MILITARY LEAVE BENEFITS
Virginia Retirement System Service
Retirement
Description of Benefit
Pays monthly benefit for life, upon reaching age and service requirements.
Eligibility for Benefit
Service credit for retirement purposes does not accrue while member is on leave without pay for
active duty military service.
Benefits upon Return to VRS Employment
The active duty military service can be granted at no cost and be counted towards vesting and a
service retirement benefit upon reentry into a covered position. Member must return to covered
employment within 12 months of honorable or general discharge. Member must submit a copy of
your DD214 and apply for the service by filling out an Application for Purchase of Prior Service
Credit VRS-26 39kb. http://www.varetire.org/Pdf/Forms/vrs-26.pdf
Employer Reporting Requirements
Member is in leave without pay status for active duty military service. While the member is in
leave without pay status for active duty military service, no contributions are reported to VRS.
VRS Purchase Service Contracts
Description of Benefit
Purchase of service allows active members to increase their retirement benefit amounts by
adding additional service to their records.
Eligibility for Benefit
After-tax purchase of service contracts terminate after two months if payment is not received.
Pre-tax purchase of service contracts freeze in an active status while on leave without pay; no
payroll deductions can be made.
Benefits upon Return to VRS Employment
Members who were purchasing service on an after tax contract must reapply to purchase the
remaining service. If the member was purchasing service on a pre-tax contract, deductions
should resume immediately upon return to active employment in a VRS-covered position.
Employer Reporting Requirements
No 5% payments sent to VRS during Leave Without Pay (LWOP).
VRS Disability Retirement
Description of Benefit
Pays monthly benefit for life if member becomes mentally or physically unable to perform job
duties and condition is total and likely to be permanent (not available to state employees in
VSDP).
Eligibility for Benefit
Member can apply while employed or up to 90 days of the last day of employment. Members on
active duty military leave may apply at any time while on military leave.
Optional Life Insurance
Description of Benefit
Pays benefits in addition to the basic benefit in amount of 1, 2, 3 or 4 times your annual
compensation, 1/2 member coverage for spouse and proportionate coverage for dependent
children.
Eligibility for Benefit
Coverage continues for up to 24 months; member pays the cost of optional life coverage. After
24 months, member may convert to an individual policy.
Benefits upon Return to VRS Employment
Coverage continues with premiums paid through payroll deduction. Member may drop optional
coverage while on leave without pay for active military service and be reinstated without having
to provide evidence of good health for the same or lesser amount. The deduction must resume
immediately upon re-entry into a covered position.
Basic Group Life Insurance
Description of Benefit
Pays benefits in the amount of member's annual compensation rounded to next highest $1000
and then doubled. No accidental death and dismemberment benefits are payable if death results
from an act of war.
Eligibility for Benefit
Continues up to 24 months while on leave without pay for active duty military service. Virginia
Tech continues to pay premiums for employees during the 24 months. At the end of 24 months,
members may convert to individual policy and pay premium.
Benefits upon Return to VRS Employment
Benefits and payment methods continue as before leave without pay (LWOP).
Death in Service (Virginia Retirement
System)
Description of Benefit
If the member's beneficiary is a spouse, minor child, mother or father, the beneficiary may
choose either a lump sum in the amount of the member contribution account plus interest or a
monthly benefit amount. If the beneficiary is someone other than a spouse, minor child, mother
or father, a lump sum in the amount of the member contribution account plus interest will be
paid.
Eligibility for Benefit
Eligibility continues while on leave without pay for active duty military service.
457 ING Deferred Compensation Plan
Description of Benefit
Voluntary tax-deferred savings plan available to Virginia State employees.
Eligibility for Benefit
Contributions cease while members are on leave without pay for active duty military service.
Members receiving a paycheck while on active duty, may continue to make contributions to
DCP.
Benefits upon Return to VRS Employment
Participants who meet the requirements of the Uniformed Services Employment and
Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA) may make up contributions they missed during
the period of service.
