If you are called to active duty military service, you will have time served granted to you at no cost, if you receive an other than dishonorable discharge and return to covered employment within a year of discharge from active duty. See your human resource office for more information.
The following benefits are available to you:
Service Retirement
Pays a monthly benefit for life, upon reaching age and service requirements.
Eligibility for Benefit
You do not accrue service credit while on leave without pay for active duty military service.
Benefits Upon Return to VRS Employment
Active duty military service can be granted at no cost and be counted toward vesting and a service retirement benefit upon reentry into a covered position. You must return to covered employment within 12 months of a discharge that is other than dishonorable. You must submit a copy of your DD214 and apply for the service by filling out an Application for Purchase of Prior Service Credit (VRS-26).
Purchase Service
Prior service credit counts toward the five years needed to become vested and eligible for retirement.
Eligibility for Benefit
When on leave, after-tax purchase agreements terminate after two months if payment is not received. Pretax purchase agreements freeze in an active status while on leave without pay; no payroll deductions can be made.
Benefits Upon Return to VRS Employment
If you were purchasing service with an after-tax agreement, you must reapply to purchase the remaining service. If you were purchasing service with a pretax agreement, deductions should resume immediately upon your return to active employment in a VRS-covered position.
Disability Retirement
Pays a monthly benefit for life if you become mentally or physically unable to perform job duties and your condition is total and likely to be permanent. (Not available to state employees in VSDP.)
Eligibility for Benefit
You can apply while employed or up to 90 days of the last day of employment. If you are on active duty military leave, you may apply at any time while on military leave.
Virginia Sickness & Disability Program (VSDP)
Provides income replacement in the event of short-term or long-term disability.
Eligibility for Benefit
You may use family and personal leave to extend active employment status to retain coverage. You will not receive sick leave and family and personal leave while on leave without pay.
Benefits Upon Return to VRS Employment
VSDP sick and family and personal leave resumes with new balances.
Death-in-Service
Pays any member contributions and interest in your defined benefit member contribution account to your named beneficiary or to your spouse, minor child or parent in the event of your death as an active member. This payment is in addition to any VRS group life insurance benefits you may have.
Eligibility for Benefit
Continues while you are on leave without pay for active duty military service.
Health Insurance
Coverage is the same as during regular employment.
Eligibility for Benefit
Extended coverage (under COBRA) continues for 18 months while you are on leave for active duty military service. If you are a state employee, your employer continues to pay the employer portion of the premium. You pay the cost of dependent coverage.
Benefits Upon Return to VRS Employment
Coverage continues with premiums paid through payroll deductions.
Basic Group Life Insurance
Does not pay accidental death and dismemberment benefits if death results from an act of war. See Group Life Insurance Program
Eligibility for Benefit
If you are on military leave without pay, you may continue basic group life insurance coverage for the duration of the leave period if the premiums are paid. If you pay the employee premium, your employer will collect the premium and remit it to VRS on the member's behalf. If your employer pays the premium, your employer will remit the premium to VRS. If you do not pay the required premium, coverage ceases during the leave period. Coverage is reinstated once you return to a covered position.
Benefits Upon Return to VRS Employment
Benefits and payment methods continue as before leave without pay.
Optional Life Insurance
See Group Life Insurance Program
Eligibility for Benefit
If you are on military leave without pay, you may continue optional life coverage for the duration of the leave period if the premiums are paid. If you do not pay the required premium, coverage ceases during the leave period.
Benefits Upon Return to VRS Employment
Coverage continues with premiums paid through payroll deduction. You may drop optional coverage while on leave without pay for active military service and be reinstated without having to provide evidence of good health for the same or lesser amount. The deduction must resume immediately upon your reemployment in a covered position.
Defined Contribution Plans
The pension protections under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) also extend to VRS defined contribution plans, including:
- Defined contribution component of the Hybrid Retirement Plan
- Commonwealth of Virginia 457 Deferred Compensation Plan
- Virginia Cash Match Plan
- Optional Retirement Plans
Make-Up Contributions
If you participate in a VRS defined contribution plan, you can make up mandatory and voluntary contributions you missed while on active-duty military leave. Make-up periods can be up to three times the length of service, not to exceed five years. Contributions are subject to IRS limits.
Complete the Application for Contribution Make-Up for Hybrid Plan Participants Returning From Military Leave (VRS-26M) form to make up any mandatory and voluntary contributions to your Hybrid Retirement Plan defined contribution component. Your employer must make the matching contributions to the Hybrid 401(a) Cash Match Plan.
If eligible, complete the Application for Uniformed Service for Uniformed Service Leave Make-Up and Payroll Authorization form to make up voluntary contributions to the Commonwealth of Virginia 457 Deferred Compensation Plan. Your employer must make the matching contributions to the Virginia Cash Match Plan.
Optional Retirement Plans
You are eligible to receive any missed employer contributions when you return to active employment in the following VRS optional retirement plans:
- Optional Retirement Plan for Higher Education
- Optional Retirement Plan for Political Appointees
- Optional Retirement Plan for School Superintendents
Your employer should determine appropriate catch-up amounts and, with your assistance, work with the VRS defined contribution plan record keeper to ensure catch-up employer contributions are made.