Question
How do I count LWOP when determining the 12 months coverage for FEGLI?
Answer
Your insurance continues automatically for the first 12 months of nonpay status. If you return to pay status for a period of four consecutive months or more, you start a new 12-month period of continued coverage. Four consecutive months in pay status means any four-month period during which you are in pay status for at least part of each pay period. For example:
Melissa was on leave without pay (LWOP) from January 1 to February 28, 2012. She returned to work on March 1, 2012. She worked through July 31, 2012, and again went on LWOP. Since she was in a pay and duty status for at least four consecutive months, she will start a new 12-month period of continued coverage. The period she was on LWOP from January 1 through February 28, 2012, will not count against the new 12-month period that starts August 1, 2012.
If you return to pay status for less than four consecutive months, and you then again go into a nonpay status, you continue in the same 12-month nonpay status period. Another example will help.
Mai went on leave without pay (LWOP) on February 1, 2012. She then returned to work on May 1, 2012. She worked through July 31, 2012, and again went on LWOP beginning August 1, 2012. Since she was in a pay status for less than four months, we continue in the same 12-month LWOP status. If she does not return to pay and duty status, Mai's life insurance will end at the end of the day on April 30, 2013.
If you return to pay status for less than four consecutive months after your insurance ends due to 12 months in nonpay status, you do not get another 12-month period of continued coverage. You have insurance while you are again in pay status, but your insurance will stop on the last day of your last pay period in pay status. Here is an example of this situation.
Carlos' insurance ended on August 31, 2012 which was the end of 12 months in a nonpay status. Carlos returned to work on October 1, 2012. His life insurance is reinstated. On November 16, 2012, Carlos again goes into a LWOP status. Since he was in a pay status for less than four consecutive months, his life insurance ends at the end of the last day of the pay period in which Carlos went on LWOP or November 20, 2012. He does not begin a new 12-month period of continued coverage.