If you are involuntarily separated from the agency, you may be eligible for unemployment benefits. You will receive FSIS' Unemployment Compensation Form in a separation package after leaving the agency. You need to submit this form when you file, and you should review the information from the U.S. Department of Labor linked below. Note: Retired and DRP employees are not eligible to file for unemployment.

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
• Questions and Answers for Federal Employees and Contractors

Standard Form 50 (SF-50)

An SF-50 documents personnel actions in federal employment. If you plan to apply for a federal position in the future, you will need a copy of your last SF-50, which is available within the electronic Official Personnel Folder system, or eOPF system. If you have already separated from FSIS, you will not be able to access this system. You can obtain a copy of your SF-50 by emailing FSISHR1@usda.gov, subject line: SF-50. You may request your full personnel folder approximately 90 days after separating from FSIS by contacting the National Personnel Records Center's (NPRC) Federal Records Center Program. NPRC maintains the folders of former federal civilian employees whose employment ended after 1951.

Tax Documents and Earnings and Leave Statements

You can download or print tax documents — such as your Wages and Tax Statement (W-2), Employee's Withholding Statement (W-4) and Employer-Provided Health Insurance Offer and Coverage (1095-C) form — and your earnings and leave statements through the National Finance Center's (NFC) My Employee Personal Page (MyEPP) system. You will have access to this system for 18 months following your separation. Instructions on logging in without your LincPass card are below.

Important details about MyEPP access:

• Separated employees can only access MyEPP using Login.gov with multi-factor authentication.
• Before separating, employees should notate their EPP user ID and password. This will be used to initially access Login.gov.
• Current and recently-separated employees unable to access MyEPP can email FSISHR1@usda.gov, subject line: EPP Access, for assistance.
• Self-service options will not be available for separated employees, including changing printing options.
• Refer to MyEPP Quick Reference Guide for more information.

Important information from the NFC:

• In January 2025, employees' 2024 W-2s were mailed to their residence as recorded in the Payroll/Personnel System.
• If you have not received a W-2, your W-2 may have required an adjustment, and it would have been mailed upon completion. You can use MyEPP to check your W-2 data.
• To request W-2 reprints, all current and former employees of agencies serviced by NFC must contact their respective Servicing Personnel Office. Please send a request to FSISHR1@usda.gov, subject line: W-2.

Performance Appraisal

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 cannot access the system or need assistance retrieving your performance appraisal, contact your supervisor or email FSISHR1@usda.gov, subject line: Performance Appraisal.

If you lose your Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) 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.

Your regular coverage ends on the last day of the pay period in which you separate. OHR 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 is recommended to request your TCC information as soon as possible. TCC enrollments — and premiums — always begin on the 32nd day after regular coverage ends. 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.

TCC enrollees must pay the full premium for the plan they select (that is, both the employee and Government shares of the premium) plus a 2% administrative charge.

Note: Retirees eligible to continue regular FEHB coverage aren't eligible for TCC because FEHB coverage doesn't end. If you retired and aren't sure whether you are eligible to continue regular FEHB coverage as a retiree, contact your assigned HR Benefits Specialist. Your assigned HR Benefits Specialist can be found on the OHR Portal by selecting the "Who to Contact" in the upper right-hand corner. Use the top drop down to pick your specific district or program and the lower drop down to pick your topic of inquiry. For benefits assistance, contact FSIS OHR at FSISHR1@usda.gov, subject line: Benefits.

If you elect TCC please complete the SF-2809 Form and return to FSISHR1@usda.gov, subject line: TCC Enrollment.

Useful links from OPM:

• Termination, Conversion and Temporary Continuation of Coverage
• Temporary Continuation of Coverage
• I'm leaving Federal Service (not retiring) Information and FAQs
• Healthcare & Benefits
• Insurance FAQs

You need to process your final timesheet prior to departure on your last workday. For those on administrative leave through the deferred resignation program, your timesheets will be managed by your timekeeper and agency administrators through September 30, 2025. If you combined deferred resignation with retirement, your timesheet will be managed through December 31, 2025. If you are not able to access your timesheet, your timekeeper can enter your hours. Please contact your supervisor for assistance and confirmation.

