Government Employee Benefits

The Federal Government offers many benefits to its employees. Apart from the monthly payment, employees can avail various benefits. Government employee discounts are also offered and these benefits are given on the basis of position of that particular employee. The information about benefits offered to the federal and state employees is presented in short, in the following paragraphs.

US Federal Government Employee Benefits

Let us have a look at the government worker benefits that one can avail when in a government job through this article.

Leave/Vacation: The leaves are granted to employees for their personal, health care and recreational needs. Ten paid holiday and 13 sick leaves are given to all the employees. The vacation days/leave is given to employees on the basis of their experience; thus, on the basis of experience, number of leaves vary from 13-26 days.

Federal Employees Health Benefits Program: Health care needs of government employees and their family can be met through different plans being offered. There many consumer-driven plans on offer to the federal employees. The retirees, employees and survivors of the employees can benefit from these plans. 'Medicare' is a program of health insurance for those who are 65 years old or above. People with disabilities under the age of 65 years can however, avail this program.

Insurance: The insurance benefits for general health, vision, dental health, long-term disability and life insurance are offered by the Federal Government.

Retirement Benefits: The Federal Employment Retirement System (FERS) was created in 1986; the government retirement benefits are offered through 'Social Security', 'Basic Benefit' and 'Thrift Savings Plan'. One has to pay a certain amount from the monthly salary for these programs; the agency also contributes some part of the payment. Federal employees who complete 30 years of service and retire after the 'Minimum Retirement Age' (MRA), can avail the benefit of Social Security, after 62 years of age. If a person retires before reaching the age of 62 years, he is paid the 'Special Retirement Supplement' annuity.

Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program: This program is good for getting the benefits of long term service care. Health care service on a long term basis in a nursing home and at home is provided through this plan.

Apart from the benefits mentioned above, Federal employees can also avail educational loans. Those employees who are eligible to receive such loans, can go for student loan repayment of up to $10,000. The Federal government also helps its employees in managing their personal/family responsibilities through different programs. Employees can be allowed to work in schedule that are flexible. Child support programs, telework and employee assistance programs are few of the other benefits.

State Government Employee Benefits

The benefits offered to employees working for state government are discussed below. The different types of vacations these employees can avail are sick leave, civil leave, military leave, holidays, family illness leave, family medical leave, community service leave, special leave, voluntary shared leave and vacation leave. The different insurance plans for state government employees are 'Health Insurance', 'Disability Income Plan', 'Long Term Care', 'Unemployment Insurance', 'Employees' Assistance Program', 'Workers' compensation' and 'Flexible Benefits'. Once a state employee completes his service requirements, benefits in different forms such as 'Service Retirement', 'Death Benefits', 'Short-term Disability' and 'Long-term Disability' are provided by the Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System. The Illinois government worker benefits include most of the benefits offered by other states like the insurance, retirement benefits, leaves and other benefits (Flexible Spending Accounts, Commuter Savings Program and Deferred Compensation). Benefits to the local government employee just like that of the state, take care of various needs of its workers.

The benefits given to the government employee are useful for increasing the productivity of employees and also to secure their lives. The health benefits, retirement benefits and other schemes are aimed at providing the employees with the much-needed support system.