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By: FEDweek StaffOPM has reminded agencies of several changes affecting federal employee pay and benefits in shutdown situations that were enacted following the record-setting partial government shutdown over late 2018-early 2019.
In a benefits administration letter, OPM noted that employees who are put on unpaid furloughs due to a lapse of agency funding are now guaranteed to receive back pay. Previously, such employees later were paid as if they had worked as a matter of practice but that was not a requirement in law. Those who stayed on the job but without pay already were guaranteed back pay.
OPM also noted that under the 2020 defense budget law and rules it issued last year, those either furloughed or working without pay are guaranteed they will not lose FEDVIP or FLTCIP insurance coverage due to non-payment of premiums, which are deducted from pay under the former program and also are in the large majority of cases in the latter. “Coverage may not be canceled because of nonpayment of premiums or other periodic charges due to such a lapse,” it says.
The law previously guaranteed that FEHB and FEGLI insurance coverage would continue with premiums to be paid from back pay once funding lapse ends and that now applies to the other two insurance programs, as well, OPM said.
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