5 Employee Benefits
510 Leave
511 General
511.1 Administration Policy
511.2 Responsibilities
511.3 Eligibility
511.4 Unscheduled Absence
512 Annual Leave
512.1 General
512.2 Determining Annual Leave Category
512.3 Accrual and Crediting
512.4 Authorizing Annual Leave
512.5 Leave Charge Information
512.6 Vacation Planning and Special Programs
512.7 Separation Adjustments
512.8 Transfers
512.9 Recrediting Annual Leave
513 Sick Leave
513.1 Purpose
513.2 Accrual and Crediting
513.3 Authorizing Sick Leave
513.4 Charging Sick Leave
513.5 Advanced Sick Leave
513.6 Leave Charge Adjustments
513.7 Transfer or Reemployment
513.8 Retirements or Separations
513.9 Collection for Unearned Sick Leave
514 Leave Without Pay
514.1 Essential Features
514.2 Policy
514.3 Authority to Approve
514.4 Acceptable Reasons and Instructions
514.5 Forms Required
515 Absence for Family Care or Illness of Employee
515.1 Purpose
515.2 Definitions
515.3 Eligibility
515.4 Leave Requirements
515.5 Notice and Documentation
515.6 Intermittent Leave or Reduced Schedule
515.7 Return to Position
515.8 Benefits
515.9 Family Leave Poster
516 Absences for Court–Related Service
516.1 General
516.2 Court Leave
516.3 Conditions Affecting Court–Related Service
516.4 Fees
516.5 Official Duty
516.6 Witness Service in a Nonofficial Capacity on Behalf of a Private Party
517 Paid Military Leave
517.1 General
517.2 Eligibility
517.3 Procedures
517.4 Military Leave Allowances
517.5 Leave Charge Information
517.6 Conflict With Work Schedule
517.7 Records Control
518 Holiday Leave
518.1 Observed Holidays
518.2 Holidays on Nonscheduled Workdays
518.3 Holidays on Scheduled Workdays
518.4 Eligibility for Holiday Pay
518.5 Provisions for Rural Carriers and Substitutes
518.6 Provisions for Postmasters
519 Administrative Leave
519.1 Definition
519.2 Special Conditions
519.3 Civil Participation
519.4 National Day of Observance
519.5 Medical Events
519.6 Special Events — Postal Service Invitation
519.7 Nonbargaining Unit Personal Absence
520 Health Benefits Program
521 Administration and Eligibility
521.1 General
521.2 Eligible Employees
521.3 Employees Not Eligible
521.4 Family Member Eligibility
521.5 Relatives Not Eligible
521.6 Former Spouses
521.7 Temporary Continuation of Coverage
521.8 Postal Service Health Benefits Education Program
522 Health Insurance Plans Available
522.1 Types of Participating Plans
522.2 Description of Participating Plans
523 Election Procedures
523.1 Initial
523.2 Employee Declines to Enroll
523.3 Late Enrollment or Change in Enrollment
523.4 Enrollment by Proxy
523.5 Enrollment in an Employee Organization Plan
523.6 Enrollment by a Former Spouse
524 Enrollment
524.1 Types of Enrollment
524.2 Husband and Wife Both Eligible to Enroll
524.3 Dual Coverage Restriction
524.4 Correction of Erroneous Enrollment
524.5 Enrollment or Change in Enrollment
524.6 Effective Date of Enrollment or Enrollment Change
524.7 Termination of Enrollment
524.8 Cost of Enrollment
524.9 Enrollments for Former Spouses
525 Special Circumstances Affecting Health Insurance Coverage
525.1 Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs
525.2 Employees in Nonpay Status
525.3 Military Service
525.4 Coverage Into Retirement
525.5 Death of an Employee
525.6 Transfer to or From Overseas Post of Duty
525.7 Move Outside Service Area of a Comprehensive Plan
525.8 Employment Transfer
526 Self–Support Determinations
526.1 Physical and Mental Incapacity Requirement
526.2 Financial Dependency
526.3 Medical Requirement
526.4 Medical Determinations
526.5 Procedures for Notifying the Health Benefits Plan
527 Privacy Act Considerations
527.1 Disclosure
527.2 Maintenance
527.3 Privacy Act Requests
528 Employee Appeals
528.1 Appeal of Refusal to Allow Enrollment or Change of Enrollment
528.2 Appeal of Claim Denial
530 Life Insurance Program
531 Administration and Eligibility
531.1 General
531.2 Eligible Employees
531.3 Exclusions
532 Coverage
532.1 Based on Pay
532.2 Amount
533 Cost, Payment, Withholdings
533.1 Basic Insurance Cost
533.2 Optional Insurance
534 Special Circumstances Affecting Coverage
534.1 LWOP
534.2 Service in Employee Organization
534.3 Employees Receiving OWCP Benefits
534.4 Living Benefits
534.5 Assignment of Life Insurance
534.6 Erroneous Enrollments
