What's inside
Written by our veteran team of experts, this brand new 2024 Federal Employees Handbook contains the very latest critical information on your federal pay and benefits and workplace policies and will help you take full advantage of your opportunities and avoid costly mistakes.
Overview: Pay and Other Compensation, Retirement, Health Insurance, Government Management
Chapter 1: Pay Systems
General Schedule
Wage System
Senior Executive Service
Other Major Salary Systems
Chapter 2: Pay and Compensation Policies
Administratively Uncontrollable Overtime
Availability Premium Pay
Awards
Creditability of Different Types of Pay in Pay Actions and Benefits
Danger Pay and Post Differentials
Deductions from Pay
Environmental Differential Premium Pay
Evacuation Payments
Extended Assignment Incentives
Flexible Spending Accounts
Foreign Language Pay
Grade Retention
Hazardous Duty Premium Pay
Holiday Premium Pay
Hostile Fire Pay
Lump-Sum Payments for Annual Leave
Night Premium Pay
On-Call Duty
Overseas Allowances
Overtime
Pay Limits
Pay Retention
Pay Upon Promotion
Physicians Comparability Allowances
Recruitment, Relocation and Retention Payments
Severance Pay
Special Rates
Standby Premium Pay
Student Loan Repayments
Sunday Premium Pay
Uniform Allowances
Waivers of Collections
Within-Grade Increases
Chapter 3: General Employment and Workplace Policies
Adoption Benefits
AIDS/HIV
Alternative Work Schedules
Child Care
Combat Zone Assignments
Combined Federal Campaign
Court Orders
Death Benefits Upon Death in the Line of Duty
Disabilities
Disciplinary Actions
Discrimination
Domestic Partners
Educational Credentials
Emergency Procedures
Employee Assistance Programs
Financial Claims
Furloughs
Garnishment
Genetic Information
Health and Fitness Programs
Hiring
Labor-Management Relations
Liability Insurance
Merit System Principles
Obtaining Personnel Records
Official Duty Station
Part-Time Employment
Performance Appraisals
Position Classification
Probationary Period
Professional Credentials
Prohibited Personnel Practices
Promotion and Internal Placement
Public Transit Subsidies
Reinstatement Eligibility
Security Clearances
Separation Before Retirement Eligibility
Telework
Training
Transfers
Use of Office Equipment for Personal Purposes
Violence in the Workplace
Virus Policies
Chapter 4: Alternative Personnel Policies
General Pay Flexibilities
Pay Flexibilities for General Schedule Only
Pay Flexibilities for Wage System Only
Personnel Flexibilities
Demonstration Projects
Alternative Hiring Practices
Chapter 5: Employment Restrictions
Dual Employment
Ethics Policies
Gift Policies
Political Activities
Chapter 6: Veterans’ Rights
Veterans’ Preference in Hiring
Special Appointing Authorities
Reductions-in-Force
Restoration After Uniformed Service
Benefits on Performance of Active Duty
Redress and Appeal Rights
Chapter 7: Workplace Injuries and Illnesses
Medical Benefits
Compensation for Temporary Total Disability
Compensation for Permanent Effects of Injury
Death Benefits
Job Restoration Rights
Status Upon Recovery
RIF Status
Placement in Other Agencies
Disability Retirement Eligibility
Appeal Rights
Chapter 8: Downsizing and Restructuring Policies
Buyouts
Reductions-in-Force
Early Retirement
Severance Pay in RIFs
Unemployment Compensation
Chapter 9: Appeal Rights and Procedures
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Federal Labor Relations Authority
Grievances
Merit Systems Protection Board
Office of Personnel Management
Office of Special Counsel
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Chapter 10: Leave and Other Forms of Time Off
Annual Leave
Compensatory Time
Court Leave
Credit Hours
Disabled Veteran Leave
Excused Absence
Family and Medical Leave Act
Funeral Leave
Holidays
Leave for Bone Marrow or Organ Donation
Leave Sharing
