Employee Benefits - NIH Benefits Information - Did You Know? September 2008
What’s New?
Topics Of Interest:
- What Are My Leave Options For Childbirth Or Adoption? Can I Have Maternity Leave?
- What Happens To My Health Benefits Coverage If I’m In Leave Without Pay (LWOP) Status And Have Insufficient Salary To Cover The Cost?
- Where Can I Get Answers To Questions About My Social Security Benefits?
- In The Event Of My Death, How Will My Life Insurance Benefits Be Paid?
- Why Do I Need A myPay PIN?
Where Do I Go If I Have Questions About My Benefits?
1. BENEFITS CALENDAR OF EVENTS
2. FEDERAL EMPLOYEES HEALTH BENEFITS (FEHB) WELLNESS DAY – MAKE PLANS TO JOIN US!
Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Plans, NIH will be hosting an FEHB Wellness Day. Make plans to attend one or more seminars!
Speakers will be on hand to provide valuable information on a number of topics such as exercise for busy people, alleviating stress with humor, Long Term Care Insurance, and High Deductable Health Plans. The FEHB plan representatives will also provide blood pressure screenings, Body Mass Index evaluations, and seated massages. Additionally, they will be available to answer questions about their health plans.
3. NEW THRIFT SAVINGS PLAN (TSP) FEATURE ALLOWS YOU TO CUSTOMIZE YOUR USER ID!
You can now create a Custom User ID (TSP) to use instead of your 13-digit TSP account number to access your account on the TSP website. To do this, log into Account Access using your account number and password, then choose “Create/Modify Custom ID” from the Account Access menu. Your custom ID can be used only on the TSP website with your password. To access your account on the ThriftLine (TSP), you will still need your TSP account number and PIN.
4. WHAT ARE MY LEAVE OPTIONS FOR CHILDBIRTH OR ADOPTION? CAN I HAVE MATERNITY LEAVE?
There is no leave type as “Maternity or Paternity Leave” in the Federal Government, but other leave and work scheduling flexibilities are available during the time you need to be off work for the birth of a child or adoption. These flexibilities, including the Voluntary Leave Transfer Program, the Family Medical Leave Act, flexible schedules and teleworking, can assist you in meeting your work and family obligations. Please visit the websites for leave guidance for childbirth or adoption. If you still have questions after reading the information, you may contact your Administrative Officer.
5. WHAT HAPPENS TO MY HEALTH BENEFITS COVERAGE IF I’M IN LEAVE WITHOUT PAY (LWOP) STATUS AND HAVE INSUFFICIENT SALARY TO COVER THE COST?
Your coverage will continue for up to 365 days of non-pay status. You have the option of terminating your coverage during the period of non-pay status or continuing the coverage. If you elect to continue your coverage, you will incur a debt or must make direct payments to DFAS while in non-pay status. You will need to sign a Notice of Intent Agreement (.pdf). Please notify your benefits contact for additional information. The U.S. Office of Personnel Management provides additional information on LWOP and its impact on Federal benefits.
6. WHERE CAN I GET ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ABOUT MY SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS?
The online Social Security Retirement Planner provides information about your benefits and points out things you should consider for the future. The benefit calculator (SSA) allows you to test out different retirement ages and future earning amounts. You can find out what happens if you work after you retire and learn how certain types of earnings and pensions can affect your benefits. If you are near retirement, you can discover your retirement options and obtain instructions on how to apply for benefits. For specific questions, contact the Social Security Administration office at 1-800-772-1213 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. You can find a local office using the Social Security Office Locator.
7. IN THE EVENT OF MY DEATH, HOW WILL MY LIFE INSURANCE BENEFITS BE PAID?
When you die, the Office of Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (OFEGLI) will pay life insurance benefits in a particular order (OPM) that is set by law.
8. WHY DO I NEED A myPAY PIN?
It is very important to have access to your myPay account so that you can view your Leave and Earnings Statement each pay day. You must also use myPay to make changes to your home address, TSP contributions, direct deposit of pay, allotments, and Federal and state tax withholdings. Additionally, all open season health insurance elections must be accomplished using myPay. If you have misplaced your myPay PIN, you may request a new one in one of two ways. One of which is by selecting “New Pin” on the myPay (DFAS) web site. Please make sure you use the “Go” button to finalize your request. Using this method your PIN will be mailed to your current address of record within 7 to 10 business days.
If you need it sooner, your second option is to send a fax to 216-367-3549. You will need to include in your request your name, a daytime phone number, and a copy of your NIH ID, and you must sign the fax. Upon receiving your fax, the Defense Finance & Accounting Service (DFAS) will reset your PIN using the last 5 numbers of your SSN as your temporary PIN. You will then be able to log in within 3 days using your temporary PIN. Upon logging in, you will be prompted to reset your PIN.
If you encounter problems with your PIN or technical issues using myPay (DFAS), contact the DFAS Centralized Customer Support Unit toll-free at 1-888-332-7411. This support line is available Monday through Friday, 7:00 A.M. to 7:30 P.M. Eastern Standard Time. The Centralized Customer Support Unit can provide assistance on how to use the options available to you in myPay. The Centralized Customer Support Unit will also provide support for establishing and changing your PIN.
9. HOW CAN I GET IN TOUCH WITH MY BENEFITS CONTACT?
Your contact in the Benefits and Payroll Liaison Branch will be able to help you with a variety of issues pertaining to the health and life insurance programs, designating beneficiaries, the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), calculating your retirement annuity estimate, working with you to pay a redeposit for prior civilian service if you previously withdrew your retirement funds, paying a deposit for prior civilian or military service for which retirement deductions were not withheld, etc. To find your benefits contact, review our list of contacts. In addition, the Benefits and Payroll Liaison Branch (BPLB) web site has a wealth of information regarding your Federal benefits. Human resource topics not related to your benefits are normally handled by your Client Services Division HR Representative.
