How do I check that my personnel information is up to date?
- Federal employees should download their personnel and benefits documents including their SF-50, eOPF and most recent performance reviews.
- It is also recommended that employees request a copy of their Security Clearance Verification Form (500-3).
What is the SF-50 form?
- The Notification of Personnel Action Form (SF-50) documents information about a federal employee’s position, including personnel actions that affect their employment status. Such actions may include promotions, reassignments, or terminations.
- Employees should save a copy of their SF-50 to verify employment details or address future employment disputes.
What should I do if information on my SF-50 is incorrect?
- Employees should regularly check the accuracy of their SF-50s and report any errors to their agency’s human resources department.
- There is a formal correction process for amending mistakes in the SF-50 form. Employees should create a new SF-50 form and provide a written explanation for the correction.
What is an eOPF?
- The electronic Official Personnel Folder is an online database for federal employees’ personnel information. The eOPF allows federal workers to secure, document and access their employment data.
- An employee’s user ID and password should have been made available at the start of their appointment. Employees are responsible for checking the accuracy of their own data.
How can I download my personnel information (eOPF)?
- Instructions to download your eOPF may vary by agency. If you cannot find instructions, contact your office’s human resources representative.
What is the competitive service?
- The competitive service encompasses all civil service positions in the executive branch of the federal government, with some exceptions. Roughly two-thirds of federal civil servants are in the competitive service.
- Employees in the competitive service are subject to a competitive hiring process before being appointed which is open to all applicants.
What is the excepted service?
- Employees in the excepted service are not subject to the competitive hiring process and are often appointed under unique circumstances, such as the need for specialized skills.
- Presidents, the Office of Personnel Management and Congress over the years have created various excepted service authorities which have their own hiring processes and are not subject to the appointment, pay, or classification rules in Title 5 of the U.S. Code. Some excepted service authorities are available government-wide, while some are specific to certain agencies.
What is the Senior Executive Service?
- Members of the Senior Executive Service typically hold executive management roles, bridging the gap between presidential appointees and the rest of the federal workforce.
- The SES is subject to regulations separate from both the competitive service and excepted service and has its own pay structure. Most SES members are career employees who are hired into the SES through a merit-based process.
How do I know if I am part of the competitive, excepted, or Senior Executive Service?
- To determine if you are part of the competitive, excepted, or Senior Executive Service, review Block 34 (“Position Occupied”) on your SF-50 form. “1” indicates a competitive service appointment, “2” indicates an excepted service appointment, “3” indicates a SES general appointment and “4” indicates a SES career reserved appointment.
- If you see an asterisk in Block 34 or have any additional questions, consult your agency’s human resources department.
If I am part of the competitive service, how do I know if I am a career or career-conditional employee?
- If you are part of the competitive service, you can determine if you are a career or career-conditional employee by referring to Block 24 (“Tenure”) on your SF-50 form. “1” indicates a career appointment and “2” indicates a career-conditional appointment.
- Most federal workers in the competitive service begin as a career-conditional appointment before receiving full tenure in the civil service. After three years of continuous service, they then receive a career appointment.
If I am part of the competitive service, how do I know if I am still in my probationary period?
- To determine whether your probationary period has ended, check the hiring date on your SF-50 form. There should be a note about the start date and duration of your probationary period. This information should also have been included in writing in your final job offer.
- If you are unable to locate this information, consult Block 24 (“Tenure”) on your SF-50 form. “1” indicates that you have completed at least three years of service and have thus likely completed your probationary period, which typically is one year but could be longer for some positions such as those involving specialized training. “2” indicates that although you hold a permanent position, you have not yet completed three years of service and may still hold probationary status.
- Contact your agency’s human resources department if you are unable to confirm your probationary status.
Does the probationary period pertain to employees who are not new to government but may be new to their level (for example, a new SES who has been a GS-employee)?
- Yes. Probationary periods may apply to any employee who is new to a higher-level appointment, even if they are not new to the federal workforce. Probationary periods may also apply to federal employees appointed to a different agency through a new hiring action, particularly if they are taking on a different role.
How do I check my bargaining unit status?
- Bargaining unit status is listed in Block 37 of your SF-50 form.
- If your position is not covered the code is “8888” and if your position is eligible for coverage but no unit currently exists, the code is “7777”. If your position is both eligible and a bargaining unit exists, you will have a different numeric code.
How do I check if I have a telework agreement?
- To find a copy of your agency’s telework policy, first search the organization’s intranet and your Official Personnel Folder.
- If you are unable to locate the policy, contact your agency’s telework coordinator, telework managing officer or the human resources department.
How do I download my performance reviews?
- Performance reviews for federal employees are stored in either the electronic Official Personnel Folder (eOPF) or in the Employee Performance File.
How can I access my personnel files if I have been locked out of my agency’s system (i.e. dismissed or placed on administrative leave)?
- If a federal employee is no longer able to access government systems, they should first contact their agency’s personnel officer to request a copy of their personnel records.
- If this is unsuccessful, employees may also submit a written request to the National Personnel Records Center, which houses paper copies of federal workers’ Official Personnel Folders. However, OPFs are not retired to the NPCR until 120 days after a separation; if less than four months has elapsed since an employee’s separation, they should first contact their former agency’s personnel officer or human resources department.
What employee benefit platforms should I ensure I have login information for?
- Federal employees who have been separated from the workforce are entitled to and should retain login information for the following benefits platforms:
- The Thrift Savings Plan.
- The Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. Federal workers may continue receiving health insurance for 18 months after a separation through a temporary continuation of coverage . Employees must register for a TCC within 60 days of separation.
- The Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program . Enrollees may continue to receive coverage under FLTCIP so long as they continue to pay their premium and have not exhausted their maximum lifetime benefit.
- The Federal Employees Group Life Insurance Program. Coverage will continue without cost for 31 days after a separation.
- FSAFEDS. Although employees’ enrollment in FSAFEDS ends on the date of separation, eligible health care expenses incurred before a separation will still be reimbursed. Additionally, for enrollees in a Dependent Care account, any remaining balance may still be used until the end of the calendar year.
- BENEFEDS. Although separated workers lose access to their dental and vision insurance after a separation, the BENEFEDS portal provides valuable information and enrollment options for non-governmental coverage.