535 Actions
535.1 Acquiring Coverage
535.2 Waiver of Basic Insurance
535.3 Declination of Optional Insurance
535.4 Effect of Waiver or Declination
535.5 Cancellation of Insurance Coverage
535.6 Termination
535.7 Conversion
535.8 Canceling Waivers or Declinations
535.9 Exceptions for Canceling a Declination of Optional Insurance
536 Retirement
536.1 Requirements for Continuance
536.2 Cost
536.3 Reduction After Retirement
536.4 Living Benefits
536.5 Assignment of Life Insurance
537 Reemployed Annuitants
537.1 Coverage
537.2 Benefits
537.3 Designation of Beneficiary
538 Beneficiaries, Benefits Payable, Claims
538.1 Beneficiaries
538.2 Benefits Payable
538.3 Claims
539 Insurance Forms
539.1 Filing
539.2 Privacy Act Considerations
540 Injury Compensation Program
541 Overview
541.1 Background
541.2 Definitions
541.3 Forms
542 FECA Claim Requirements
542.1 Employee Claims for Injury or Illness
542.2 Evidence Required
542.3 Penalties
543 Employee Rights
543.1 Waiver of Compensation Rights
543.2 Withdrawal of Claim
543.3 Medical Care
543.4 Continuation of Regular Pay or Leave for Disabling Injuries
544 Reporting Procedures
544.1 Responsibilities
544.2 Criteria and Time Limits
545 Control Office or Control Point Claim Management Responsibility
545.1 General
545.2 Authorizing Examination and/or Treatment With Form CA–16
545.3 Return to Work Responsibility
545.4 Implementing Medical Care
545.5 Monitoring the Employee’s Medical Care
545.6 Fitness-for-Duty Examinations
545.7 Continuation of Pay by the Postal Service
545.8 Compensation by OWCP for Disability
545.9 Managing Extended Leave Cases
546 Reassignment or Reemployment of Employees Injured on Duty
546.1 Law
546.2 Collective Bargaining Agreements
546.3 Restoration Rights
546.4 Employee Appeal Rights
546.5 Retirement Considerations
546.6 Reassignment and Reemployment Procedures
547 Third Party Liability
547.1 Purpose
547.2 Background
547.3 Definitions and Use of Terms
547.4 Responsibility
547.5 Third Party Recovery Action
547.6 Release of Information
547.7 Settlement of Claims
547.8 Third Party Recovery Action — Court Action
550 Unemployment Compensation
551 Overview
551.1 Legal Guidelines
551.2 Qualification Factors
551.3 Disqualification Factors
551.4 Information to State Employment Security Agencies
552 Responsibilities
552.1 Headquarters
552.2 Areas
552.3 State Coordinators
552.4 Installation Heads
552.5 Eagan Accounting Service Center
553 Explanation of Forms and Procedures
553.1 Postal Service Procedures
553.2 State Agency Forms and Procedures
554 Appeals
554.1 State Law Requirements
554.2 Initial Level Appeals by Claimants
554.3 Initial Level Appeals by the Postal Service
554.4 Postal Service Participation in Appeals
554.5 Appeals (Second Level) to State Appellate Board
554.6 Postal Service Appeals to State Courts
560 Civil Service Retirement Program
561 General
561.1 Scope
561.2 Administration
561.3 Employees Covered
561.4 CSRS Offset
561.5 Exclusions
562 Creditable Service
562.1 General
562.2 Federal Civilian Service
562.3 Military Service
562.4 Credit For Unused Sick Leave
562.5 Computing Total Length of Service
563 Annuities — Requirements and Procedures
563.1 General Requirements
563.2 Requirements and Procedures by Type of Separation
563.3 Deferred Annuity
564 Types of Annuities
564.1 Annuity Without Survivor Benefits
564.2 Annuity with Survivor Benefits
564.3 Election of Annuity
565 Employee’s Retirement Account
565.1 Deductions from Current Earnings
565.2 Deposits for Prior Service
565.3 Redeposits
565.4 Voluntary Contributions
565.5 Refund of Deductions
566 Annuity Computation
566.1 Effective Dates
566.2 Factors Affecting Annuity Computations
566.3 General Formula
566.4 Disability Retirement
566.5 Reemployed Annuitants, Additional Annuity
566.6 Alternative Form of Annuity/Payment of Lump–Sum Credit
567 Death Benefits — Death in Service
567.1 Survivor Annuity
567.2 Lump–Sum Benefit
567.3 Procedure Upon Death of an Employee or Annuitant
568 Management–Initiated Disability Retirement Procedures
568.1 General
568.2 OPM Action
569 General Retirement Information
569.1 Retirement Counseling
569.2 Retirement Forms
569.3 Retirement Account Information
569.4 Information Source for Separated or Retired Employees
569.5 Information Source for Employees
