This post has been in the works for a few weeks now, but as is life, it got pushed aside for more urgent matters.

Of course, this won’t apply to everyone. And for those who are fighting their terminations, I applaud you and hope it ends in your favor.

I’ve also added unemployment information at the bottom for:

• Arizona
• California (Safety Net State, 2025)
• New York (Safety Net State, 2025)
• Massachusetts (Safety Net State, 2025)
• Unemployment Website for all 50 States

Federal Employee Separation Benefits Guide

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Leave & Compensation

✅ Annual Leave Payout

• When you separate, you’ll receive a lump sum for all unused annual leave. This payment includes your hourly rate, locality pay, and any additional premiums you’re eligible for (e.g., night differential or Sunday premium pay). This ensures you are compensated for leave you’ve earned but didn’t use before the OPM Pay Administration.

⚠️ Non-Convertible Benefits

• Sick Leave: While sick leave cannot be cashed out, it remains on your record indefinitely. Returning to federal service will restore your unused sick leave balance and can count toward retirement service credit (5 CFR 630.401).
• Time-Off Awards: These are not eligible for payout upon separation. They are use-it-or-lose-it benefits. Sorry.

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Health Insurance Options

🩺 Immediate Coverage

• Upon separation, your FEHB (Federal Employees Health Benefits) plan automatically extends for 31 days at no cost to you. This extension provides a grace period to transition to other coverage or elect Temporary Continuation of Coverage (TCC) (5 CFR 890.303).

💡 Temporary Continuation of Coverage (TCC)

• TCC allows you to keep your FEHB plan for up to 18 months after separation. However, you’ll pay the full premium (employee + government share) plus a 2% administrative fee. Yes, at 102%, this can be expensive. However, compare this to the actual cost of a hospital visit, and this’ll probably look much better.
  • Key Tip: If an emergency arises during this period, you can elect TCC retroactively within 60 days. OPM TCC Guide.
  • If rehired into federal service within 18 months, your FEHB can be reinstated immediately.ter.

🏥 Long-Term Solutions

1. ACA Plans: Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace plans may be a better option than TCC due to subsidies based on income. However, as of 2025, unemployment alone does not guarantee subsidies (Healthcare.gov).
2. FEHB Conversion: After TCC ends, you have a 31-day window to convert your FEHB plan to a private individual policy without medical underwriting.

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Financial Assistance

📉 Unemployment Benefits

• Unemployment benefits vary by state and depend on factors like your earnings history and reason for separation (DOL Fact Sheet). Below is information on AZ, CA, NY, and MA.
• If your separation is classified as “voluntary” (e.g., accepting a buyout (aka Deferred Resignation Program (DRP)), you may not qualify for unemployment benefits unless you can prove duress or lack of alternatives.

💵 FERS Retirement Contributions

Scenario	Action	Explanation
<5 Years Service	Withdraw contributions via SF-3106	If you have fewer than five years of federal service, you’re not vested in FERS and can withdraw your contributions as a lump sum (taxable as ordinary income).
≥5 Years Service	Roll over to IRA or repay with interest if rehired	With five or more years of service, you’re vested in FERS and can roll over contributions into an IRA or leave them in place for future retirement eligibility OPM FERS Guide.
Rule of 55	Penalty-free TSP withdrawals only if separated at age 55+	The Rule of 55 allows penalty-free withdrawals from your TSP if you separate from federal service the year you turn 55 or later (IRS Publication 575). Taxes still apply.

Arizona Unemployment Benefits Overview (2025)

Unemployment Rates and Benefit Duration

In Arizona, unemployment benefits are tied to the state’s unemployment rate, with the maximum duration of benefits ranging from 12 to 26 weeks. As of December 2024, Arizona’s unemployment rate was 3.8%, which qualifies for 12 weeks of benefits under current legislation.

Unemployment Rate	Benefit Duration (Weeks)
<5%	12
5%–5.5%	14
5.5%–6%	16
6%–6.5%	18
6.5%–7%	20
7%–7.5%	22
7.5%–8%	24
>8%	26

(Source: Arizona Revised Statutes §23-780)

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Key Changes in Arizona Unemployment Benefits

Reduced Maximum Duration: A new bill (HB2450) introduced in February 2025 proposes further reducing benefit durations based on unemployment rates, potentially cutting benefits by up to 50% in some cases .

Job Search Requirements: Claimants must actively apply for at least three jobs per week and document their efforts.

Arizona-Specific Programs

Shared Work Program: Employers can reduce employee hours instead of layoffs, with employees receiving partial unemployment benefits.

Training Benefits: Claimants may qualify for training programs to enhance job skills while receiving benefits.

Additional Considerations

• Maximum Weekly Benefit: The maximum weekly benefit amount remains capped at $320.
• Reapplication Rules: If your benefit year ends and you’ve earned qualifying wages, you may reapply for a new claim.

Other State-Specific Unemployment Extensions and Programs (2025)

Unemployment benefits vary by state, including the duration, weekly benefit amounts, and availability of extensions. Below is a breakdown of key programs and updates for California, New York, and Massachusetts, which have unique safety nets in 2025. Sorry, I can’t create one for each state.

