Impact on Benefits:
When on Leave Without Pay (LWOP)
Health Benefits
Continuous LWOP – No effect for up to 365 days in nonpay status. Payment is made or debt is incurred.
Partial LWOP – A full-time employee who goes on LWOP during a pay period will pay only the employee’s share of the premium (to be deducted by payroll provided there is enough pay to cover the deduction).
Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI)
Coverage continues for up to 12 months in a nonpay status at no cost to the employee. A full-time employee who goes on LWOP during a pay period will pay only the employee’s share of the premium (to be deducted by payroll, provided there is enough pay to cover the deduction).
Partial LWOP – A full-time employee who goes on LWOP during a pay period will pay only the employee’s share of the premium (to be deducted by payroll provided there is enough pay to cover the deduction).
Initial Appointment Probationary Period, Supervisory/Managerial Probationary Period
Any nonpay time in excess of 22 workdays extends the probationary period that number of days.
Career Tenure
Any nonpay time in excess of 30 calendar days for each period of absence extends the service date for career tenure by that number of days.
Leave
If the employee is in a nonpay status for an entire pay period, no annual, sick, or holiday leave is earned for that pay period. If nonpay time occurs during part of one or more of a full-time employee’s pay periods, the employee continues to earn leave until the nonpay time totals 80 hours. Once 80 hours is reached, the time starts over.
Service Computation Dates
6 months of nonpay time is creditable each calendar year. The employee’s Service Computation Date must be adjusted by the amount of nonpay time in excess of 6 months in one calendar year.
General Schedule Within-Grade Increases (WGI)
WGI waiting period will be extended if LWOP exceeds the allowable number of workweeks.
Waiting Period for step Nonpay time allowed 2-3-4 2 workweeks 5-6-7 4 workweeks 8-9-10 6 workweeks
Federal Wage System Within-Grade Increases (WGI)
WGI waiting period will be extended if LWOP exceeds the allowable number of workweeks.
Waiting Period for step Nonpay time allowed 2 1 workweek 3 3 workweek 4-5 4 workweek
Merit Pay (GM) Increases
Refer to General Schedule above.
Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)
Employee & agency contributions are not made for that period of non-pay status. Payment may not be made up for missed contributions. Employees may not apply for a loan during non-pay status unless the LWOP is for employment at another agency which allows TSP contributions/deductions to be made.
If you have a TSP Loan, and are on official LWOP, the Thrift Board will be notified to "freeze" your loan payments, and reamoratize your loan balance upon your return to duty. Your loan payments will resume upon your return to duty, as well.
