Former Employees

If you are an NIH employee who received a RIF notice and you are at least 50 years old with 20 years of service, you may qualify for a Discontinued Service Retirement or voluntary retirement. 
 
Please contact the Retirement and Employee Benefits Branch by emailing your assigned HR Contact for Retirement and Benefits Counseling. Be sure to place the following information in the subject to ensure prompt assistance: DSR Inquiry – Your Full Name (IC). 
 
You can also refer to our FAQ page to learn more about retirement.

Employees Impacted by the July 14, 2025, Reduction in Force (RIF)

HHS Reduction in Force (RIF) Information 

For more specific information on the Department’s reduction in force plan, please see HHS Workforce Optimization Initiative.

RIF Frequently Asked Questions for NIH Employees 

View the NIH Reduction in Force FAQs to support you during this time.

Key Deadlines

Important Dates (Based on 7/14/2025 separation date)

  • 07/14/2025 - RIF Effective Date (Separation)
  • 07/15/2025 - Research Benefits & Career Options - Investigate FEHB TCC, FEGLI conversion, TSP, Retirement (DSR/Deferred)
  • 07/15/2025 - Apply for Unemployment - File claim with your state agency ASAP.
  • 07/26/2025 – FEDVIP coverage ends.
  • 08/13/2025 - MSPB Appeal Deadline - Generally 30 days from effective date to file appeal.
  • 08/26/2025 – Free extended FEHB coverage ends.
  • 09/12/2025 - FEHB TCC Election Deadline - Generally 60 days from separation/notice date to elect TCC.
  • 09/12/2025 - Marketplace SEP Deadline - Generally 60 days from loss of coverage for Special Enrollment.

Benefits Deadlines (Deadlines are generally from date of separation)

  • FEGLI Conversion: 31 Days
  • FEHB TCC Election: 60 Days
  • Spouse FEHB / Marketplace: 60 Days
  • FLTCIP Portability: Automatic
  • HCFSA & LEX HCFSA: Contributions end immediately. Can request reimbursement for expenses incurred through termination date.
  • Dependent Care FSA: May be reimbursed until end of the benefit period or the account is exhausted.

Financial Deadlines

  • Final Paycheck: Employees separated effective July 14, 2025, will receive their last paycheck on August 1, 2025.  
  • Lump Sum Leave: Employees with unused annual leave as of July 14, 2025, will receive a lump sum payment no later than August 15, 2025.
  • Severance Pay: Begins soon after separation, paid bi-weekly (if eligible).
  • Unemployment: Apply first week after separation (State rules vary).

Severance Pay

Severance Pay Eligibility

  • To be eligible for severance pay due to a RIF, you generally must:
  • Be serving in a permanent appointment (career or career-conditional).
  • Have completed at least 12 months of continuous service.
  • Be involuntarily separated (RIF qualifies).
  • Not be separating for misconduct or delinquency.
  • Not be eligible for an immediate retirement annuity (including DSR).
  • Not have declined a "reasonable offer" for another federal position.
  • Crucial Distinction: Retirement vs. Severance

Note: If you meet the age and service requirements for any type of immediate retirement (Voluntary, Early Voluntary (VERA), or Discontinued Service (DSR)) at the time of your RIF separation, you are NOT eligible for severance pay. You must choose the retirement option.

Calculating Severance Pay

Your total severance pay entitlement is based on your years of creditable service and your age at separation. The total severance pay amount cannot exceed 52 weeks (one year) of your basic pay (regular salary rate plus locality pay or special rate supplements) at the time of separation.

Basic Severance Calculation:

  • First 10 Years of Service: 1 week of basic pay for each year.
  • Years of Service Over 10: 2 weeks of basic pay for each year.

Age Adjustment Factor:

  • If you are over 40 years old at separation, your basic severance pay amount is increased:
    • Add 10% to the basic amount for each full year you are over age 40.

For information on how to calculate the approximate amount of severance pay for employees with non-variable work schedules, please see OPM’s Severance Pay Estimation Worksheet.

How Payments are Made

  • Severance pay is issued in regular, bi-weekly installments.
  • Each payment is equal to your basic pay for a pay period.
  • Payments continue until the total calculated severance amount is paid out, until 52 weeks of payments have been made, if you are reemployed by the Federal Government or employed by the DC government, or you begin receiving an immediate retirement annuity (including DSR or disability retirement), whichever comes first.

Note: If payments stop due to reemployment, you may be required to repay any amount received that covers the period after your reemployment date.

Note: Accepting non-federal employment will not stop your federal severance payments.

Tax Implications

Severance pay is considered taxable income.

  • Subject to Federal Income Tax withholding.
  • Subject to Social Security (6.2%) and Medicare (1.45%) taxes.
  • Subject to State and Local income taxes (if applicable).
  • Reported on Form W-2 by your agency.
  • Cannot be rolled over into retirement accounts like TSP or an IRA.

