What's New

The FSN Emergency Relief Fund is the Department’s official charitable mechanism for disaster assistance to LE Staff. Since 1994, the Fund has served as the immediate humanitarian resource for local employees of the Department of State and all other USG agencies under Chief of Mission authority. Funding for this program is not appropriated and is sustained solely by private contributions from the foreign affairs community. Contributions can be made by check, credit card, or through payroll deductions. All donations to the Fund are tax-deductible and can be made by Civil Service, Foreign Service, LE Staff and private sector individuals. In 2022, the Relief Fund has provided monetary assistance to local staff in Oman, the Philippines, Ukraine, Yemen, the Republic of Djibouti, South Africa, and Pakistan who incurred property loss due to war and natural disasters. Since its inception, more than $2 million has been disbursed to employees from each regional bureau, including personnel from other U.S. Government agencies under Chief of Mission authority to respond to natural disasters, civil unrest, war and targeted attacks.

Federal Employees Health Benefit (FEHB) Notice: New Requirements for Adding a Family Member. OPM issued new requirements on verifying family members’ eligibility for FEHB coverage. This notice provides the documents to be used as proof of eligibility when adding a family member to a FEHB policy. The effective date of the new requirements is August 1, 2021.

Foreign Service Annuitant Newsletter

You can view, download, or print the 2024 Foreign Service Annual Annuitant Newsletter. The Newsletter contains the most up-to-date information on the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Open Season; time limits on electing survivor benefits; importance of reviewing your beneficiary forms; and other valuable information. If you are unable to access the 2024 Foreign Service Annual Annuitant Newsletter, you may request a hard copy by sending an email with your full name and complete mailing address to: FS_Newsletter@state.gov. Please do not send inquiries to this mailbox.