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Efforts

The PSC Association strives for the equitable treatment of USPSCs at the U.S. Agency for International Development. To that end, the Association advocates that USPSCs should be extended the same benefits, entitlements, responsibilities, and limitations as those extended to direct-hire employees, unless restricted by law or external Federal regulation. Below are the major issues the Association is currently pursuing or has helped resolve in the past.
Pending Issues Requiring USAID Policy Changes

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  • Rollout of Overseas Comparability Pay (OCP): USPSCs posted overseas should receive the same benefit as direct-hire employees (16.52% locality pay).​

  • General Schedule (GS)-Foreign Service (FS) Conversion: USPSCs posted overseas and resident hires USPCSs should have equal opportunity to convert their pay scales from the GS to FS scale.

  • Employer 401(k) Contributions: USAID should contribute to USPSCs' 401(k) plans on the same basis and to the same extent as it does to the Thrift Savings Plan for direct-hires.

  • Leave Transfer: Unused annual and sick leave should be transferrable from one USPSC contract to another within USAID when there is no break in service in the same manner as direct-hires transferring among assignments.

  • Leave Payout: USPSCs should be automatically entitled to a payout for unused annual leave in the same manner as direct-hire personnel leaving the agency.

  • Leave Donation: USPSCs should be able to participate in a leave donation program with their colleagues in the same manner as direct-hire personnel.

  • Foreign & Home Service Allowances: USPSCs should be afforded an equivalent benefit to that received by direct-hires when posted overseas. Specifically, USPSCs should be entitled to pet transfer benefits. 

  • Raising the Health Insurance Annual Reimbursement Cap: USPSCs should be able to receive reimbursement for 72% of their health insurance premiums regardless of the total amount of their health insurance premiums. For the time being, the $20,339 for families and $7,266 for individuals remains the maximum the Agency will reimburse for health insurance, as it has been since January of 2010.

Pending Issues Requiring Legislative Changes

 

  • Federal Health, Life, and Long Term Care Insurance Programs: USPSCs at USAID should be permitted to enroll in Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB), Federal Employee Government Life Insurance (FEGLI), and Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP), in the same manner as USPSCs at other government agencies.

  • Political Contributions: USPSCs should be permitted to donate to campaigns for federal office and to political parties competing in federal elections, superseding a ruling by the Federal Elections Commission. (Note, this ruling is currently being challenged in court by three USPSCs.)

Issues Resolved since 2001

 

  • Pre-Tax 401(k) Contributions: USPSCs are able to make pre-tax deductions directly from their paychecks to a 401(k), although without any employer contribution or matching. (2001)

  • Cash Awards: USPSCs, as well as TCNPSCs, are eligible to receive cash awards, time-off awards, and special act awards. (2004)

  • Group Health Plans: USPSCs are able to join one of two group health insurance plans that cover pre-existing conditions - one for DC-based PSCs and another for field-based PSCs. (2005)

  • Home Leave: USPSCs are eligible for home leave benefits, albeit under rules than differ from those for direct-hire personnel. (2006)

  • State Tax Deductions: USAID deducts state income taxes from USPSC paychecks, where applicable. (2010)

  • Health Insurance Contributions: USPSCs initially had to cover the entire cost of their health insurance premiums. Later, USPSCs could claim reimbursement for 50% and they can be reimbursed for 72%, up to a maximum of $7,226 per year for individuals and $20,339 per year for families. (2010)

  • Same-Sex Partner Benefits: USPSCs are entitled to equivalent benefits and allowances with respect to same-sex partners as direct-hire employees. (2010)

  • Email Signatures: The CIO removed the "PSC" designation from e-mail accounts, which served no practical purpose. (2012)

  • Access to RRB Fitness Center: USPSCs pay the same rate as direct-hire personnel to access the fitness center in the Ronald Reagan Building. (2012)

  • Diplomatic Passports: U.S.-based USPSCs traveling on temporary duty (TDY) abroad are again eligible for diplomatic passports. (2012)

  • Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA): U.S.-based USPSCs are, by law, covered by the law and eligible for FMLA-protected leave. USPSCs based overseas are covered by USAID regulation. (2015)

  • Medical Evacuations: USPSCs posted and traveling overseas on official business are covered for medical evacuation by State MED in the same manner as U.S. direct-hire personnel. (2018)

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