This page provides important information to employees who have recently separated from USDA Rural Development or opted for a deferred resignation. Whether you are seeking unemployment benefits, transitioning out of the organization, managing your Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), obtaining tax documents from the National Finance Center (NFC), accessing resources from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), or understanding your health and life insurance options, we are here to assist you.
If you need help with any of the topics on this page, you may contact Rural Development’s Human Resources Office at HRFO@usda.gov. In most cases, we will respond to your message within 2-3 business days.
If you recently separated from Rural Development, the Rural Development Human Resources Office will soon mail you a package of information. In the meantime, there are steps you can take to save important records, review options related to your benefits, return your work equipment and, potentially, file for unemployment benefits. This section provides important details about these topics. If you need help, you may contact your supervisor of record through their USDA email account or reach out to Rural Development’s Human Resources Office at HRFO@usda.gov.
If you left your position due to termination, you may wish to file for unemployment. You will need this Unemployment Compensation Form when you file, and you should review the following information and links from the U.S. Department of Labor.
The U.S. Department of Labor's unemployment insurance programs provide unemployment benefits to eligible workers who become unemployed through no fault of their own and meet certain other eligibility requirements. Unemployment insurance is a joint state-federal program that provides cash benefits to eligible workers. Each state administers a separate unemployment insurance program, but all states follow the same guidelines established by federal law.
How Do I File for Unemployment Insurance?
Fact sheet: Unemployment compensation for federal employees (UCFE)
A Standard Form 50, or SF-50, documents personnel actions in federal employment. If you plan to apply for another federal position in the future, you will need copies of your SF-50, which is available within the eOPF system. If you have already separated from Rural Development, you will not be able to access this system. You can obtain a copy of your SF-50 by emailing HRFO@usda.gov.
You can download or print tax documents—such as your W-2, W-4 and 1095-C forms—and your earnings and leave statements through the National Finance Center’s (NFC’s) My Employee Personal Page (MyEPP) system. You should have access to this system now and for 18 months following your separation. Instructions on logging in without your LincPass card are below. If you are unable to access this system to download your items, contact the NFC Contact Center for assistance at 1-855-632-4468 or email HRFO@usda.gov for assistance.
Important details about MyEPP access:
Important information from the National Finance Center:
You might need your most recent performance appraisal when applying for a new job. To obtain a copy of your last performance appraisal, contact your supervisor of record or email HRFO@usda.gov. The Enterprise Performance Management Application (EPMA) system is not accessible after you have separated from the agency. However, HR or your supervisor can retrieve your performance appraisal for you.
If you lose your Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program coverage because you leave your federal job, you are eligible for temporary continuation of coverage (TCC) unless your separation is involuntary due to gross misconduct. If it is not due to gross misconduct, the reasons for your separation don't matter.
Your Human Resources Office must notify you, within 61 days after your regular FEHB enrollment terminates, of your opportunity to enroll under TCC. Generally, you have 60 days after getting the notice or 60 days after separation, whichever is later, to enroll under TCC.
It's a good idea to ask your agency to give you your TCC information as soon as possible. TCC enrollments—and premiums—always begin on the 32nd day after your regular coverage ends (which happens on the last day of the pay period in which you separate). The earlier you submit your enrollment form for TCC, the earlier your agency can process it, and the less likely it will be that you will receive a large bill for retroactive TCC coverage.
However, if you retired and you are eligible to continue your regular FEHB coverage as a retiree, you aren't eligible for TCC because your regular FEHB coverage doesn't stop. If you retired, and you aren't sure whether you are eligible to continue regular FEHB coverage as a retiree, contact your assigned HR Benefits Specialist.
If you elect TCC please return your completed SF-2809 Form and send to the HR Benefits and Retirements email box at SM.RD.EmployeeBenefits@usda.gov The subject line should read TCC Enrollment.
Useful links from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM):
You will need to process your final timesheet prior to departure on your last workday. If you are not able to access your timesheet, your timekeeper can enter your hours. Please contact your supervisor or email HRFO@usda.gov for assistance.
As described in the section “Tax Documents and Earnings and Leave Statements” above, you can access your leave balance information in MyEPP within your earnings and leave statements.
