DOL Federal Benefits

As a permanent Federal worker, you will have generous vacation and holiday leave, retirement benefits and health benefits.

Annual Leave
Employees earn vacation or annual leave based on the length of their Federal service:

Up to 30 days of annual leave may be accumulated and carried over for use in future years. In addition, for those employees with military service upon proper verification, years of military service may be added to years of civilian service for purposes of leave accrual.

Sick Leave
Regardless of length of service, employees earn 13 days of sick leave each year. Unused sick leave accumulates indefinitely.

Paid Holidays
Federal employees receive 10 paid holidays each year:

Health Care Coverage
The Government's health benefit program has about 180 health plan options throughout the United States, including consumer-driven health care and preferred provider network options. At least a dozen plan choices are available to each employee, which allows for a broad choice so that employees can select the plan that best meets their own individual health care needs. While specific benefits vary among FEHB plans, none can impose a waiting period or require a medical exam to enroll in their plan.

Life Insurance
FEGLI is a group term life insurance program. It consists of Basic life insurance coverage and three options. In most cases, if you are a new Federal employee, you are automatically covered by Basic life insurance and your payroll office deducts premiums from your salary unless you waive the coverage. In addition to the Basic, there are three forms of Optional insurance that you can elect. (Standard, Additional, and Family). The program offers the opportunity to retain your coverage for your entire life.

Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS)
FERS is a three-part retirement plan and includes a social security benefit, a 401(k) type plan, and a defined benefit component based on years of employment and salary history. In addition, employees may make tax-deferred contributions to the TSP, and a portion is matched by the government.

Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)
With the Thrift Savings Plan, you can self-direct your retirement savings program through multiple investment options. This Plan is very similar to a 401(k) plan.

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
FSAs allow employees to increase their disposable income because the amounts they contribute are not subject to Federal income, FICA, State or local income taxes. The Federal Government offers both a Health Care FSA and a Dependent Care FSA. Employees can use the Health Care FSA for expenses that are tax-deductible, but not reimbursed by any other source, including out-of-pocket expenses and non-covered benefits under their FEHB plans. Some examples are non-covered dental services, lasik surgery, health plan deductibles, and co-payments and coinsurance. FSAs for dependent care are available for employees with dependent children or qualifying dependent adults when the care is necessary to allow the employee to work.

Long Term Care (LTC) Insurance
As a new employee, you have the opportunity to apply for long term care insurance under the Federal Program with minimal underwriting. However, a limited number of medical conditions will prevent a new employee from being approved for coverage. Long term care helps people to perform daily activities if they have an ongoing illness or disability. This Program offers a choice of benefits that can provide a variety of services, including but not limited to: nursing home care, assisted living facility care, adult day care and at home care. We offer the largest group long-term care insurance program in the country. As a new employee, you can apply by answering just a few simple questions. And you can tailor your benefits package to your own needs.

Dental/Vision Insurance - Beginning December 31, 2006
As a new employee, you have the opportunity to enroll in a dental or vision plan.  You can enroll as self-only, self and spouse or self and family.  There are several providers available for you to choose from.