13 FAH-1 H-420
Description of Programs
(CT:FSIH-40; 09-06-2022)
(Office of Origin: FSI)
13 FAH-1 H-421 Retirement Planning Seminars
13 FAH-1 H-421.1 Description
(CT:FSIH-40; 09-06-2022)
(Uniform State/USAID)
(Civil Service and Foreign Service Employees)
a. The four-day Retirement Planning Seminar (RPS) addresses annuities and benefits, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), Social Security, Long Term Care Insurance, Alternatives to Long Term Care Insurance, Medicare and Federal Employee Health Benefits, Financial Management, Estate Planning, Taxes in retirement, and transition issues.
b. The two-day Early/Mid-Career Retirement Planning Seminar (EMCRPS) is designed for employees who are in early and mid-career and are more than 10 years from retirement. The EMCRPS addresses Annuities and Benefits, TSP, Long Term Care Insurance (LTCI), as well as Financial and Estate Planning.
13 FAH-1 H-421.2 Eligibility Criteria
(CT:FSIH-40; 09-06-2022)
(Uniform State/USAID)
(Civil Service and Foreign Service Employees)
a. The following U.S. citizen employees are eligible to attend the RPS and EMCRPS:
(1) All full-time permanent Foreign Service and Civil Service employees of the Department who are covered by the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), Foreign Service Retirement and Disability System (FSRDS), or the Foreign Service Pension System (FSPS);
(2) Employees from other U.S. Government Agencies, on a space available, reimbursable basis; and
(3) EFM Spouses (not in a FMA) are encouraged and welcome to attend with their State employee spouse who is enrolled in RPS or EMCRPS (i.e., the same session with their spouse employee sponsor only) on a space-available basis but will not be formally enrolled by the FSI Registrar. Spouses should contact the Career Transition Center (FSICTC@state.gov) to be placed on the waitlist. Where both spouses are State employees, each should enroll separately. DOS spouses in a FMA may apply directly via the FSI Catalog link independent of their DOS direct-hire spouse.
b. Priority enrollment into the RPS is given to employees facing mandatory or involuntary retirement or separation (except separation for cause).
13 FAH-1 H-421.3 Enrollment Procedures
(CT:FSIH-40; 09-06-2022)
(Uniform State/USAID)
(Civil Service and Foreign Service Employees)
a. The Career Transition Center, in the Transition Center (FSI/TC/CTC), maintains a regular schedule of retirement planning seminars, which may be adjusted to assure maximum attendance. FSI/TC/CTC announces the seminars in the annual Foreign Service Institute (FSI) online catalog by Department Notices to the field and on the Department's SharePoint site.
b. State employees should apply for the RPS and EMCRPS via online enrollment through the FSI Catalog Website.
(1) Foreign Service personnel must request their Career Development Officer (CDO) in the Office of Career Development and Assignments (GTM/CDA) to register them for the RPS if they plan to take the RPS during a period of post-to-post (onward assignment) training or in connection with home leave in Washington, DC (i.e., the training needs to be reflected in travel orders issued by the Bureau of Global Talent Management (GTM));
(2) Personnel (except those Foreign Service (FS) employees registering through GTM/CDA) should obtain their supervisor’s approval and register through their bureau training officer;
(3) State participants interested in having their EFM spouses attend the RPS or EMCRPS with them should contact FSI’s Career Transition Center (FSICTC@state.gov) to have the spouse placed on a waiting list. Confirmation of space available is sent to the spouse one week before the seminar.
c. The FSI Registrar’s Office (FSI/EX/REG) sends email confirmation to employees when enrollment is finalized.
d. Employees attending the RPS may be entitled to per diem only to the extent allowed by GTM.
e. Employees requesting the RPS at time of retirement who are assigned to a location other than Washington, DC will be authorized travel to their service separation address via Washington, DC to attend the course if they have not taken the RPS previously and the separation address is not in the Washington, DC area. Eligible family members (EFMs) will be authorized to travel directly to the service separation address only. (This is not applicable to the EMCRPS.)
