Special Leave without Pay (SLWOP)

13 December 2021

Special Leave without Pay (SLWOP)

If you are on Special Leave without Pay or are planning to take SLWOP, you have two options regarding your participation in Fund:

To pay contributions to the Fund during the period of SLWOP: In this case the period of SLWOP would be considered contributory service. You would have to arrange this with the payroll office of your employing organization (not with the UNJSPF) BEFORE starting the period of SLWOP, and would be required to pay both your own as well as the organizational share of contributions payable to the UNJSPF. The contributions must be paid monthly and concurrently with such leave and arrangements for the remittance of these contributions must be made between you and the employing organization ahead of starting such periods of SLWOP. You cannot elect retroactively to pay contributions to the Fund for a period of SLWOP, and no retroactive arrangements can be made to contribute for a period of SLWOP when such period has already started or been completed. If contributions are indeed paid concurrently with a period of SLWOP, UNJSPF participation simply continues and you continue to accrue future pension rights for such period of contributory service. However, should you then separate from service and the Fund in the future and elect to receive a Withdrawal Settlement you would not recover the money you paid to the Fund on behalf of the organization.
To not pay contributions to the Fund during the period of SLWOP: In this case you would continue to be considered a participant in the Fund (continuous participation), but would NOT accrue pension rights for this period of non-contributory service. You will be deemed to have separated from the UNJSPF after having completed a period of 36 months of SLWOP without concurrent contributions having been paid to the Fund. Furthermore, spouses married and/or children born during such period of SLWOP without concurrent contribution payments to the Fund, would not be covered for potential survivor’s benefits until you again become a contributing member of the UNJSPF.

FAQ

May I remain on SLWOP indefinitely?

No. For Pension Fund purposes, a participant is deemed to have separated from the Pension Fund when he/she has completed a consecutive period of three years of leave without pay without having paid concurrent contributions in accordance with Article 25(a) of the Regulations and Rules of the Fund. To re-enter the Fund, you would have to satisfy the requirements for participation once again.

What if I have a child while on SLWOP?

There are 2 scenarios:

If you contribute during your period of SLWOP, then this child is considered a survivor as you’re an active participant of the Fund.
If you do not contribute during your period of SLWOP then any child born during this period would not be considered a survivor as you are an inactive participant of the Fund. Therefore, if you die or separate while on SLWOP, no child’s benefit will be payable to any child born during this period. However, if you again become an active participant of the Fund and begin contributing, your child will then be considered a survivor.

Please note that if the child was conceived (i.e. a child in utero) prior to the SLWOP, they would be considered a survivor.

What if I marry while on SLWOP?

There are 2 scenarios:

If you contribute during your period of SLWOP, then the marriage is recognized, and your spouse is considered a survivor as you’re an active participant of the Fund.
If you do not contribute during your period of SLWOP, then a marriage during this period would not be recognized and your spouse would not be considered your survivor, as you are an inactive participant of the Fund. Therefore, if you die or separate while on SLWOP, no surviving spouse’s benefit will be payable to the spouse that was married during this period. However, if you again become an active participant of the Fund and begin contributing, your spouse will then be considered a survivor.

What if I die while on SLWOP?

If you contribute during your period of SLWOP, then benefits are payable to any eligible survivors.
If you do not contribute during your period of SLWOP, then survivor benefits are payable to those who were eligible prior to your SLWOP.