569.6 Federal Income Tax
569.7 Privacy Act Considerations
570 Social Security and Medicare
571 General Information
571.1 Overview
571.2 Social Security
571.3 Medicare
572 Coverage
572.1 Employees Covered
572.2 Exclusions From Social Security and Medicare
572.3 FERS Employees
573 Social Security and Medicare Contributions
573.1 Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) Taxes
573.2 Allowances Not Subject to FICA Taxes
574 Quarters of Coverage
574.1 Social Security Quarter of Coverage
574.2 Federal Quarter of Coverage (Medicare)
574.3 Insured Status
574.4 Coverage Requirements for Benefits
575 Benefits
575.1 Social Security
575.2 Medicare (Hospital and Medical)
575.3 Events That Can Affect Benefits
575.4 Elimination of Retirement Windfall Benefits
575.5 Computation of Benefits
575.6 Government Pension Offset
580 Federal Employees Retirement System
581 General
581.1 Scope
581.2 Administration
581.3 Employees Covered
581.4 Exclusions
581.5 Employees Covered
581.6 Exclusions
581.7 Employees Covered
581.8 Exclusions
582 Creditable Service
582.1 General
582.2 Deductions Refunded
582.3 Part-Time Service
582.4 Employee Receiving OWCP Benefits
582.5 Employee Restored After Erroneous Removal or Suspension
582.6 Employee Granted LWOP to Serve Full-Time in Employee Organizations
582.7 Military Service
582.8 Transfers to FERS
583 Annuities
583.1 General Requirements
583.2 Requirements and Procedures by Types of Separations
583.3 Deferred Annuity
584 Types of Annuities
584.1 Annuity Without Survivor Benefits
584.2 Annuity With Survivor Benefits
584.3 Election of Annuity
585 Employee’s Retirement Account
585.1 Deduction From Current Earnings
585.2 Percentages Withheld
585.3 Service Credit Deposit
585.4 Redeposits
585.5 Refund of Deductions
586 Annuity Computation
586.1 Effective Date
586.2 Factors Affecting Annuity Computations
586.3 Formula
586.4 Transferees to FERS
586.5 Disability Retirement
586.6 Reemployed Annuitants — Additional Annuity
586.7 Alternative Form of Annuity
586.8 Cost–of–Living Adjustments (COLA)
587 Death Benefits — Death in Service
587.1 Basic Employee Death Benefit
587.2 Survivor Benefit — Spousal
587.3 Refund of Contributions
587.4 Former Spouse(s)
587.5 Child Annuities
587.6 Procedures Upon Death of an Employee
588 Management-Initiated Disability Retirement Procedures
588.1 General
588.2 Procedures
588.3 Processing by OPM
588.4 Cancellation of Retirement
588.5 Employee’s Status Pending OPM’s Decision
589 General Retirement Information
589.1 Retirement Counseling
589.2 Retirement Forms
589.3 Information Source for Separated or Retired Employees
589.4 Information Source for Employees
589.5 Federal Income Tax
589.6 Privacy Act Considerations
590 Thrift Savings Plan
591 Overview
591.1 Description
591.2 Enrollment
591.3 Eligibility to Contribute
592 Contributions
592.1 Basic Pay
592.2 Contribution Rates
592.3 Maximum Contribution Rates
592.4 Automatic Contributions
592.5 Matching Contributions
592.6 Vesting of Contributions
592.7 Maximum Contribution Amount
592.8 Taxes
592.9 Insufficient Earnings
593 Investments
593.1 Funds Available
593.2 Investment Options
593.3 Participant Statements
594 Adjustments
594.1 Responsibility
594.2 Elections Not Processed
594.3 Over-deductions
594.4 Under-deductions
594.5 Resuming and Make-up Contributions When Returning from Military Leave
594.6 Erroneous Retirement System
594.7 Back-Pay Awards
594.8 Claim Procedure
595 Termination of Contributions
595.1 Definition
595.2 Submissions
595.3 Effective Date
596 Loans
596.1 Eligibility
596.2 Types of Loans
596.3 Applications
596.4 Loan Repayment
597 Withdrawal of Funds
597.1 Eligibility
597.2 Withdrawals upon Separation
597.3 In-Service Withdrawals
597.4 Death
597.5 Withdrawal Packages
597.6 Additional Information
597.7 Return to Federal Service
598 Court Orders
598.1 Types
598.2 Requirements
598.3 Notification
598.4 Effect on Withdrawal Options
598.5 Effect on Loans
598.6 Address
598.7 Additional Information
599 TSP Contact Mailing and Fax Information
599.1 Forms and General Correspondence
599.2 Loan Payments
599.3 Transfers or Rollovers of Funds to the TSP
599.4 Court Orders and Legal Process Actions
599.5 Death Benefits Claims
599.6 Federal Tax Levies and Criminal Restitution Orders
