III.3.11 Repatriation grant

 

• ​ Purpose and eligibility
• Transitional measures for staff appointed prior to 1 January 2017
• Entitlement
• Payment
• Appointments on or after 1 April 2006
• Appointments prior to 1 April 2006
• Where both spouses are staff members of WHO or another organization of the UN common system
• Calculation of repatriation grant
• Time limit
• Death of a staff member
• Applicable scales
• Effective date

Purpose and eligibility

10    A repatriation grant is payable under Staff Rule 370 to internationally recruited staff members who on leaving the service of the Organization, other than by summary dismissal under Staff Rule 1075.2, have performed at least five (5) years of continuous service outside the country of their recognized place of residence.

Transitional measures for staff appointed prior to 1 January 2017

15    Internationally recruited staff members who, as of 31 December 2016, have completed at least one (1) year but, upon separation, less than five (5) years of continuous service, remain entitled to the repatriation grant as accrued by 31 December 2016 in accordance with the rates and schedules in place at that time (see bottom of this section). From the time they have completed five or more years of continuous service, the full entitlements as per Staff Rules 370.1.1 and 370.1.2 apply.

Entitlement

20     Evidence of relocation away from the country of the last duty station must normally be provided, although repatriation to the home country is not a requirement. The amount of the grant is calculated by reference to the base salary scale and varies according to family status and length of service outside the home country. The maximum entitlement is accrued over the first twelve (12) years of service.

30    Periods of absence on leave without pay under Staff Rule 650 ​or of sick leave under insurance cover under Staff Rule 750 of thirty (30) days or less do not affect the rate of accrual for the purpose of entitlement to repatriation grant. When the period of absence on leave without pay or sick leave under insurance cover is more than thirty (30) days, no service credits accrue for purposes of the repatriation grant for the entire period of absence.

40    A staff member who has accrued service credits towards repatriation grant and who is reassigned or relocates to the country of their recognized place of residence, remains eligible for the grant, but the accrued entitlement in years will be reduced as follows: The accrued entitlement in years is reduced by one (1) year for each completed six (6) months of service or residence in the country of the recognized place of residence.  However, in the event the staff member is reassigned or relocates outside the country of recognized place of residence, credit will be restored at the rate of one (1) year for each completed six (6) months of service outside the country of recognized place of residence until such time that the staff member reaches the service credits previously accrued. Thereafter, service credits will continue to accrue.

50    In computing the reductions and credits above, periods of service or residence of less than six (6) months are prorated to the last completed month.

60    The amount of the repatriation grant is not reduced if the staff member is separated within the first six (6) months of service or residence in the country of recognized place of residence.

70    In accordance with Staff Rule 370.4, the repatriation grant shall not be payable to a staff member assigned to, or residing in, the country of their recognized place of residence at the time of separation provided that the grant may be paid on a full or reduced basis to a staff member transferred to duty in the country of their recognized place of residence prior to termination, the amount of the grant being reduced in proportion to the duration of thei​r residence in that country. In such a case, documentary evidence of relocation referred to in Staff Rule 370.1 shall not be required.

80    For staff members appointed prior to 1 April 2006, residence in the country of their recognized place of residence shall not affect the entitlement or accrual basis for repatriation grant. However, a reassignment to their country of recognized place of residence will affect the repatriation grant entitlement in accordance with the preceding provisions of this section.

Payment

90    A staff member who is entitled to an indemnity for termination of appointment, a repatriation grant or an end of service grant is paid these entitlements in a lump sum based on the salary and exchange rate applicable on the date of termination of the appointment.

Proof of relocation

Appointments on or after 1 April 2006

100    For staff members appointed on or after 1 April 2006 and general service staff who are converted to the international professional category on or after 1 April 2006, payment of the repatriation grant is made in accordance with Staff Rule 370.1, and is subject to the proof of evidence of relocation outside the country of the last official station or residence. The former staff member is required to submit to the HR Administrator, GHR, within two (2) years from their date of separation, evidence of relocation, such as a declaration by the immigration, police, tax or other authorities of the new country of residence, by the senior United Nations official in that country or by the former staff members next employer. In addition, other acceptable proof of relocation will be: lease agreement; proof of payment related to the removal of household items; official registration certificate issued by municipality/local authority; paid electricity bills and/or other utility bills issued in the name of the former staff member in the new country of residence.

