FAQs

If you go on non-pay status during the benefit period (plan year) and have not pre-paid your allotment (FSA contribution), your FSA account will be frozen. You will not be eligible for reimbursement of any health care expenses incurred during that period, even if your employer continues to pay your Federal Employees Health Benefit (FEHB) premiums for medical coverage.

Your options for coverage while you're on non-pay status are the same as those for someone on Leave Without Pay (LWOP). You may accelerate your allotments prior to going on non-pay status, or your account will be frozen until you return to pay status and your allotments are successfully restarted (in which case, we would recalculate your allotments based on the number of pay periods remaining in the benefit period).

You will forfeit any funds remaining in your account and will not be eligible for carryover if your account is not fully funded or if it remains frozen during the rest of the benefit period.

However, if you have a Dependent Care FSA, dependent care expenses you incur during your leave that meet IRS guidelines may be eligible for reimbursement. For example, if you incur the expenses in order to allow you and your spouse to work, or for your spouse to attend school full-time, you may be reimbursed up to your account balance.

When you return to pay status, we will recalculate your allotments based on the number of pay dates remaining in the benefit period.