The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals provides a wide range of benefits and choices so you can create a package to “BeneFit” your individual needs. Here is an overview of our comprehensive benefits package:
Benefit Programs
Federal Insurance Programs
Dental and Vision Insurance (FEDVIP)
Long Term Care Insurance (LTC)
Flexible Benefit Programs
You can reduce the amount you pay in taxes and increase your spendable income by taking advantage of the Flexible Benefit Program. The program consists of four tax-favored plans:
- Premium Payment Plan (PPP)
- Health Care Reimbursement Account (HCRA)
- Limited Purpose Health Care Reimbursement Account (LPHCRA)
- Dependent Care Reimbursement Account (DCRA)
Participation in any or all plans is voluntary (PPP is granted automatically). Each plan allows you to set aside a portion of your pay on a pre-tax basis. This reduces the amount on which federal income taxes, Social Security taxes and, in most cases, state and local income taxes are based. As a result, you pay less in taxes and increase your spendable income.
Commuter Benefit Programs
The Commuter Benefit Program lets you save money on commuting expenses by contributing pre-tax dollars into an account. The program consists of two plans:
- Parking Reimbursement Account
- Mass Transit Account
You can contribute to either or both accounts on a monthly or as-needed basis.
Financial Security
For those covered under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), the plan provides benefits from three different sources: The Basic Benefit, Thrift Savings Plan, and Social Security.
Basic Benefit Plan (Annuity) Employees covered by FERS contribute to the Basic Benefit Plan each paycheck through automatic payroll deductions. At retirement, this benefit is calculated to provide a monthly annuity. You must have at least 5 years of creditable civilian service to receive benefits from the Basic Benefit Plan. Depending on your appointment date, your contribution rate will differ depending on if you are FERS, FERS-RAE, or FERS-FRAE.
- FERS: If you were appointed (or had prior service) before December 31, 2012, your contribution is 0.8% of base pay throughout your career.
- FERS Revised Annuity Employee (RAE): If you were appointed on or after January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013, your contribution is 3.1% of base pay throughout your career.
- FERS Further Revised Annuity Employee (FRAE): If you were appointed on or after January 1, 2014, your contribution is 4.4% of base pay throughout your career.
The Thrift Savings Plan is a retirement savings and investment plan – similar to a 401(k), which you and your agency (the court) contribute to. You can make pre-tax (traditional) or post-tax (roth) contributions. Regardless of the amount you contribute, the Judiciary automatically contributes 1% of basic annual pay to your TSP account. Matching contributions above the 1% depend on your contributions and are dollar for dollar on the first 3% you contribute and 50 cents per dollar on the next 2 percent, equaling a total matching contribution amount of 5%. You must be vested in the TSP to receive the automatic 1% agency contributions.
The Federal Insurance Contribution Act (FICA) provides a system of Social Security and Medicare benefits paid through taxes by employers and employees. The FICA taxes are withheld from each paycheck. The FICA tax has two parts: 1) Social Security - Old-Age, Survivor, and Disability Insurance (OASDI); and, 2) Medicare - Hospital Insurance (HI). The amounts deducted are set annually by the Social Security Administration (SSA).
Leave Programs
11 Paid Federal Holidays
We can all use a break from the daily demands of work to spend time devoted to personal interests. Through federal holidays and the annual leave program, Judiciary employees can take time off to refresh and recharge. These holidays are:
- New Year's Day January 1st
- Martin Luther King Day 3rd Monday in January
- Washington's Birthday 3rd Monday in February
- Memorial Day Last Monday in May
- Juneteenth June 19th
- Independence Day July 4th
- Labor Day 1st Monday in September
- Indigenous Peoples’ Day 2nd Monday in October
- Veterans Day November 11th
- Thanksgiving Day 4th Thursday in November
- Christmas Day December 25th
Annual Leave
This is paid time off that you accrue for vacations, rest and relaxation, personal business, or emergencies. You accrue a set number of hours each pay period based on years of federal government service.
The number of hours/days of accrued annual leave per year are as follows:
|
Length of Service |
Accrual Per Pay Period |
Total Annual Accrual |
|
Less than three (3) years |
Four (4) hours |
104 hours of annual leave (13 days) |
|
Three (3) to 14 years |
Six (6) hours |
160 hours of annual leave (20 days) |
|
15 years or longer |
Eight (8) hours |
208 hours of annual leave (26 days) |
Sick Leave
This is time off that you accrue for use when you are sick, caring for a sick family member, arranging and/or attending a funeral and/or recovering from childbirth or for the adoption of a child. Every full-time employee receives 4 hours of accrued paid sick leave per pay period regardless of the number of years of government service.
Paid Parental Leave
The Federal Employee Paid Leave Act provides 12 administrative workweeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child for employees covered by the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provisions and covered under The Leave Act (must have 12 months of federal government service to be eligible for FMLA). Paid parental leave is substituted for unpaid FMLA leave and is available only during the 12-month period following the birth or placement.
Leave Transfer Program
This program allows employees covered by the Leave Act, the ability to donate unused annual leave to an employee with an approved personal or family medical emergency. Employees can also be placed on this program as recipients if they experience a personal or family medical emergency and have exhausted their own leave.
Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Up to 12 weeks unpaid, job-protected leave per year for certain family or medical reasons.
Work/Life Balance
Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and Work/Life Services (WORKLIFE4YOU)
To help you and your family with work/life balance, family issues, substance abuse and other daily challenges, the Federal Judiciary provides you and your family access to confidential, caring professionals 24 hours a day, seven days a week—free-of-charge--through the EAP and Work/Life Services (WorkLife4You) program.
Public Service Loans Forgiveness Program
Under the Student Loan Forgiveness Program, borrowers may qualify for forgiveness of the remaining balance due on their eligible federal student loans after they have made 120 payments on those loans, under certain repayment plans, while employed full time by certain public service employers (including the Judiciary).
Fitness Center (available in most court buildings)
Custom House Children’s Center (located at 721 19th Street, Denver, CO). Discounts granted to federal employees.
Community Volunteer Program (the possibility of administrative leave for certain volunteer activities)
Federal Occupational Health Unit (located near most federal courthouses)