13 FAH-1 H-422 Job Search/transition Program (JStP)
13 FAH-1 H-422.1 Description
(CT:FSIH-40; 09-06-2022)
(Uniform State/USAID)
(Civil Service and Foreign Service Employees)
a. The JSTP is an intensive learning experience based on individual and group training and counseling. The program’s purpose is to help participants make the transition from employment by the Department to other employment or activities. The primary focus is to help participants acquire the skills and knowledge needed to find jobs outside the Department.
b. The program consists of three phases:
(1) Assistance in self-analysis, appraisal, resume preparation, and interview practice;
(2) Developing job-search strategies; and
(3) Advice in conducting the job search.
c. The full program lasts 60 days. Depending on the eligibility criteria below, employees may participate in the program in pay status for 60 calendar days or 30 calendar days.
13 FAH-1 H-422.2 Eligibility Criteria
13 FAH-1 H-422.2-1 Full-Time Participation
(CT:FSIH-40; 09-06-2022)
(Uniform State/USAID)
(Civil Service and Foreign Service Employees)
a. Career U.S. citizen Foreign Service employees may participate in the program for the last 60 calendar days before their retirement or involuntary separation. Employees separated for cause are not eligible to participate in the program.
b. Career U.S. citizen Civil Service employees may participate in the program for the last 30 calendar days before their voluntary retirement, or the last 60 days before involuntary separation. Employees separated for cause are not eligible to participate in the program.
c. EFMs spouses of those enrolled in the JSTP are encouraged and welcome to attend many of the general sessions on an informal basis, space permitting. Small group workshops, individual counseling, resume evaluations, and courses from the FSI catalog are not open to spouses through this program.
13 FAH-1 H-422.2-2 Participation After Separation
(CT:FSIH-40; 09-06-2022)
(Uniform State/USAID)
(Civil Service and Foreign Service Employees)
a. Former employees may participate in the JSTP up to 1 year after separation if they applied to do so before separation and were accepted.
b. Such post-separation participation must be in a nonpay status, and per diem or other reimbursements will not be authorized.
c. Access to HR systems will not be available to those persons who are participating in the JSTP after separation/retirement.
13 FAH-1 H-422.2-3 Other Requirements
(CT:FSIH-28; 09-10-2020)
(Uniform State/USAID)
(Civil Service and Foreign Service Employees)
Those retiring voluntarily must have applied for retirement before entering the program and must submit a retirement agreement (see 13 FAH-1 Exhibit H-422.2-3) in which they agree to repay to the U.S. Government the cost of tuition for the time they participated in the program if they withdraw their retirement application. FSI/TC/CTC will refer repayment actions to the Office of Retirement (GTM/RET).
13 FAH-1 H-422.2-4 Employees Assigned Abroad
(CT:FSIH-40; 09-06-2022)
(Uniform State/USAID)
(Civil Service and Foreign Service Employees)
Separation orders for employees assigned abroad will include authorization to travel to the service separation address via Washington, DC to attend the JSTP. Neither per diem nor transfer allowances will be authorized; participation will be at the expense of the employees. If the Retirement Planning Seminar is attended immediately preceding the JSTP, per diem will not be authorized in connection with either course. Family members will be authorized travel directly to the service separation address only.