As described in the section "Tax Documents and Earnings and Leave Statements" above, you can access your leave balance information from your earnings and leave statements in MyEPP.

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. Sick leave balance will be credited back if you are hired back in the federal service. If you retired, your sick leave will be added to your service credit for calculating your annuity.

Any time-off award hours to your credit must have been used by your last day of employment. Time-off award hours cannot be converted to cash.

Any compensatory (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. If you did not use up your travel comp time, you will not be paid for it. Refer to the OPM fact sheet Lump-Sum Payments for Annual Leave for additional information. If you have any questions, contact OHR at FSISHR1@usda.gov, subject line: Leave.

Separated employees must complete a clearance process outlined in FSIS Directive 2410.1 and complete FSIS Form 2410-9 before their last day in office. Contact your supervisor of record to identify all equipment, credentials and documents that you must return.

You must return all government-issued equipment and credentials, including the following:

• Your government-issued laptop.
• Any government-issued equipment, such as a printer.
• Your government-issued mobile phone.
• Keys to any government offices.
• Your LincPass card.
• Any government-issued credit or purchase cards.
• Any government-issued Transit Benefit Cards.

All electronic devices such as laptops, mobile devices, tablets and printers need to be returned through CEC. Employees who worked in a government office may leave IT peripherals such as monitors, docking stations, mice and keyboards at their workstation. LincPasses should be taken to the badging office at headquarters. Employees who worked outside of a government office (e.g., remote) will need to ship electronic devices to the Enterprise Depot. When requesting a box and shipping label, those participating in DRP should select "Deferred Resignation Program (Fork in the Road)" as the reason for equipment return. Those separating from FSIS should follow the latest eCycle procedure guidance. Contact your supervisor with any questions. Do not add government credit cards, purchase cards, LincPass cards, etc., to Enterprise Depot shipments. LincPasses can be returned to the resource management staff at your district office or mailed to:

1. USDA FSIS
2. George Washington Carver Center
3. Attn: Elizabeth Espinosa, WS-1-2101
4. 5601 Sunnyside Avenue
5. Beltsville, MD 20705

Remote employees should not return non-accountable property, such as keyboards, mice, monitors, docking stations, office furniture or office supplies. You should complete USDA Form AD-112 (blocks 1-4) and submit the form to your supervisor for signature (block 5).

Contact your supervisor for instructions on returning government-issued credentials, purchase cards and keys. You can find additional information about the clearance process, including how to return official passports, withdrawing from Transit Subsidy Program and more, by visiting FSIS Directive 2410.1, Rev.1. If you find a piece of equipment that you forgot to return, you will need to contact your former supervisor for guidance.

Note: email your supervisor all shipping receipts after shipping any government-issued equipment or credentials.

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 FSISHR1@usda.gov, subject line: Travel Voucher.

Additional questions about travel vouchers and government purchase or travel cards can be directed to FSCgeneral@fsis.gov.

Applying for retirement is not automatic. Request retirement paperwork through your assigned HR Benefits Specialist. Your assigned specialist can be found on the OHR Portal by selecting the "Who to Contact" in the upper right-hand corner. Use the top drop down to pick your specific district or program and the lower drop down to pick your topic of inquiry.

Ideally packets are completed 2 months prior to the scheduled separation date. However, the packet cannot be processed by the payroll provider until after the separation has posted and the final Time and Attendance has been completed.

It is important to read and retain all information OPM sends you and plan accordingly.

Your initial interim retirement check is ordinarily sent approximately 60 days from the date of your retirement. This interim pay is usually less than 80% of your net annuity, not including the FERS annuity supplement (if it applies to you). Note: all federal retirements are processed through a single OPM office in Washington, D.C. Your interim pay may continue for several months while your records are reviewed and before your actual annuity amount is finalized. Timelines may be longer in September (end of fiscal year), December and January (end of calendar year) due to the large volume of retirements.