Appointments prior to 1 April 2006

110    For staff members appointed prior to 1 April 2006, payment of the repatriation grant covering entitlements accrued as from 1 July 1979 is subject to proof of relocation outside the country of the last official station. The former staff member is required to submit to the HR Administrator, GHR within two (2) years from their date of separation evidence of relocation, such as a declaration by the immigration, police, tax or other authorities of the new country of residence, by the senior United Nations official in that country or by the former staff members next employer.  In addition, other acceptable proof of relocation will be: lease agreement; proof of payment related to the removal of household items; official registration certificate issued by municipality/local council; paid electricity bills and/or other utility bills issued in the name of the former staff member in the new country of residence.

120    For staff members with entitlements accrued prior to 1 July 1979, no evidence of relocation is required for that portion of the repatriation grant. Staff are paid automatically upon separation from the Organization for that portion of the grant.

Where both spouses are staff members of WHO or another organization of the UN common system

130    Where both spouses are staff members WHO or another organization in the UN common system and each is entitled, on separation from service, to payment of a repatriation grant, payment is made in accordance with Staff Rule 370.6 as follows:

1. to each staff member at the rate “without spouse or dependent children” for their respective period of qualifying service;
2. where there is a dependent child or children, the spouses must decide who will claim the payment at the rate “with a spouse or dependent child” upon separation as only one staff member is eligible at the rate “with a spouse or dependent child”.

140   The time limit of two (2) years for claiming payment of this grant (Staff Rule 370.1) begins from the date of separation of the spouse who separates the latest.

Calculation of repatriation grant

150    To calculate repatriation grant payments for professional and higher category staff members under Staff Rule 370.1.1 and general service staff members under Staff Rule 370.1.2 both the "without spouse or dependent children" schedule and the "with spouse or dependent children" schedule are calculated in line with Staff Rule 380.2 and 310.4 on the basis of “terminal remuneration” which Staff Rule 310.4 defines as the net base salary.

Time limit

160    Entitlement to the repatriation grant will cease if no claim for payment is submitted within two (2) years after the effective date of a staff members separation from service. Exceptionally, an extension of the time limit for one (1) additional year may be requested for health reasons. A request to extend the period for claiming the repatriation grant should be submitted to Director, GSC. Further extensions beyond the one additional year must be submitted to Director, HRD.

Death of a staff member

170    In the event of the death of a staff member who at the time of death would have been eligible for the repatriation grant, payment shall be made to the spouse and dependent children subject to the provision of satisfactory evidence of relocation referred to above. The grant is payable at the following rates:

1. if there is one such surviving family member, payment is made at the lower rate;
2. if there is more than one such surviving family member, payment is made at the higher rate;
3. in the absence of a spouse or dependent children eligible for such payments, the entitlement to this benefit lapses.

Applicable scales*:

For staff members of the professional and higher categories:

     
For staff members of the general service category:
                                                    

     
For staff members separating under the transitional measures as per paragraph 15 above:
                                                                                        

* The repatriation grant payments are calculated:

1.  for professional staff members under Staff Rule 370.1.1 for both the "without spouse or dependent children" schedule and the "with spouse or dependent children" schedule are calculated in line with Staff Rule 380.2 and 310.4 on the basis of “terminal remuneration” which Staff Rule 310.4 defines as the net base salary.
2. for internationally recruited staff in the general service category, on the basis of gross salary, including language allowance and non-resident allowance, if any, less staff assessment.

Effective date

This policy and these procedures enter into effect on 1 January 2017.

• Staff appointed on or after 1 January 2017
• Appointment prior to 1 January 2017 with service through 1 January 2017 – transitional measures

Staff appointed on or after 1 January 2017

180    Staff rule 370 requires a period of five (5) years of continuous service outside the country of their recognized place of residence as the minimum requirement to qualify for the repatriation grant. As (under Staff Rule 420.4) the total duration of uninterrupted service under consecutive temporary appointments is limited to two years, temporary staff members cannot qualify for the repatriation grant. However, should the appointment of an Internationally recruited temporary staff member be converted into a fixed-term appointment, the period of uninterrupted service prior to the conversion will count as qualifying service time under the general provisions of Staff Rule 370.

Appointment prior to 1 January 2017 with service through 1 January 2017 – transitional measures

190    Internationally recruited temporary staff members who, as of 31 December 2016, have completed at least one (1) year of continuous service remain entitled to the repatriation grant as acquired by 31 December 2016 in accordance with the rates and schedule set out in Staff Rule 370.1.1.