Jeanne G. Walsh United States Probation Office - Northern District of Illinois

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For more information on employment with the U.S. Probation Office please call:

312.435.5700

Federal Courts Employees' Benefits Package


Heath Benefits

The Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan offers employees the option to participate in two types of health insurance plans; a Fee-For-Service Plan or a Prepaid Comprehensive Medical or Health Maintenance Plan. Participation in either plan is voluntary. New employees have 60 days from commencement of employment to enroll. Health insurance coverage is effective at the beginning of the following pay period in which the Human Resources Department receives the employee’s Health Insurance Election Form. The Government shares the cost of the total premium up to 75% regardless of the plan the employee selects. Also, employees are able to participate in the Premium Conversion program which allows for payment of health premiums on a pre-tax basis.


Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program

The Federal Employees Dental/Vision Insurance Program is available to an employee and eligible family members on an enrollee-pay-all basis. This program allows dental and vision insurance to be purchased on a group basis, which means competitive premiums and no pre-existing condition limitations. Premiums for enrollees are deducted on a pre-tax basis.


Flexible Spending Account

This account consists of the Health Care Reimbursement Account and Dependent Care Reimbursement Account.

The Health Care Reimbursement Account is used to set aside pre-taxed money in order to reimburse costs that are not covered by the medical, dental, or optical portion of the employee's health insurance.

The Dependent Care Reimbursement Account is generally used to cover dependent care expenses incurred as a result of the employee and his or her spouse working or seeking employment, or the employee's spouse attending school full-time.


Leave Act Benefits

Annual Leave/Vacation

The number of days of accrued annual leave per year are as follows:

Years of Service Accrued Annual Leave
Less Than 3 Years 4 Hours Per Pay Period (13 Days Per Year)
3 - 15 Year 6 Hours Per Pay Period (20 Days Per Year)
15+ Years 8 Hours Per Pay Period (26 Days Per Year)

For the first three years, employees earn 13 accrued paid annual leave per year. After their third year, they earn 20 days.

Sick Leave

Every full time employee receives 4 hours of accrued paid sick leave per pay period regardless of the number of years they have served with the U.S. District Court.


Life Insurance

All new employees are automatically enrolled in the Basic Option of the Federal Employees Group Life Insurance http://opm.gov/insure/new_employ/index.asp Program unless the employee opts to waive insurance entitlement. If an employee waives their insurance entitlement and later decides to participate in the plan, the employee must wait until an Open Enrollment period or obtain a physical from a certified physician before becoming eligible for enrollment. The life insurance plan also offers employees the option to enroll in 3 additional levels beyond the Basic level: Standard, Additional, and Family. The Government pays one third of the cost of the employee's Basic term life insurance.


Retirement Program

Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS)

All employees hired after December 1983 participate in the flexible Federal Employees Retirement System. This program is comprised of three components: Social Security Benefits, an Annuity, and the Thrift Savings Plan. Employees pay the total Social Security taxes and approximately .08% of their annual salary is contributed to an Annuity base. The rest of the FERS program is dedicated to the Thrift Savings Plan.

Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)

The Thrift Savings Plan is similar to the private sector's 401(k) plan in that it allows all federal employees to participate in this defined contribution retirement savings and investment plan. It also offers savings and tax benefits. Employees may enroll in the Thrift Savings Plan immediately upon joining the U.S. District Court.

The Government will match employee contributions immediately after the employee begins employment with the U.S. District Court and enrolls in the Thrift Savings Plan. At that time, the Government will contribute 1% to the employee's plan. The first 5% an employee contributes to the TSP is matched by the Government at a total of 4%.


10 Federal Holidays

Each year the U.S. Probation Office observes a minimum of 10 paid holidays. These holidays are:


Additional Benefits

There are a few other wonderful programs available to employees in addition to the programs listed above. Employees enter these other programs as private consumers. These benefits include:


Transit Voucher

At the end of each month, budget permitting, U.S. Probation Office employees receive a transit voucher.

 

info Please contact Human Resources for any questions at 312-435-5700 or e-mail human_resources_ilnp@ilnp.uscourts.gov.