Employer Reporting Requirements
Employer receives the Payroll Authorization form from participant. Employer cosigns the
Application for Uniformed Services Leave Make-up. Employer submits the make-up
contributions along with the current contributions for each pay period.
403b Voluntary Retirement Savings Plans
Description of Benefit
Voluntary savings plan available to all Virginia Tech employees. Both traditional (pretax)
403b and Roth (after tax) 403b plans are available.
Eligibility for Benefit
Contributions cease while members are on leave without pay for active duty military
service. Members receiving a paycheck while on active duty may continue to make
contributions to their 403b.
Benefits upon Return to VRS Employment
Participants who meet the requirements of the Uniformed Services Employment and
Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA) may make up contributions they missed
during the period of service.
Employer Reporting Requirements
Employer receives the Payroll Authorization form from participant. Employer cosigns the
Application for Uniformed Services Leave Make-up. Employer submits the make-up
contributions along with the current contributions for each pay period.
Cash Match Plan
Description of Benefit
Provides employer matching contributions for salaried Virginia Tech participants in the Deferred
Compensation 457 Plan or a 403b Plan.
Eligibility for Benefit
No employer match is made while on Leave Without Pay (LWOP). Members receiving a
paycheck and contributing to the 457 or 403b while on active duty, continue receiving matching
employer contributions.
Benefits upon Return to VRS Employment
Participants in the 457 Plan or 403b plans who elect to make up the contributions missed during
the period of leave are eligible to receive the cash match associated with those contributions.
Employer Reporting Requirements
Employer receives the Payroll Authorization form from participant. Employer cosigns the
Application for Uniformed Services Leave Make-up. Employer submits the make-up cash match
along with the current cash match for each pay period.
Health Insurance

If you are called to active service, you and/or your covered family members may continue your
health benefits under Extended Coverage, with the State’s contribution to active employee
premiums. If you currently make an employee contribution to your health plan, the amount will
remain the same under Extended Coverage. In addition, the 2% administrative fee normally
added to Extended Coverage premiums will not be charged. See the Extended Coverage Monthly
Rates for Military Leave.
You have 60 days to enroll in Extended Coverage from the date you are notified by your agency
of your rights under this coverage. There is an application process for Extended Coverage. Your
agency Benefits Administrator should provide the materials you need.

Extended Coverage: This is a term used to describe coverage that government employers are
required to offer under the provisions of the Public Health Service Act. These provisions also
apply to private employers under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986
(COBRA). In certain instances, such as going on active military duty, employees and enrolled
family members may continue coverage for a specified period of time.
You may enroll in Extended Coverage for 24 months. Coverage will begin the first of the month
following the time your military leave begins. This may not be the beginning of the month after
you report for duty, because you may have accumulated leave that you wish to use first. If you
remain in active service after enrollment for 24 months in Extended Coverage, you and your
covered dependents may convert to non-group health coverage. For more information, contact
the health plan in which you are enrolled.
• Certificate of Coverage: Evidence of your prior health coverage will be provided to you, as
required by federal law. You may need to furnish the certificate if you become eligible under
a group health plan that excludes coverage for certain medical conditions that you have
before you enroll. Check with the plan administrator to see if you need to provide this
certificate. For additional information, contact your Benefits Administrator.
• Returning from active military duty: If you apply for health benefits coverage within 31 days
of your reinstatement, your State health benefits coverage will begin either the first day of the
month in which you were reinstated or the first of the following month, depending on
individual circumstances. Employees returning from military leave have the full menu of
health benefits choices (plans, membership, and the pre-tax premium option).
Flexible Reimbursement Accounts
You may continue participation in a Medical Reimbursement Account through the end of the
plan year, or terminate your contribution to an account. If you continue participation, your
options include a pre-tax lump-sum deduction taken from the final payroll before leave begins or
being billed on an after-tax basis. Additional information may be found in the Flexible Benefits
Program Sourcebook.
Long-Term Care Insurance
You may contact Aetna’s customer service number 1-877-894-2471 to discuss the multiple
payment options available while on leave.