Sources

NIH’s Priority Placement Programs

View the NIH Priority Placement Program (PPP) Handbook: Guidance for Displaced Employees.

Obtaining Copies of Your Official Personnel Folder and SF-50s (OPFs)

If you are a former Federal employee and less than 120 days have elapsed since separation, you may get a copy of your most recent SF-50, or a copy of your complete Official Personnel Folder by contacting your servicing HR Specialist. You must verify the following data points with your servicing HR Specialist prior to obtaining any documents:

  • DOB
  • SSN
  • Personal Email address
  • Current Mailing Address
  • City of Birth

After the above information is verified, your HR Specialist will utilize the NIH Secure Email and File Transfer (SEFT) Service to provide you with your eOPF or requested SF-50s and other documents found in your eOPF.  Non-NIH users can access SEFT when they receive an email from a NIH user sent through SEFT.  The email message will contain a link that users can click on to register and access the secure email. 

Please note: OPFs are retired to the National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) within 120 days after separation from federal employment.

If more than 120 days has lapsed since separation, you may obtain copies of most civilian and personnel records on file at the NPRC, including copies of the Standard Form 50 (SF-50) (Personnel Action) via written request by mail or fax to (618) 496-4903 or (618) 496-4904:

National Personnel Records Center, Annex
1411 Boulder Boulevard 
Valmeyer, IL 62295

Federal law [5 USC 552a(b)] requires that all requests for records and information be submitted in writing. Each request must be hand signed (in cursive) and dated (within the last year). Please identify the documents or information needed and explain the purpose of your request. Certain basic information is needed to locate civilian personnel records and to respond to your request, including:

  • Full Name (used during Federal employment)
  • Date of Birth
  • Social Security Number
  • Last Employing Agency (including duty station) and Approximate Beginning and End Date(s) of the Employment
  • Complete Return Mailing Address and/or Authorized Return Fax Number
  • Contact Number (if they need additional information)
  • Signature (hand signed in cursive and dated)

Who Are My HR Contacts 

Find your servicing HR contact. For questions related to retirement or benefits, please email the Benefits team at AskBenefits@od.nih.gov. 

Returning Government Issued Property

When separating, all NIH employees have an obligation to return Government issued property in their possession. Such property includes, but is not limited to: 

  • ID badge
  • Equipment
  • Electronic devices
  • Phone
  • Access passes
  • Keys
  • Parking permits
  • Library material(s)
  • Credit and phone cards
  • Transhare and SmarTrip fare cards
  • Government-issued passports
  • Official electronic and paper records
  • Advanced funds
  • Payments received in expectation of extended employment where the allotted time period has not been completed.

Please work with your individual AO for property return procedures.

For Separating or Former Fellows

  • Employment Verifications: Contact your supervisor or Administrative Officer
  • Fellow HR Contact: OFMGAB_FPS@od.nih.gov

For Separating or Former Federal Employees


Obtaining Official Personnel Records

All separating/transferring employees:

Wage and Tax Statement (W-2)

Submit a request for a duplicate copy to the Leave, Payroll, and Workforce Support Branch located in Building 31, Room 3B435. 


You may also contact your former Payroll Liaison by selecting the Institute or Center in which you were employed.
eOPF Visit your eOPF prior to your separation date to save all your personnel history documents.
myPay Obtain your last Leave and Earnings Statement (LES), obtain your W-2 and review your lump sum annual leave payment from myPay. You will retain access to myPay for up to one year after you separate. Once you are separated, your PIV card will no longer be a login option and you will use a username and password.
Address Changes If your address is changing at the time of your separation from federal service, you should immediate initiate an address change in myPay. If you do not initiate an address change, your final W2 will be sent to the address on file at the time you separated from federal service.

Employees who left NIH more than 3-4 months ago and are no longer a government employee:

Employees who transferred to another agency:

  • Your records transfer with you. Contact your new agency.
  • Record of Leave (SF-1150) will be provided to the gaining agency. For questions, contact the NIH File Room at 301-496-3361.

Retirement - FERS/CSRS

While covered under FERS or CSRS, you paid contributions towards the applicable retirement system. 

You have options regarding your retirement contributions:

If you: Then:
Have less than five years of creditable civilian service If you plan to return to federal employment in the future, you should leave your money in the retirement fund.
Have five or more years of creditable civilian service

You are eligible for a deferred annuity. This requires leaving your money in the retirement fund and applying for a FERS deferred annuity or CSRS deferred annuity once you meet the age and service requirements. 


If you do not file a beneficiary form (SF-3102) and die before the commencing date of your annuity, benefits will be paid in the normal order of precedence.
Wish to take a refund of your retirement contributions

To initiate a refund, complete an application for a FERS refund (SF-3106) or application for a CSRS refund (SF-2802) and forward it to OPM at the address on the form. Questions about submitted refund applications should be directed to OPM at (888) 767-6738. Refer to the TASK SUPPORT - Refund Applications for assistance.

