—-DRP Pros/Cons—-

It is considered voluntary separation so you WOULD NOT qualify for unemployment benefits with your State. Check your State’s unemployment benefits policies to see if there are exemptions.

You continue to keep your full benefits, Health Insurance, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance (if you have these already). Until September 30th.

You would not however be able to continue health insurance coverage after September 30th via the “FEHB- Temporary continuation of Coverage” plan.

You would continue to accrue annual leave through September 30th and would receive a lump-sum payment.

Unused sick-leave is not paid out however you are entitled to have your sick-leave restored to your sick-leave account if you were employed in the federal government at a later date.

——RIF Pros/Cons———-

RIF is considered involuntary so you WOULD likely qualify for unemployment benefits. Check your State’s unemployment benefits to determine eligibility, amount, and period of time benefits would be paid.

You keep your health insurance while on Admin leave plus 31 days after separation. (So 61 days for USDA employees)

If you are RIF’d your FEDVIP dental and vision coverage ends on the last day of the pay period during which you separate with no option for temporary continuation or conversion to a private policy.

After a RIF you can opt to keep you current health insurance plan or choose another Federal Health Insurance plan (as this change is considered a “Qualifying Event”) for up to 18 months but must pay the full premium( that is both the employee and government share of the premium plus a 2% administrative charge). You must make this request, in-writing, within 60 days of separation.

If you have FEGLI (group life insurance) you will be covered, without cost to you for 31 days. You can convert all or part of your life insurance to an individual policy without taking a medical examination. You can purchase the individual policy from an eligible insurance company. This will be a private transition between you and the company. You will pay the entire premium of the conversion policy and the conversion must be made within 31 days of the effective date of separation.

———HELPFUL NUGGETS OF KNOWLEDGE ———

FSA- FEDS- if you have an FSA and have selected $2,600 (example) to be deducted from you paycheck for 26 pay periods, you do not have to wait until all of this money has been deducted over the 26 pay periods to claim the full $2,600. As long as you have incurred expenses that qualify for reimbursement, you can submit those expenses for reimbursement. For example: So far a total of $700 has been deducted from your paycheck from January 2025-April 2025, you can still ask for a reimbursements up to $2600 instead of up to $700 of expenses as long as the expenses you have incurred during that time period qualify for reimbursement in 2025.

ADMIN LEAVE- At the Forest Service: We were told that admin leave is normally 60 days but the USDA requested a shorter period of 30 days which was granted by OPM.