13 FAH-1 H-422.3 Enrollment Procedures
(CT:FSIH-40; 09-06-2022)
(Uniform State/USAID)
(Civil Service and Foreign Service Employees)
a. Foreign Service personnel: Department of State FS Employees must request their career development officer in GTM/CDA to register them for the JSTP. FS employees from other agencies apply through their agency Training Office. Applications must be received no later than the deadlines listed in course listings and/or the FSI Schedule of Courses.
b. Civil Service personnel: Employees apply through their Bureau Training Office. Applications must be received no later than the deadlines listed in course listings and/or the FSI Schedule of Courses.
c. JSTP participants are required to align their retirement date with the last day of course enrollment. Participants may not return to work after the program, cannot take annual or sick leave after the last day of enrollment, and the Department will not authorize administrative leave for workdays between the final day of the program and the last day of the month. Attention: Foreign Service personnel facing mandatory retirement at age 65 MUST retire no later than the end of the month in which they turn 65. If an employee has less than 20 years of service and retires at the end of the month in which he or she turns 65, the annuity will be calculated using the 1.7 % factor. Therefore, FS personnel with less than 20 years of creditable service and who will reach age 65 during the JSTP Program may need to take the JSTP in nonpay status after retirement so that the 1.7 % factor is applied in the retirement computation.
d. Applications to attend the JSTP by employees being separated involuntarily (except for cause) may be disapproved only by the Director General of the Foreign Service and Director of Global Talent Management. Applications to attend the JSTP by employees retiring voluntarily may be disapproved only by an Assistant Secretary, Chief of Mission or officer of equivalent or higher rank.
e. FSI's Office of the Registrar sends email confirmation to employees enrolled in the JSTP.
f. For domestically based employees, their home bureau or office will continue to record and submit their time and attendance data to the appropriate payroll office during the JSTP. FSI/TC/CTC records and submits time and attendance reports only for those Department of State employees joining the program directly from assignments abroad.
13 FAH-1 H-423 Other Programs
(CT:FSIH-40; 09-06-2022)
(Uniform State/USAID)
(Civil Service and Foreign Service Employees)
a. FSI/TC/CTC also offers two one-day courses, “Financial Management and Estate Planning Seminar,” and “Annuities and Benefits and TSP Seminar.” These courses are embedded in the four-day Retirement Planning Seminar but may be taken as separate courses. FSI/TC/CTC also offers "Financial Planning/TSP and Annuity Benefits" as a webinar. The three-hour live Financial Planning/TSP segment is delivered virtually during Washington, DC business hours. The Annuity Benefits segment is a recorded presentation (CS-FERS or FS-FSPS) designed to be viewed in advance of the Financial Planning/TSP segment via a secure Internet site.
b. These offerings are normally open to all U.S. government employees regardless of age or retirement eligibility date. Any restrictions for specific courses are included in the course descriptions and/or application guidelines announced for them.
c. Applications should be submitted via online application through the online catalog website. State participants interested in having their spouses attend should contact FSI’s Career Transition Center (FSICTC@state.gov) to have the spouse placed on a waiting list.
13 FAH-1 H-424 THROUGH H-429 UNASSIGNED
13 FAH-1 Exhibit H-422.2-3
Retirement Agreement
(CT:FSIH-40; 09-06-2022)
(Uniform State/USAID)
RETIREMENT AGREEMENT
(SAMPLE ONLY)
I, ________________________________________, hereby affirm that I have submitted my retirement application as a condition for entry and participation in the Department of State’s Job Search/Transition Program. I have set my date of retirement as ____________________.
I further acknowledge and accept without limitations or exception, upon entrance full-time into the Job Search/Transition Program, the obligation to reimburse the Department the cost of the course tuition set by the Foreign Service Institute, should I voluntarily withdraw my retirement application.
Virtual Format: Civil Service $X, XXX and Foreign Service
$X,XXX
Classroom (in-person) Format: Civil Service $X, XXX and
Foreign Service $X,XXX.
I understand that any amounts which may be due the agency as a result of any failure on my part to meet the terms of this agreement may be withheld from any monies owed me by the U.S. Government or may be recovered by such other methods as are approved and allowable under the law.
_________________________ ___________________________
Signature of Employee Typed/Printed Name of Employee
_________________________ ___________________________
Post, Bureau, or Office Date
_________________________ ___________________________
Signature of Witness Typed/Printed Name of Witness