If you transferred to another federal agency, your annual and sick leave hours will be transferred to the gaining agency. If you separated from federal service entirely, you will receive a lump sum for any unused annual leave but not your sick leave or some other types of leave.
Any Time-off Award (TOA) hours to your credit must have been used by your last day of employment. TOA hours cannot be converted to cash.
Any Comp Time (regular and travel) and Credit Hours also should have been used by your last workday. If this was not possible, you will receive a lump sum payment for any regular Comp Time and Credit Hours that remain after your employment ends, but if you did not use up your Travel Comp Time, you will not be paid for it.
If you have any questions, please contact the Rural Development Human Resources Office at HRFO@usda.gov.
Also see the OPM fact sheet Lump-Sum Payments for Annual Leave.
Separated employees must return all government-issued equipment and credentials, including the following:
Contact your supervisor of record to identify all equipment and credentials that you must return and to learn how to return the items to Rural Development. The supervisor will coordinate the shipment of IT equipment and arrange to send a pre-addressed, pre-paid envelope for your LincPass card. Before shipping, mobile phones must be cleared, such as contacts, pictures, etc. removed.
If you had an outstanding travel voucher, work with your supervisor of record to ensure that your voucher is processed. If you don’t have the supervisor’s email address or phone number, you may email HRFO@usda.gov and provide your name and your office information for help contacting your supervisor. . Questions about travel vouchers can be directed to rd.travel@usda.gov.
If you have questions about a government purchase card, please send them to the GPC email at RD.GPCPOB@usda.gov
Questions about travel cards can be directed to rd.travel@usda.gov.
If you have left the federal government, you can no longer make employee contributions to the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). However, you can still change your investment mix, transfer eligible money into your account, and enjoy the TSP’s low costs—all while your account continues to accrue earnings.
If your account balance is $200 or more, you can keep it in the TSP when you leave the federal government.
Important things you must do:
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) provides the following information about FERS contributions and separations from federal service.
If you leave your government job before becoming eligible for retirement:
See more information on the OPM page about FERS for former employees.
If you leave your government job before becoming eligible for retirement:
See more information on the OPM page about CSRS for former employees.
If you get a refund of your retirement contributions now, you will no longer be eligible to receive monthly payments when you reach retirement age, unless you are later reemployed subject to the Civil Service Retirement System or the Federal Employees Retirement System. Refer to information about retirement eligibility.
Useful links from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM):
If you have left federal employment and then decide to return to federal employment, you may re-enroll in your Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) coverage. See the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) information “What happens to my FEGLI coverage if I leave Federal employment and then decide to come back?”
If you return to work within the federal government after a break in service of less than 180 days, your human resources office will automatically enroll you in the same coverage that you had before you left your prior position. You will have to qualify to elect other coverage (open season, physical exam or life event).
If you return to work within the federal government after a break in service of 180 days or more, your human resources office will automatically enroll you in Basic and the same optional insurance that you had in your prior position. You will have this coverage the first day you are in pay and duty status. Any previous waiver of insurance is automatically canceled. Unless you file a new waiver, Basic insurance becomes effective your first day in pay and duty status in a position in which you are eligible for coverage.
You may elect more insurance (if you don't already have the maximum) within 31 days of returning to service in an eligible position, regardless of the coverage you had during your previous employment. If you do not make a new election, you will automatically get back whatever optional insurance you had immediately before your separation. Any coverage that you had previously waived will be waived again.
Useful links from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM):
Separating from federal service will not affect your FLTCIP coverage, if elected. You will be required to continue to pay premiums to continue coverage. If premiums are paid through payroll deduction, you will need to contact Long Term Care Partners at 1-800-LTCFEDS (1-800-582-3337) to make other billing arrangements.
If you wish to, you may complete a survey about your experience and perception of the workplace. An exit survey is provided as part of USDA’s requirement to survey a departing employee. Please go to the following website to access a confidential and anonymous employee exit survey if you’d like to participate: USDA Exit Survey.
Also, the agency may contact you for an exit interview to obtain a deeper understanding of your employee experience.