Shortly after OPM receives your retirement application (after your retirement date) they will send you a Civil Service Annuity (CSA) number along with a password for OPM's Retirement Services Online. This will allow you digital access to change withholdings, allotments, address, etc., once your retirement is finalized.

Thrift Savings Plan

If you have left the federal government, you can no longer make employee contributions to your 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:

• Make sure the TSP always has your current address.
• Contact TSP if you have any outstanding TSP loans. They will assist you with your options.
• Read the TSP booklets "Distributions" and "Tax Rules about TSP Payments" to fully understand your options.
• Learn more on the TSP page Leaving the Federal Government.
• Access your TSP account electronically to make any changes needed after separation.

Federal Employees Retirement System

The majority of currently active federal employees fall under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), which was introduced in 1987. Based on the FERS information from OPM, if you leave your government job before becoming eligible for retirement:

• You can ask that your retirement contributions be returned to you in a lump sum payment, or
• If you have at least five years of creditable service, you can wait until you are at retirement age to apply for monthly retirement benefit payments. This is called a deferred retirement. See eligibility requirements for FERS retirement.

See more information on the OPM page about FERS for former employees.

Civil Service Retirement System

The Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) predated FERS. For CSRS employees that leave federal employment before retiring:

• You can ask that your retirement contributions be returned to you in a lump sum payment, or
• If you have five or more years of civilian service, you can wait until you are retirement age to apply for monthly retirement benefit payments. This is called a deferred retirement. See eligibility requirements for CSRS retirement.

See more information on the OPM page about CSRS for former employees.

If you are eligible for retirement and 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 FERS or CSRS. You may be required to make a redeposit of refunded retirement contributions. Refer to information about retirement eligibility in the OPM Leaving the Government Retirement FAQ.

If you separate from FSIS, you will be covered by Federal Employee's Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) coverage without cost to you for 31 days. If you are not eligible for an immediate annuity, you can convert any portion of the insurance to an individual policy without taking a medical exam. You will be required to pay the entire premium of the individual policy purchased from any eligible insurance company. The conversion must be made within 31 days after the effective date of separation.

If you have left federal employment and then decide to return to federal employment, you may re-enroll in your FEGLI coverage. OPM has outlined scenarios on returning to federal employment depending on length of a break in service, "What happens to my FEGLI coverage if I leave Federal employment and then decide to come back?"

Useful links from OPM:

• Life Insurance Information
• Frequently Asked Questions about Life Insurance

Separating from federal service will not affect your Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (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) or visit the FLTCIP website to make other billing arrangements.

You may complete an exit survey about your experience and perception of the workplace. These surveys help FSIS gain insight into employee experiences and identify areas for improvement. Please go to the following website to access a confidential and anonymous employee exit survey if you'd like to participate: USDA Exit Survey.

Your supervisor or the separating official may also arrange an optional exit interview with someone other than your supervisor to gather more detailed information about your experience within a specific team or office. Exit interviews help FSIS supervisors make targeted changes within an employee's specific team or office. More information about exit interviews and example questions can be found at Exit Interview Guide.

Once you separate from FSIS, certain post-employment restrictions will be in effect. Some restrictions apply to all former FSIS employees, while other restrictions may be dependent on the position you held with the agency. Visit USDA's Office of Ethics Post-Employment Restrictions to review restrictions that affect you and for more resources. You can direct questions and request informal assistance navigating these restrictions by locating an ethics advisor, calling (202) 720-2251, or emailing daeo.ethics@usda.gov.

Note: federal employee ethics rules still apply to those on administrative leave through the DRP. Through September 30, 2025, DRP employees cannot represent the interests of a nonfederal entity before a federal department, agency or officer. This means that you cannot perform outside work that requires you to communicate or interact with federal personnel. These interactions are considered impermissible representations. Following those restrictions, you may still seek outside employment that would not create a conflict of interest because you are not assigned official duties while on administrative leave.