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Benefits Information for New Federal Employees

As a new Federal employee you need access to information regarding the benefits the Federal Government offers. The following provides information concerning the Federal Employees' Health Benefits (FEHB) Program, Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) Program, Federal Employees' Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) program, the Federal Retirement System, Designations of Beneficiary, the Long-Term Care (LTC) Program, the Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) Program, and the Federal Leave Program.

Any questions concerning these benefits should be directed to the Benefits and Payroll Liaison Branch (BPLB) at the following address:

Benefits and Payroll Liaison Branch
Workforce Relations Division
OHR/OM/OD/NIH/DHHS
31 Center Drive
Room B3C23, MSC 2215
Bethesda, MD 20892-2215
Phone: (301) 496-4556
FAX: (301) 402-5506
http://hr.od.nih.gov/Benefits/default.htm

Employees who are deaf or hard of hearing may contact us through the Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS), 1-800-877-8339. You may also link to valuable Benefits information at http://www.opm.gov/Insure/health/enrollment/new_employees.asp.

To locate your servicing Benefits Contact, go to http://hr.od.nih.gov/Benefits/BenefitsContacts.htm.

Health Insurance – FEHB

The FEHB program is a voluntary health insurance program offered to permanent Federal employees and employees with appointments for more than one year. The program offers coverage under fee-for-service plans and health maintenance organizations (HMO) plans.

A summary of available plans and brochures from which you may choose are available at: http://www.opm.gov/insure/health/index.asp. If you do not enroll in FEHB within 60 calendar days of your appointment, your next opportunity to enroll will be during open season that usually runs from mid-November to early December each year or you must experience a Qualifying Life Event (QLE). Details on QLE’s can be found at (http://www.opm.gov/insure/health/planinfo/qle.asp).

Premium Conversion is a “pre-tax” arrangement under which the part of your salary that pays for health insurance premiums will be non-taxable. This means that you save on Federal income tax, and social security and Medicare taxes. In most cases, you will also save on State income tax and local income tax. If you enroll in health insurance, you will be automatically enrolled in premium conversion. While most employees will want this option, there may be circumstances where you may wish to waive this option.

For more information, please refer to: http://www.opm.gov/insure/health/faq/premconversion/04.asp.

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Federal Employees' Dental and Vision Insurance Program - FEDVIP

FEDVIP is a voluntary program that provides you with supplemental dental and/or vision insurance coverage. Premiums are withheld on a pre-tax basis and you have a choice of coverage for yourself, yourself plus one, or yourself and all your family members.

A summary of available plans and brochures from which you may choose are available at: http://www.opm.gov/insure/dental/chooseindex.asp.

For more information and to apply online, please visit http://www.BENEFEDS.com or call 1-877-888-FEDS.

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Life Insurance – FEGLI

The FEGLI program is a voluntary term life insurance program offered to permanent employees and employees with appointments for more than one year. The program offers Basic Life coverage, Standard Option (Option A), Additional Option (Option B) and Family Option (Option C).

Special note for re-hired Federal employees:

The FEGLI Program booklet describes the options available to you and the cost for those benefits. If you do not return your form within 31 calendar days of your appointment, you must meet the eligibility requirements described in the FEGLI booklet to enroll or change your enrollment in the future. There are no regularly scheduled open seasons for life insurance.

For more information, please refer to: http://hr.od.nih.gov/Benefits/insurance.htm#life.

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Federal Government Retirement System

The Federal Government has two different retirement systems: the Federal Employees’ Retirement System (FERS) and the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). Your government retirement system is automatic and requires no elections from you. Your contribution to the retirement system will be automatically deducted from your paycheck. Any questions you have concerning your retirement plan may be directed to the BPLB.

Returning employees eligible for reentry into CSRS, either with or without Social Security coverage, may choose coverage under FERS; such an election must be made during the first six months after rehire. More information about transfer considerations can be found at http://www.opm.gov/retire/pre/election/handbook/h_toc.htm.

Prior Federal service creditable for retirement purposes:

Social Security Benefits

Social Security is a national system of old age, survivor and disability insurance (OASDI) cash benefits. The program’s basic plan is a simple one: During working years, employees, their employers, and self-employed persons pay Social Security taxes; when their earnings stop or are reduced due to retirement, severe disability, or the death of an employee, monthly cash benefits are paid to replace part of the earnings the employee and the family have lost.

For more information, please refer to www.ssa.gov.

Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)

TSP is a tax deferred retirement savings plan. Contributions to TSP are optional, but they are a major component of the retirement system. Employees covered under both FERS and CSRS are eligible to contribute to TSP. After a waiting period, FERS employees are also eligible for Agency contributions to their TSP accounts, including an automatic 1% Agency contribution and potential matching contributions.

Information about TSP can be found at www.tsp.gov.

Non-appropriated Fund Service

If you performed service with a non-appropriated fund instrumentality (NAFI) within the past year and you are vested in the NAFI retirement plan, you may have a 30-calendar-day opportunity to elect to continue coverage under the NAFI plan. Please contact BPLB for further information about this election.

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Designation of Beneficiary

Your completion of these forms is optional, and if not completed, in the event of death, any monies will be paid according to the normal order of precedence, as follows:

  1. Spouse, if any.
  2. Otherwise to children in equal shares, if any.
  3. Otherwise to parents in equal shares, if living.
  4. Otherwise to executor of the estate, if any.
  5. Otherwise to your next of kin under applicable state law.

If you wish money to be paid in a manner and/or to individuals not listed in the order of precedence shown above, you should complete one or all of these forms, as you deem appropriate. Please note that all of the forms require two witnesses to your signature. Anyone can sign as a witness as long as they are not a named beneficiary. Forms must be free of any erasures or changes. Beneficiary forms can be found at http://www.opm.gov/insure/life/beneficiary/designate.asp.

Retirement - (SF-2808/3102) this form is used if you wish to designate a specific beneficiary for lump sum benefits in the event you leave no spouse or children eligible for survivor benefits.

TSP – The TSP-3 is for your TSP account. This form should NOT be submitted to the TSP Service office until AFTER you receive account information.

FEGLI - (SF-2823) this form is for any life insurance benefit payable.

Unpaid Compensation - (SF-1152) this form is for any unpaid compensation (for example final paycheck, any accrued annual leave, etc.) payable by the Department of Health & Human Services.

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Federal Long Term Care Insurance

The Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) provides services including home care, adult day care, and facility care. They are many plan features to choose from. If you are newly employed in a position that conveys eligibility for FEHB coverage, you can apply for long-term care insurance, even if you don’t enroll in the FEHB Program.

For more information and the on-line application, please visit www.LTCFEDS.com or call 1-800-LTC-FEDS. Applications are submitted to the LTC Partners, not BPLB.

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Flexible Spending Accounts

The Federal Flexible Spending Accounts Program (FSAFeds) allows you to pay for certain health and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars. You may choose to make a voluntary allotment from your salary to your FSAFEDS account(s). You will not pay employment or income taxes on your allotments and your employing agency also avoids paying employment taxes. Additionally, the NIH has agreed to pay the administrative fee for these accounts.

Three FSAs are being offered to eligible employees:

Federal employees eligible for FEHB may enroll in the HCFSA. However, if you are enrolled in a High Deductible Health Plans with a Health Savings Account, you cannot enroll in a HCFSA. You have the option of electing a LEX HCFSA.

Most Federal employees may enroll in a DCFSA, even if they are not eligible for FEHB.

For more information and the on-line application please visit www.FSAFEDS.com or call 1-877-FSA-FEDS. Applications are submitted to the FSA administrator, not BPLB.

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Federal Leave Programs

Annual Leave

Annual leave is available for vacations or personal time. New employees earn 4 hours of annual leave bi-weekly for a total of 13 days per year. Annual leave accrual increases to 6 hours bi-weekly after 3 years of Federal service, and 8 hours bi-weekly after 15 years of Federal service. Part time employees earn annual leave on a pro-rated basis. In addition, there are 10 paid holidays per year. Additional information about annual leave can be found at http://www.opm.gov/oca/leave/HTML/ANNUAL.HTM.

Sick Leave

Sick leave is available for personal medical needs, care of a family member, and adoption related purposes. Federal employees earn 4 hours of sick leave bi-weekly for a total of 13 days per year. Part time employees earn sick leave on a pro-rated basis. Additional information about sick leave can be found at http://www.opm.gov/oca/leave/HTML/sicklv.htm.

Voluntary Leave Transfer Program (VLTP)

One of the many work and family/life services available to NIH employees is the Voluntary Leave Transfer Program (VLTP). This program gives employees additional flexibility for balancing work and family needs through greater accessibility to leave. It allows participating Federal employees to share their accrued annual leave with other employees who are faced with economic hardship because of insufficient leave to cover a medical or family medical emergency.

Additional information about VLTP can be found at http://intrahr.od.nih.gov/vltp/default.htm.

For information on other leave programs, please visit our web site at http://hr.od.nih.gov/LeaveWSHoliday/default.htm#leave.

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