deposit rule.)  By leaving your FERS contributions in the retirement fund, you will retain entitlement to a FERS deferred annuity.

Option 2: Deferred Annuity

If you have the qualifying years of creditable civilian service, have not withdrawn your contributions, and are not eligible for an immediate retirement benefit, you may be eligible for a deferred annuity after you attain your Minimum Retirement Age.  For age/service eligibility information and computation formulas, CSRS employees should consult the OPM pamphlet, Information for Separating CSRS Employees Who Are Not Eligible for an Immediate Annuity and FERS employees should review Information for Separating FERS Employees Who Are Not Eligible for an Immediate Annuity.

Thrift Savings Plan

Upon separation, if you have $200 or more in your account, you may decide to leave your TSP funds in your account or to withdraw them under one of the options described below.  For amounts over $5 but less than $200, TSP will pay your account balance to you automatically.

Option 1: Leaving TSP Funds in Your Account

If you decide to leave your TSP funds in your account, applicable earnings (or losses) will continue to be posted to your account.  You will not be able to make additional contributions, unless you are later rehired into a position that is eligible for participation in the TSP.

Option 2: Withdrawing Your Account

You have the following withdrawal options regarding vested* TSP accounts

Additional information regarding the options, processes and tax implications regarding TSP withdrawal is available in the TSP booklet Withdrawing Your TSP Account After Leaving Federal Service.

*Vesting requirements are applicable only to FERS employees who usually are vested after 3 years of service. For more information on vesting requirements, visit the TSP website.

Health Insurance

Enrollment in the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program terminates on the last day of the pay period during which you separate.  You then have a 31-day free extension of coverage.  You also may choose to continue FEHB coverage for a period of 18 months after your separation under group Temporary Continuation of Coverage (TCC).  If you take advantage of this group temporary coverage option, you must pay both the employee and government share of the health benefits premium plus an administrative charge of 2 percent of the premium. You can choose to enroll in the same plan you had at separation or any other plan, option, or type of enrollment for which you are eligible. You have 60 days from the date of separation to enroll in TCC. If you enroll after the 31-day free extension expires, your enrollment will be retroactive to the expiration of the 31-day free extension and you will be billed for the retroactive coverage

You also may choose to convert to an individual (nongroup) contract.  The conversion contract is available only from the carrier of the plan you are enrolled in when you separate.  However, the carrier must offer you a nongroup contract regardless of any health problems you or your family members may have.  If you continue your coverage under TCC, you will have an opportunity to convert to an individual contract at the end of the 18-month TCC period.  

Additional information about temporary continuation of health benefits is available in the pamphlet Temporary Continuation of Coverage under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.

Life Insurance

Life Insurance under the Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) program terminates on the last day of the pay period during which you separate.  You then have a 31-day free extension of coverage during which you may convert to an individual policy.

Long Term Care Insurance

Your coverage under the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) will continue as long as you continue to pay your premiums.  Your premium rate will not change. You will have to make arrangements to pay the premiums directly with LTC partners at 1-800-LTC-FEDS.