Leave Without Pay
Leave Years
Meal Periods
Military Leave
Paid Parental Leave
Preventive Health Screening
Qualifying Family Members
Religious Observances
Sick Leave
Time Off Awards
Volunteer Activities
Chapter 11: Travel, Transportation, Per Diem and Relocation Allowances
Travel and Transportation Expenses
Hours of Work for Travel
Compensatory Time Off for Travel
Frequent Traveler Credits
Travel Charge Cards
Travel Advances
Per Diem Expenses
Relocation Allowances
Travel and Relocation Appeals
Chapter 12: Federal Employees Health Benefits Program
Premium Conversion
Health Savings Accounts/Health Reimbursement Arrangements
Coverage of Family Members
Special Enrollment Considerations
Changes on Separation
Survivor Coverage
Carrying FEHB into Retirement
Events That Can Terminate Coverage
If Coverage Ends
If a Claim Is Denied
Chapter 13: Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance Program
Basic Insurance
Option A-Standard
Option B-Additional
Option C-Family
Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance
Changing Life Insurance Coverage
Termination of Life Insurance
Temporary Extension
Canceling or Reducing Insurance
Conversion
Living Benefits
Assignment of Benefits
Beneficiaries
Applying for Benefits
Life Insurance Coverage after Retirement
Reemployed Annuitants
Chapter 14: Federal Long-Term Care Insurance Program
Eligibility and Enrollment
Underwriting
Benefit Choices
Services Covered
Premium Rates
When Benefits Start and End
Appeal Rights
Chapter 15: Federal Dental and Vision Insurance Program
Eligibility and Enrollment
Benefits and Premiums
Chapter 16: Retirement
Main Elements
Eligibility for Retirement—Standard Rules
Eligibility for Retirement—Special Employee Groups
Computing Retirement Benefits—Standard Rules
Computing Retirement Benefits—Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighters
Computing Retirement Benefits—Air Traffic Controllers
Computing Retirement Benefits—Military Reserve Technicians
Computing Disability Retirement Benefits
Credit for Part-Time Service
Credit for Non-Foreign Area Service
Credit for Unused Sick Leave
Phased Retirement
Alternative Form of Annuity (‘Lump-Sum Option’)
Owed Deposits
Redeposit Service
Deemed Deposits and Redeposits
Actuarial Reduction
Interest Rates
Military Service Credit
Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLAs)
Lump-Sum Payment for Annual Leave
Voluntary Contributions
Annuity Limitation
Survivor Benefits Upon Death of Current Employee—CSRS/CSRS Offset
Survivor Benefits Upon Death of Current Employee—FERS
Annuities for Survivors of Retirees
Children’s Benefits
Lump-Sum Payment on the Death of a Retiree
Reemployed Annuitants
Chapter 17: The Thrift Savings Plan
Investment Choices
Loan Program
Roth Balances
In-Service Withdrawals
Transfers from Other Retirement Plans
Catch-Up Contributions
Withdrawal Options
Spousal and Survivor Rights
Designation of Beneficiary
TSP Points of Contact
Chapter 18: Social Security
Qualifying for Benefits
How Your Benefit Is Calculated
Benefit Reductions Under Social Security Law
Disability Benefits
Applying for Benefits
Family Benefits
Survivor Benefits
Chapter 19: Medicare
Medicare Eligibility
Enrollment
Treatment Options
Special Medicare Rule for Certain Retired Federal Employees
Medicare Part A Benefits
Medicare Part B Benefits
Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit
Medicare Coordinated Care Plans (MCCPs)
How Medicare Affects Your FEHB Coverage
Chapter 20: Taxes
Federal Tax Treatment of Federal Annuities
State Tax Treatment of Federal Annuities
Tax Treatment of Insurance Premiums
Tax Treatment of Health Savings Accounts/Health Reimbursement Arrangements
Tax Treatment of Flexible Spending Accounts
Tax Treatment of Social Security Payments
Tax Treatment of Distributions from the TSP
Long-Term Care Insurance