The Office of Ethics recommends employees meet with it to discuss the change in their employment status, to ensure an ethical and successful departure from USDA. Please send an email to the Office of Ethics at SM.OE.Ethics.RD@usda.gov to request a consultation regarding the change in your employment status, and to be removed from their training and tracking database for employees with a financial disclosure clause, such as Office of Government Ethics Form 450.
If you accepted the Fork in the Road deferred resignation offer, you should review the Fork in the Road Frequently Asked Questions and other information available on the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) website. Additionally, you may contact your Rural Development Human Resources Office with questions at HRFO@usda.gov.
Before you leave Rural Development, there are steps you can take to save important records, review options related to your benefits, and make plans to return your work equipment. This section provides important details about these topics. If you need help, you may contact your supervisor or reach out to Rural Development’s Human Resources Office at HRFO@usda.gov.
A Standard Form 50, or SF-50, documents personnel actions in federal employment. If you plan to apply for another federal position in the future, you will need copies of your SF-50, which is available within the eOPF system. After you are placed on administrative leave, you will not be able to access this system, so we recommend you obtain your SF-50 now. If you no longer have access to this system, you can obtain a copy of your SF-50 by emailing HRFO@usda.gov.
You can download or print tax documents—such as your W-2, W-4 and 1095-C forms—and your earnings and leave statements through the National Finance Center’s (NFC’s) My Employee Personal Page (MyEPP) system. You should have access to this system now and for 18 months following your separation. Instructions on logging in without your LincPass card are below. If you are unable to access this system to download your items, contact the NFC Contact Center for assistance at 1-855-632-4468 or email HRFO@usda.gov for assistance.
Important details about MyEPP access:
Important information from the National Finance Center:
You might need your most recent performance appraisal when applying for a new job. To obtain a copy of your last performance appraisal from the Enterprise Performance Management Application (EPMA), log in at https://ehrapps.usda.gov/performance, scroll to the bottom of the page, select the appropriate year of the appraisal you want to download, and click “View Performance Plan and Appraisal, Form Version.”
Once you have separated, you will not be able to access the EPMA system. If you can’t access the system or need assistance retrieving your performance appraisal, contact your supervisor or email HRFO@usda.gov.
If you lose your Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program coverage because you leave your federal job, you are eligible for temporary continuation of coverage (TCC) unless your separation is involuntary due to gross misconduct. If it is not due to gross misconduct, the reasons for your separation don't matter.
Your Human Resources Office must notify you, within 61 days after your regular FEHB enrollment terminates, of your opportunity to enroll under TCC. Generally, you have 60 days after getting the notice or 60 days after separation, whichever is later, to enroll under TCC.
It's a good idea to ask your agency to give you your TCC information as soon as possible. TCC enrollments—and premiums—always begin on the 32nd day after your regular coverage ends (which happens on the last day of the pay period in which you separate). The earlier you submit your enrollment form for TCC, the earlier your agency can process it, and the less likely it will be that you will receive a large bill for retroactive TCC coverage.
However, if you retired and you are eligible to continue your regular FEHB coverage as a retiree, you aren't eligible for TCC because your regular FEHB coverage doesn't stop. If you retired, and you aren't sure whether you are eligible to continue regular FEHB coverage as a retiree, contact your assigned HR Benefits Specialist.
If you elect TCC please return your completed SF-2809 Form and send to the HR Benefits and Retirements email box at SM.RD.EmployeeBenefits@usda.gov The subject line should read TCC Enrollment.
Useful links from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM):
You will need to process your final timesheet prior to departure on your last workday. If you are not able to access your timesheet, your timekeeper can enter your hours. Please contact your supervisor or email HRFO@usda.gov for assistance.
As described in the section “Tax Documents and Earnings and Leave Statements” above, you can access your leave balance information in your earnings and leave statements in MyEPP.
Once you have separated from federal service, you will receive a lump sum for any unused annual leave but not your sick leave or some other types of leave.
Any Time-off Award (TOA) hours to your credit must be used by your last day of employment. TOA hours cannot be converted to cash.
Any Comp Time (regular and travel) and Credit Hours also should be used by your last workday. If this is not possible, you will receive a lump sum payment for any regular Comp Time and Credit Hours that remain after your employment ends, but if you did not use up your Travel Comp Time, you will not be paid for it.
