Civilian Careers: Benefits
The supportive culture at the U.S. Coast Guard is as dynamic as our American role, as evidenced by our desirable benefits. As a Civilian U.S. Coast Guard employee, you will receive many benefits that are equal to, or better than, the comparable benefits package in private industry. It's all part of our commitment to offer you a better working experience. Below is a sampling of the benefits we offer.
PART-TIME EMPLOYMENT
Part-time employment may include Professional, Administrative, Technical, Trades and Labor, Administrative Support, and other occupations. When you work for the U.S. Coast Guard, you will encounter daily challenges and opportunities that will build a solid foundation for your future. You will also enjoy working with cutting-edge computer, telecommunications, and data management technology.
Some part-time positions may be eligible for a comprehensive benefits package that includes health benefits, paid training, paid holidays, paid vacations, and paid sick days.
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VACATION AND MORE
As a full-time government employee, you will earn 13 days of annual leave each year for your first 3 years; 20 days of leave for 3-14 years of service; and 26 days for 15 years or more. You may carryover up to 30 days (240 hours) of annual leave each year. Prior government employment, including military service, may apply to your leave accrual rate.
You will also earn 13 days worth of sick leave each year. There are no limits on the amount of sick leave that can be accumulated.
We also grant excused absences (administrative leave), with supervisory approval, for several situations including: voting; ceremonies and official functions; funerals; blood donations; and other situations.
We participate in the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Family Friendly Leave Act, Bone Marrow-Organ Donor Leave Program, and other leave-related programs.
We wholeheartedly support the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). USERRA protects the job rights of civilians who voluntarily or involuntarily leave their positions to undertake military service.
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SAVINGS, 401-K & MORE
The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) is a retirement and savings program established by Congress to provide government employees with the same or superior benefits similar to popular 401-K type savings plans. Like 401-K plans, with the TSP, the amount of retirement income an employee receives from the account will depend on a few factors: how much the employee contributes during his/her working years, the agency matching contributions, and the earnings on those contributions.
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RETIREMENT
Eligible employees hired after 1983 are automatically enrolled in the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS). FERS is a three-tiered program that consists of a Government annuity, your Social Security, and the TSP. In FERS, .8% of your basic pay is contributed each pay period to your retirement annuity.
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HEALTH INSURANCE
As a permanent government employee, you, your spouse, and your children are eligible for the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program; one of the most flexible and affordable health insurance programs available. You have a choice of several plans and options, including well known Fee-for-Service and Point-of-Service Plans and HMOs. The Government pays approximately 72% of the coverage, while the employee pays the balance through payroll deductions. FEHB offers immediate coverage from the effective date of enrollment without a medical examination or restrictions because of age or physical condition.
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LIFE INSURANCE
As an eligible employee, you are automatically enrolled for Basic Life Insurance with the Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI). Your benefit doubles if you are 35 or younger. You may also select coverage for your spouse and children. The FEGLI Program offers low group rates and convenient payroll deductions.
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LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE
The Federal Long-Term Care Insurance Program is designed to pay for your needs should you become disabled by an injury, illness, or aging. This insurance makes payments towards many types of long-term care including, but not limited to:
Employees, their spouses, adult children, employee's parents, and in-law parents may be eligible to apply for this insurance program. Thanks to negotiations by OPM and the enormous buying power of a group as large as the Federal Family, you'll find the premiums very competitive and the coverage among the most comprehensive available at any price. Your premiums can change only with OPM's approval and only on a group basis. There is no government contribution for this program; you will pay 100% of the premium.
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EDUCATION
We encourage all employees to make the most of offered training, educational, and professional development opportunities. Unique programs are designed to give you the opportunity to gain academic experiences, to work with highly-skilled professionals, and to meet the challenges the U.S. Coast Guard addresses in the Department of Homeland Security. Educational benefits include:
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AWARDS
The U.S. Coast Guard has many types of awards and incentives that civilian employees may earn in the course of their career. The Civilian Awards Program was developed to reward significant contributions made by both individuals and groups of employees. Awards recognize outstanding service, creativity in the workplace, commitment to customer service, cost savings, and many other types of personal contributions. In addition to the yearly performance awards that are linked to performance appraisals, you can earn incentive awards that range from monetary awards to time-off. Honorary awards are also available to recognize outstanding achievement, and can also include monetary compensation.
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WORK-LIFE
We are committed to providing you with greater stability and flexibility, and to help you achieve a better quality-of-life both personally and in the workplace. As a U.S. Coast Guard civilian employee, you can benefit from many available work-life and support programs.
The Employee Assistance Program is a toll-free professional counseling and referral service designed to help with personal, job, or family problems. It is free, voluntary, and confidential.
A myriad of health promotion programs are available to assist you in seeking and maintaining a healthy lifestyle including: nutrition; physical fitness; tobacco cessation; alcohol and drug abuse prevention and education; stress management; prevention of disease and injury risk education; and weight management.
Family Resource Specialists can provide referral services dealing with scholarships, elder care, and family members with special needs.
Family Advocacy Specialists can provide referral services regarding family violence situations.
In some locations, nursing mothers' rooms and on-site day care are available.
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ADDITIONAL BENEFITS
As a Civilian U.S. Coast Guard employee, you are eligible for other benefits such as:
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TELEWORK
U.S. Coast Guard offers the opportunity for telework in some positions. This alternative work arrangement enables you to conduct all or some of your work away from the primary workplace. This concept can be applied to a variety of work experiences. Your work location might be your residence, a telework center, or another acceptable location. Telecommuting schedules may be fixed or on an occasional basis. The way we see it, telework can benefit both the agency and the employee in a number of ways including:
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Increasing employee productivity
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Optimizing technology use
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Attracting and retaining skilled employees
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Improving quality of work life
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Reducing commuting time and expenses
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Accommodating people with disabilities
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FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNTS
As an eligible employee, you have access to the Federal Flexible Spending Account Program, also known as FSAFEDS. FSAFEDS lets you set aside pre-tax money from your paychecks to pay for a variety of health and dependent care expenses. The result can be a savings of up to 40% on services you routinely pay for out-of-pocket.
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