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Eligibility Details for Benefits and Leave for Same-Sex Domestic Partners of Federal Employees
June 24, 2009
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issued a notice to share available
information for federal employees regarding same-sex domestic partners'
eligibility for benefits and leave.
FLTCIP OPM stated they are working on regulations to add same-sex domestic partners
of federal and U.S. Postal Service employees and annuitants as qualified
relatives eligible to apply for coverage under the Federal Long Term Care
Insurance Program (FLTCIP). Until the regulations are effective, same-sex
domestic partners cannot apply for coverage under the FLTCIP.
The proposed regulations, acccording to OPM, will be published in
the Federal Register this summer, allowing a 30 day public comment period.
OPM will review those comments and issue final regulations as soon as possible
thereafter.
Leave
OPM also plans to issue proposed regulations in the near future to modify its
definitions of "family member" and "immediate relative" for purposes related to
the use of sick leave, funeral leave, voluntary leave transfer, voluntary leave
bank, and emergency leave transfer.
Specifically, OPM stated
they are adding new definitions of "son and daughter", "parent", and "domestic
partner". According to OPM, this proposal will help ensure that agencies
are administering leave consistently for a diverse workforce and providing the
broadest support possible to help employees balance their increasing work,
personal, and family obligations.
The proposed regulations
on leave will be published in the Federal Register, allowing a 60 day public
comment period. OPM will review those comments and issue final regulations
as soon as possible thereafter.
FEHB, FEGLI, FEDVIP,
FSAFEDS
Same-sex domestic partner coverage cannot be extended under the FEHB, FEGLI,
FEDVIP or FSAFEDS programs without legislation. Therefore the Presidential
memorandum does not affect those programs.
Reference
Materials The Presidential memorandum
The Presidential statement
The remarks about the memorandum
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