If you have any questions, please contact the Rural Development Human Resources Front Office at HRFO@usda.gov.
Also see the OPM fact sheet Lump-Sum Payments for Annual Leave.
On or before your last workday, you must return all government-issued equipment and credentials, including the following:
Contact your supervisor of record to identify all equipment and credentials that you must return and to learn how to return the items to Rural Development. The supervisor will coordinate the shipment of IT equipment and arrange to send a pre-addressed, pre-paid envelope for your LincPass card. Before shipping, mobile phones must be cleared, such as contacts, pictures, etc., should be removed.
If you have an outstanding travel voucher, work with your supervisor before your last workday to ensure that your voucher is processed. If it has not been processed before your last workday, and you don’t have your supervisor’s email address or phone number, you may email HRFO@usda.gov and provide your name and your office information for help in contacting your supervisor. Questions about travel vouchers can be directed to rd.travel@usda.gov.
If you have questions about a government purchase card, please send them to the GPC email at RD.GPCPOB@usda.gov
Questions about travel cards can be directed to rd.travel@usda.gov.
If you have left the federal government, you can no longer make employee contributions to the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). However, you can still change your investment mix, transfer eligible money into your account, and enjoy the TSP’s low costs—all while your account continues to accrue earnings.
If your account balance is $200 or more, you can keep it in the TSP when you leave the federal government.
Important things you must do:
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) provides the following information about FERS contributions and separations from federal service.
If you leave your government job before becoming eligible for retirement:
See more information on the OPM page about FERS for former employees.
If you leave your government job before becoming eligible for retirement:
See more information on the OPM page about CSRS for former employees.
If you get a refund of your retirement contributions now, you will no longer be eligible to receive monthly payments when you reach retirement age, unless you are later reemployed subject to the Civil Service Retirement System or the Federal Employees Retirement System. Refer to information about retirement eligibility.
Useful links from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM):
The following information will apply once your administrative leave period ends and you have separated from federal service.
If you leave federal employment and then decide to return to federal employment, you may re-enroll in your Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) coverage. See the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) information “What happens to my FEGLI coverage if I leave Federal employment and then decide to come back?”
If you return to work within the federal government after a break in service of less than 180 days, your human resources office will automatically enroll you in the same coverage that you had before you left your prior position. You will have to qualify to elect other coverage (open season, physical exam or life event).
If you return to work within the federal government after a break in service of 180 days or more, your human resources office will automatically enroll you in Basic and the same optional insurance that you had in your prior position. You will have this coverage the first day you are in pay and duty status. Any previous waiver of insurance is automatically canceled. Unless you file a new waiver, Basic insurance becomes effective your first day in pay and duty status in a position in which you are eligible for coverage.
You may elect more insurance (if you don't already have the maximum) within 31 days of returning to service in an eligible position, regardless of the coverage you had during previous employment. If you do not make a new election, you will automatically get back whatever optional insurance you had immediately before your separation. Any coverage that you had previously waived will be waived again.
Useful links from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM):
Separating from federal service will not affect your FLTCIP coverage, if elected. You will be required to continue to pay premiums to continue coverage. If premiums are paid through payroll deduction, you will need to contact Long Term Care Partners at 1-800-LTCFEDS (1-800-582-3337) to make other billing arrangements.
If you wish to, you may complete a survey about your experience and perception of the workplace. An exit survey is provided as part of USDA’s requirement to survey a departing employee and learn about their reasons for leaving the agency. Please go to the following website to access a confidential and anonymous employee exit survey if you’d like to participate: USDA Exit Survey.
Also, the agency may contact you for an exit interview to obtain a deeper understanding of your employee experience.
The Office of Ethics recommends employees meet with them to discuss the change in their employment status to ensure an ethical and successful departure from USDA. Please send an email to the Office of Ethics at SM.OE.Ethics.RD@usda.gov to request a consultation regarding the change in your employment status, and to be removed from their training and tracking database for employees with a financial disclosure clause, such as Office of Government Ethics Form 450.
Generally, a current employee – even on Admin Leave -- CANNOT engage in outside work that requires them to communicate or otherwise interact with federal personnel since such interactions would likely be considered impermissible representations.