Please note, that if you ever return to federal service, repayment of your FERS contributions is required to receive credit in your retirement computation.

Social Security and Medicare

  • If you paid into Social Security and Medicare, you earned credits in the same manner as the private industry. These credits will be added to any past or future credits earned to establish benefits. 
     
  • Contact the Social Security Administration for information. 

Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)

Vesting

CSRS/FERS Employees: You are fully vested in your own contributions and any earnings on these contributions. 


FERS Only Employees: You are also vested in any matching Government contributions. If you have at least 3 years of civilian Federal service, you are also vested in the automatic 1% Government contributions, plus earnings.
Withdrawal Options You have several withdrawal options. Refer to the TSP website for details. Before electing an option, read about important tax information.
Beneficiary Form If you do not submit a designation of beneficiary in your TSP account, your benefits will be paid in the normal order of precedence.
Outstanding TSP Loan(s) Pay it off in full or consider it a taxable distribution in the year you separate.

Unemployment Insurance

  • If you are not going to another job, you may be eligible for unemployment insurance from your local Public Employment Service Office. The SF-8 provides further instruction. 
     
  • Navigate to the NIH Unemployment Insurance page for additional information for your state.

Life Insurance (FEGLI)

  • Life insurance coverage continues free of charge for 31 calendar days after your employment ends. During the 31-day period you may convert your coverage to an individual policy.
     
  • What to expect: If you wish to convert your policy, contact the Benefits Office to request information on converting to an individual policy (SF-2819) and an agency certification of your insurance status (SF-2821).

Health Benefits (FEHB)

Health insurance coverage continues free of charge for 31 days after the last day of the pay period in which you separate (i.e. If your date of separation is September 30, 2025, this date falls in pay period 21 and the last day in pay period 21 is October 4, 2025. This means the last day of free coverage ends on November 4, 2025.).

What to expect:

You can request information from OHR about converting your group health insurance to a private policy. Information is as follows:

  1. Notice of Change in Health Benefits Enrollment (SF 2810):  This explains your option and how to convert your group health insurance policy to an individual policy with your current carrier.
  2. Temporary Continuation of Coverage (TCC): you are eligible for TCC for up to 18 months after separation. Select any plan in the Federal program in which you are eligible to enroll. If elected, the 18-month time period begins immediately after separation and coverage is effective on the day after the 31-day extension of coverage ends. If you change plans upon election of TCC, enrollment in the previous plan will continue through the 31-day extension of coverage. Enrollment in the new plan or option will become effective the day after the 31-day extension of coverage and will continue for up to 17 months. After TCC coverage ends, you are eligible for another 31-day extension of coverage at no cost, and you may convert to a non-group contract offered by your health benefits plan.  Refer to the TCC pamphlet for additional information.  
  3. To enroll, complete a health benefits election form (SF-2809) and return it to the Benefits Office within 60 calendar days of separation. Write "TCC" on the top.
TCC Changes & Cancellation:

If you have enrolled in TCC and need to make changes to or cancel your coverage, then you must contact the DRPS section at NFC.

Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

  • Health Care and Limited Expense Health Care: Contributions terminate on the date of separation. Eligible expenses incurred before that date are entitled for reimbursement. Unused funds will be forfeited. 
     

  • Dependent Care: Contributions terminate, but you may continue to be reimbursed for expenses until the end of the benefit period or until your account balance is exhausted; whichever is sooner.

    For questions about your FSA account, contact FSAFEDS  or 1-877-372-3337.

Dental and Vision Insurance (FEDVIP)

  • Enrollment in a dental or vision plan will terminate at the end of the pay period in which you separate. If you have any questions about your coverage under this program, contact BENEFEDS or 877-888-3337 (toll free).

Federal Long-Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP)

  • If you or a family member is enrolled and premiums were paid by payroll deduction, you must submit a Billing Change Form to Long Term Care Partners (FLTCP) as soon as possible. 
     
  • The Billing Change Form is available online or by calling FLTCP at 1-800-LTC-FEDS (1-800-582-3337).

Post-1956 Military Service

  • Planning to apply for a deferred retirement and have post-1956 military service? You must make a deposit to receive credit for the service. This must be done before your employment ends. Speak to your Benefits Contact.
     
  • If you are in the process of making a deposit for active-duty military service, what you have paid is considered a partial deposit for the military service and to receive credit for the military service, it must be completed while employed by another federal agency. 
     
  • Upon reemployment or transfer to another federal agency, provide them with a copy of the application package and payment record.  You will need to establish a payment schedule with your new agency to complete your military deposit.
     
  • If you have paid a military deposit in full, you should have already received a copy of the paid in full documentation.

Leave

  • Annual leave: You will receive a lump sum payment for any unused leave, including "use-or-lose" balances. It will follow the same electronic deposit as your paycheck.
     
  • Sick leave: If you return to the Federal Government, any accrued sick leave will be restored to your account.

Contact us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.