FAQ: Payroll

The CFC is the annual fundraising drive conducted by Federal employees in the workplace each fall. To contribute, you must work through your IC CFC contact person. When signing up during the CFC drive in the fall, the salary deductions begin the first leave period of the following year. You may start making contributions at any time throughout the year; however, you cannot retroactively contribute to the CFC. For more information, visit OPM’s CFC website.

CAN changes/corrections must be sent to OFM, 2115 East Jefferson Street, Room 3B-338E, using a Payroll Number Correction (CAN) Change Form. The Benefits and Payroll Liaison Branch will not update CANs.

If you do not receive an expected direct deposit payment by the official Friday payday, you must complete the Missing Electronic Funds Transfer Request Form to initiate the tracer process. Once completed submit the form to Bldg 31, Room B3C23. This paperwork is forwarded to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), which sends the information, in turn, to DFAS. DFAS queries the financial institution to which the payment was sent. If the financial institution returns the funds to DFAS, DFAS will alert DHHS that the funds have been returned. In the interim, employees may be entitled to an Emergency Salary Loan Payment.

If your check is mailed to your address of record and is lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated, you must complete a Statement of Claimant Requesting Recertified Check to request a re-certified check. Once completed submit the form to Bldg 31, Room B3C23. This paperwork is forwarded to the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), which sends the information, in turn, to DFAS. DFAS will use the information to make the determination to reissue a recertified check, based on the information provided, and for canceling the original check. The information will also verify a proper mailing address.

After the necessary paperwork has been completed and a TSP loan check has been issued, the Thrift Savings Board sends paperwork to DFAS. Because there can be a timeliness issue in forwarding the paperwork, you may wish to FAX your TSP paperwork to the Benefits and Payroll Liaison Branch at (301) 402-5506 or (301) 496-1209. Faxing this paperwork will help to ensure that the TSP loan repayment process is started in a timely manner and that the Thrift Savings Board is receiving your loan payments.

Your coverage will continue for up to 365 days of non-pay status. You have the option of terminating your coverage during the period of non-pay status or continuing the coverage. If you elect to continue your coverage, you must incur a debt or make direct payments to DFAS while in non-pay status. You will need to sign a Notice of Intent Agreement for LWOP Status. Please notify your benefits contact for additional information. The U.S. Office of Personnel Management provides additional information on LWOP and its impact on Federal benefits.

When you have paid your TSP loan in full, The TSP Service Office will automatically inform the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS), our payroll provider. Typically the payments should terminate within 2 pay periods. If payments associated with your TSP Loan have not terminated after 2 pay periods, please call the Benefits and Payroll Liaison Branch at 301-496-2404.

Your timekeeper may audit your record and determine that your pay must be adjusted.  The timekeeper may complete Form 411A Pay Error Notice to correct issues with your pay.  This process is your timekeeper’s responsibility; direct any questions you may have to him/her.

Your timekeeper may audit your record and determine that your Leave and Earnings Statement must be adjusted.  The timekeeper may complete Form 411B Leave Error Notice to correct issues with your leave balance.  This process is your timekeeper’s responsibility; direct any questions you may have to him/her.

The NIH Federal Credit Union (NIHFCU), under certain circumstances, offers a 60-day interest free emergency payroll loan. In order to take advantage of this emergency loan, one must be or become a member of the NIHFCU.  If a payroll error has significantly decreased the amount of your net pay and you want to apply for an emergency loan, contact the NIH Benefits & Payroll Liaison Branch (BPLB) at 301-496-2404.

When you transfer to NIH from another Government agency, the staff in the Client Services Division (CSD) requests your SF-1150 (Record of Leave Data). Upon receipt of the SF-1150, the staff in the Client Services Division of OHR forwards this document to the Benefits and Payroll Liaison Branch who in turn forwards the information to the Department’s Payroll Services Division for processing. You will need to routinely review the annual and/or sick leave portion of your DFAS LES in myPay.

If you encounter problems with your Login and/or Password or technical issues using myPay (DFAS), contact the DFAS Centralized Customer Support Unit toll-free at 1-888-332-7411. This support line is available Monday through Friday, 7:00 A.M. to 6:30 P.M. Eastern Standard Time. They can provide assistance on how to use the options available to you in myPay. They will also provide support for establishing and changing your Login and/or Password.

If the regular bi-weekly payday falls on a Federal holiday, it is to your benefit to check with your financial institution before making any financial transactions. The official payday is Friday of payday week. The Benefits and Payroll Liaison Branch has no control over when funds will be made available through the financial institution.

Information on Savings Bonds can be found at Treasury Direct. To purchase a Savings Bond, simply go to myPay . Address changes for Savings Bonds are also accomplished through myPay. Once you make your address change in myPay, EHRP/Capital HR will be updated and the Department of Treasury will be notified. Any problems with Savings Bonds should be directed to your HR Client Services Division contact, or you may access the Treasury’s website.

The processing/termination of personal debt collection and wage garnishment is the responsibility of the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS). Employees must deal directly with DFAS at 888-332-7411. The address is Garnishment Operations-HGA, P.O. Box 998002, Cleveland OH 44199-8002. Documents related to this subject may also be faxed to 216-522-6960.

You can view and print a prior year's W-2 in myPay.  If you are separated and no longer have access to myPay, you may submit a Request for Duplicate, Corrected or Prior Year W-2, Wage and Tax Statement Form to the Leave, Payroll, and Workforce Support Branch located in Building 31, Room 3B435. You must indicate on the form whether you want a duplicate W-2 from HHS (prior to pay period 10/2005), DFAS, or both.  Your request will then be forwarded to HHS for processing. Please make sure that the current address and the address to which the W-2 should be sent is correct on the form.

Duplicate copies of 1099, 1099G, or 1042S must be obtained from the Office of Financial Management (OFM). For 1099s, contact OFM’s Customer Service number at (301) 496-6088. For 1099G or 1042S, you may call (301) 496-5635.

As an NIH employee, it is strongly encouraged that you have your salary directly deposited into your account at the financial institution(s) of your choice. If you decide to change accounts or financial institutions, DO NOT CLOSE YOUR OLD ACCOUNT until you have received your direct deposit in your new account. Once that happens, you may then close your old account. If you want to begin or change your net deposit account, you need to do so through myPay.