Pay & Leave

Reservists / Military Duty

Reservists Called to Active Military Duty

If you are a USDA REE employee called to active military duty the information found at the links listed below will help you with decisions you will need to make; processes necessary to ensure the benefits you are eligible for continue; and what happens when you return. Upon being notified you have been called to active duty, notify your supervisor immediately. Read the information provided at the following links.

1. “Employment Rights and Benefits of Federal Civilian employees Who Perform Active Military Duty”
2. “Question and Answers”

Reservist/Employee:

1. Complete the form “Election of Benefits Coverage For Employees Called to Active Military Duty”
2. Send the completed forms along with a copy of your military orders to your supervisor or personnel contact.

Location/Field Office:

• Obtain a copy of military orders from employee
  
  
• Complete an SF-52 SF-52 Requests for LWOP or Separation (Provide in remarks section of SF-52, mailing address for court garnishment cases.)
  
  
• Verify that reservist completed USDA Form, "Election of Benefits Coverage for Employees Called to Active Military Duty" and submit with LWOP action. This form covers FEHB, Lump-Sum Annual Leave and Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) Loan payment decisions.
  
  
• Verify the employee's STAR and NFC Leave balances and have timekeeper complete a leave audit if balances do not agree.

Human Resources:

• Ensure that LWOP or Separation is documented on an SF-52 and a copy of the Military orders and the "Election of Benefits Coverage for Employees Called to Active Military Duty form is attached.
  
  
• Process information as requested on Election of Benefits Form.
  
  
• Review employee's NFC record for FEHB and FEGLI enrollments/entitlements.

Human Resources Processing Instructions:

• LWOP: Nature of Action Code 473/LWOP-US and Legal Authorities Q3K/5 CFR 353 and ZJW/Operation Enduring Freedom. (Note: ZJW authority has been established to enable OPM and agencies to identify reservists who are involved in the effort under Operation Enduring Freedom.)
  
  
• Separations. Nature of Action Code 353/Separation-US, and legal authorities Q3K/5 CFR 353 and ZJW/Operation Enduring Freedom.

• Prior to processing this action in EPIC, the Uniform Status code should be verified in IRIS 122 page 2.  Uniform status codes are as follows:  Ready Reserve (1); Stand-by Reserve (2); National Guard (3).  If there is no uniform status code on the record, military leave will not be paid.

• The following remark is used if needed:

P20 – “Position and pay reflect the following actions effective during employee’s absence: (list actions).”    This is used in cases where Within Grades, Promotions and other pay actions were effective during the LWOP-US. 

Note:  Absence to perform duty with the uniformed services does not impact service dates; time is credited for length of service purposes as though the employee had remained in pay or duty status. (eg WGIs, Probationary or Trial periods, tenure, and SCD dates.) 

Health Benefits (FEHB)

USDA employees called to more than 30 days of active duty in support of a contingency operation will have their premiums paid in full by their agency for up to 18 months. Enter remarks code B66 for those reservists with FEHB coverage while absent for reasons related to military duty. B66: "Health benefits coverage will continue for 18 months unless you elect to terminate coverage."

SF-52, B66: "Health benefits coverage will continue for 18 months unless you elect to terminate coverage." USDA employees called to more than 30 days of active duty in support of a contingency operation will have their premiums paid in full by their agency. Coverage will need to be manually terminated after 18 months (548 calendar days in LWOP-US status). The 18 month period begins the day the employee is placed on LWOP-US. This applies even if part of the LWOP-US is covered by paid leave. This could happen because employees eligible for LWOP-US do not have to return to duty to be paid leave. NFC is not currently set up to terminate automatically, but is in the process of making the requisite programming changes. Until notified, it is the agencies responsibility to monitor and terminate coverage. Employees returning from military leave may work as little as one day, be recalled to active duty in the military, and begin a new 18 month period during which the FEHB costs will be paid by the agency.

Life Insurance (FEGLI)

For those reservists with FEGLI coverage, coverage will continue for 12 months in nonpay status without charge to the employee. Enter Remarks code B72 for employees to continue enrollment in FEGLI enrollment. B72: "Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance coverage continues until a reservist's time in nonpay status totals 12 months".

WGI

The system will automatically process a WGI as long as the counters are set to zero. Check TINQ and zero those counters prior to WGI due date in order for the WGI to process automatically.

Return To Duty. When the reservist returns to civilian employment, the Return to Duty personnel action must be documented with Nature of Action Code 292/RTD, and legal authorities Q3K/5 CFR 353 and ZJW/Operation Enduring Freedom.

Garnishments. Check with File Room via e-mail to determine if employee has a garnishment on file. If so, File Room will notify the courts that employee has been called for military service.

CONTACTS. For further information on employment rights and benefits of civilian Federal employees who perform active military duty, contact the Retirement and Benefits Staff (301) 504-1512.

Additional Web sites for both employees and Agency Representatives:

Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) Employee Info:

Fact Sheet “TSP Benefits That Apply to Members of the Military Who Return to Federal Civilian Service http://www.tsp.gov/forms/oc95-5.pdf

Frequently Asked Questions for Members of the Military http://www.tsp.gov/faq/faq9.html

TSP Loan Program (see pages 19-21): http://www.tsp.gov/forms/tspbk04.pdf

TSP Agency Rep Info:

TSP Bulletin 02-7 Thrift Savings Plan Participation of Individuals Who Return to Civilian Service or Pay Status Following Military Service: http://www.tsp.gov/cgi-bin/byteserver.cgi/bulletins/02-7.pdf

Determining “Immediate” Makeup Agency Matching contributions:
http://www.tsp.gov/bulletins/02-7att2.pdf

TSP Loan Program (see pages 19-21): http://tsp.gov/forms/tspbk04.pdf

Federal Employees' Health Benefits (FEHB) Employee and Agency Rep Info:

FEHB Handbook Military Service: http://www.opm.gov/insure/handbook/fehb27.asp

Health Benefits Coverage Under the FEHB Program for Federal Civilian Employees Called to Active Duty Service
http://www.opm.gov/insure/health/eligibility/reservists.asp

Frequently Asked Questions About FEHB for Federal Civilian Employees Who Perform Active Military Duty
http://www.opm.gov/insure/health/qa/reservists.asp

USDA employees will have their premiums paid in full for 18 months while on LWOP or separated to perform active duty.

Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) Employee and Agency Rep Info:

If You Are Called Up to Active Duty: http://www.opm.gov/insure/life/calledup.asp

Military Leave Employee and Agency Rep Info:

Office of Personnel Management - Military Leave: http://www.opm.gov/oca/leave/html/military.htm

Frequently Asked Questions: http://www.opm.gov/oca/leave/html/MILQA.asp

Long Term Care:

Contact Information: http://www.ltcfeds.com

Updated : 02/22/2008