California

Maximum Duration: Up to 26 weeks of regular benefits.

Extended Benefits:

• California’s FED-ED (Federal-State Extended Duration) program activates during periods of high unemployment. In 2025, this program provides up to 13 additional weeks of benefits if:
• The state’s 13-week average insured unemployment rate (IUR) is at least 6.0%, or
• The IUR is at least 5.0% and 120% higher than the same period over the past two years[1].

Weekly Benefit Amounts: Range from $40 to $450 per week, based on prior earnings[1].

Key Programs:

1. Work Sharing Program: Allows employers to reduce hours instead of laying off workers while employees collect partial unemployment benefits [EDD Work Sharing Program].
2. Training Benefits: Claimants enrolled in approved training programs may qualify for extended benefits under certain conditions [EDD Training Benefits Guide].

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New York

Maximum Duration: Up to 26 weeks of regular benefits.

Extended Benefits:

• Under Section 599.2 of New York State Unemployment Insurance Law, claimants enrolled in approved training programs may receive up to 26 additional weeks of benefits if funding is available.
• Priority for these funds is determined by the date your training was approved. If funds are exhausted, claimants are placed on a waiting list.

Weekly Benefit Amounts: Range from $100 to $504 per week, depending on prior wages.

Key Programs:

1. 599 Program: Provides additional unemployment benefits for individuals attending training programs that improve job skills or lead to new employment opportunities.
2. Part-Time Work Allowance: Claimants can work part-time while collecting partial unemployment benefits without losing eligibility [NYS UI Program Guide].

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Massachusetts

Maximum Duration: Up to 30 weeks during periods of high unemployment (capped at 26 weeks in low-unemployment periods).

Extended Benefits:

• Massachusetts offers “Bridge Benefits,” a state-funded program providing up to 4 additional weeks of stipends ($500/week) for claimants entering apprenticeships or retraining programs through MassHire Career Centers.

Weekly Benefit Amounts: Up to $1,051 per week, calculated as approximately 50% of your average weekly wage.

Key Programs:

1. Dependency Allowance: Claimants who are the primary support for children under 18 (or certain dependents under 24) may receive an additional $25 per dependent per week[3][6].
2. Retraining Opportunities Program (Section 30): Allows claimants to attend full-time training while collecting UI benefits without needing to meet job search requirements [Massachusetts DUA Guide].

Nationwide Trends and Considerations

1. Pandemic-Era Extensions Ended: Programs like PEUC (Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation) and PUA (Pandemic Unemployment Assistance) expired in September 2021 and are no longer available in any state (someone at work asked me about this…)
2. Federal Thresholds for Extended Benefits Activation: States must meet specific criteria (e.g., insured unemployment rate ≥6%) for federal extended benefits to activate.

Unemployment Websites by State:

Yes, I can create a list of all 50 states’ unemployment websites with clickable links based on the information provided in the search results. Here’s the list:

1. Alabama: joblink.alabama.gov
2. Alaska: jobs.alaska.gov
3. Arizona: arizonaatwork.com
4. Arkansas: DLR.arkansas.gov
5. California: labor.ca.gov
6. Colorado: connectingcolorado.com
7. Connecticut: ctdol.state.ct.us
8. Delaware: wib.delawareworks.com
9. Florida: employflorida.com
10. Georgia: dol.state.ga.us
11. Hawaii: labor.hawaii.gov
12. Idaho: labor.idaho.gov
13. Illinois: illinois.gov/employment
14. Indiana: indianacareerconnect.com
15. Iowa: iowaworkforce.org
16. Kansas: kansasworks.com
17. Kentucky: kcc.ky.gov
18. Louisiana: laworks.net
19. Maine: maine.gov/labor
20. Maryland: dllr.state.md.us
21. Massachusetts: mass.gov/lwd
22. Michigan: michigan.gov/wda
23. Minnesota: minnesotaworks.net
24. Mississippi: mdes.ms.gov
25. Missouri: jobs.mo.gov
26. Montana: wsd.dli.mt.gov
27. Nebraska: dol.nebraska.gov
28. Nevada: nevadaworkforce.com
29. New Hampshire: nhworks.org
30. New Jersey: careerconnections.nj.gov
31. New Mexico: DLR.state.nm.us
32. New York: labor.ny.gov
33. North Carolina: ncworks.gov
34. North Dakota: ndworkforceconnection.com
35. Ohio: jfs.ohio.gov
36. Oklahoma: oklahomaworks.gov
37. Oregon: worksourceoregon.org
38. Pennsylvania: dli.pa.gov
39. Rhode Island: dlt.ri.gov
40. South Carolina: dew.sc.gov
41. South Dakota: dlr.sd.gov
42. Tennessee: state.tn.us/labor-wfd
43. Texas: twc.state.tx.us
44. Utah: jobs.utah.gov
45. Vermont: labor.vermont.gov
46. Virginia: vec.virginia.gov
47. Washington: esd.wa.gov
48. West Virginia: wvcommerce.org
49. Wisconsin: dwd.wisconsin.gov
50. Wyoming: wyomingworkforce.org

Unemployment websites as of February 17, 2025. If you find an error, please let me know.