ADS 443 - Special Assistance to Employees/Beneficiaries

This assistance includes notifying emergency addressees of deceased employees, counseling and assisting survivors in settling financial benefits, and preparing a letter of condolence for signature by the Administrator. The primary responsibilities of M/HR/POD/ESB include notifying emergency addressees of deceased employees, counseling and assisting survivors in settling financial benefits, and preparing a letter of condolence for signature by the Administrator. Additionally, M/HR/POD/ESB is responsible for maintaining an Emergency Locator Card file in Washington and notifying persons in the event of emergencies. Missions are also responsible for providing special assistance to USAID employees and their beneficiaries. This includes immediately advising M/HR/POD/ESB of the death of an employee, contacting the closest relative of the deceased employee at post, arranging transportation of an employee who dies while on assignment, and forwarding undelivered checks and vouchers for unpaid travel expenses to the Bureau of M/FM. The Bureau for Management, Office of Financial Management (M/FM) is responsible for expediting all salary and other compensations due to employees at the time of death. This includes paying all unpaid salary, per diem allowances, mileage, and other amounts due in reimbursement of expenses of official travel, as well as retirement benefits and Federal Employees' Government Life Insurance (FEGLI) benefits. When an employee indicates intention to separate from USAID, an interview is conducted between the employee and the Bureau for Management, Office of Human Resources, Personnel Operations Division (M/HR/POD) in Washington or the Executive Officer or designee at the Mission. The employee is provided information about benefits and services available at the time of separation, including unemployment compensation benefits, conversion or continuation of life insurance, reemployment rights, health benefits, payment for all annual leave, and out-placement services. The Outplacement Service and the Displaced Employee Program are two special placement activities available to separating employees who desire to continue employment elsewhere in the Federal Government, state/local government, international organizations, or in private/educational facilities. The Office of Human Resources must attempt to find other Federal employment for eligible Civil Service (CS) employees or Foreign Service employees who possess such CS status, if they are being separated by a RIF action or are resigning after receiving a notice of a RIF. The Agency must assist the survivor(s) of a deceased employee in helping to settle the late employee's financial matters at USAID. The entitlements due to a beneficiary or beneficiaries when an employee dies include all unpaid salary, unpaid per diem allowances, mileage, and other amounts due in reimbursement of expenses of official travel, unpaid allowances and differential, amounts due as refund of salary deductions for U.S. Savings Bonds, payment for all unused annual leave, and retirement benefits. USAID shall notify certain designated persons in the event an employee in Washington (or elsewhere in the United States) is involved in an emergency situation. A current USAID/W Emergency Locator Card is maintained on each employee, including Foreign Service, who is assigned to a position or complement in the United States. The Emergency Locator Card includes names of persons to be notified in the event of an emergency.