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Special Leave without Pay (SLWOP)

Important reminder

Special Leave Without Pay (SLWOP) is granted entirely at the discretion of your employing organization. If you are considering SLWOP, please contact your HR office. The UNJSPF does not decide whether SLWOP is approved or its duration.

For detailed information, click here to watch the Pension Townhall on SLWOP available under the "Separation" drop down. 

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

  1. 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.

  2. 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.
SLWOP and Agreed Termination: Bridging for pension purposes

In line with UN ST/SCB/2018/1: Special Leave - Rule 5.3(d), Fund participants with 5 or more years of contributory service at the time of Agreed Termination may request up to 2 years of SLWOP to:

  • Reach early retirement age (55 or 58, as the case may be) at the end of their SLWOP, and/or
  • Reach 25 years of contributory service at the end of their SLWOP, if electing an early retirement benefit under article 29
Do I need to pay pension contributions during SLWOP?

It depends on the purpose of your SLWOP. 

If SLWOP is used to reach early retirement age:

  • No pension contributions are required.
  • Benefit: Because you will have reached early retirement age when separating at the end of your SLWOP, you may elect an Early Retirement Benefit under Article 29, which includes a lump sum option.
  • A staff member who is within 2 years from reaching their early retirement age may consider this. (Check the Retirement Ages page to find out your early retirement age).

Visit the Benefit Options page for more details.

If SLWOP is used to reach 25 years of contributory service:

  • Pension contributions are required during SLWOP, to make the period 'pensionable'.
  • You must pay both your own and the organization’s contribution share for each month.
  • Your latest salary slip shows monthly contribution amounts for both shares, helping you estimate the total cost.
  • Benefit: A lower early retirement reduction factor, applied for life.
    • If you have less than 25 years of contributory service (CS), the reduction factor is 6% per year (pro-rated by month) that you are younger than normal retirement age (NRA) at the date of separation.
    • If you have at least 25 years of CS at the date of separation, the factor is lower.
  • A staff member who intends to elect an early retirement benefit under article 29, and who is within 2 years of reaching 25 years of contributory service in the Fund may consider this.

Visit the Benefit Options page for more details.

Compare your options
To understand the impact of paying or not paying contributions during SLWOP, run two estimates in your UNJSPF Member Self-Srevice (MSS) portal:

  • Enter a separation date at Agreed Termination (before SLWOP).
  • Enter a separation date at the end of SLWOP.

This comparison will show the financial impact and help you decide if paying contributions during SLWOP is worthwhile.

Important note: You are not entitled to any payments from the Fund during SLWOP.

General 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:

  1. If you contribute during your period of SLWOP, then this child is considered a survivor as you’re an active participant of the Fund.
  2. 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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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?
  1. If you contribute during your period of SLWOP, then benefits are payable to any eligible survivors.
  2. If you do not contribute during your period of SLWOP, then survivor benefits are payable to those who were eligible prior to your SLWOP.
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Special Leave without Pay (English)
Congé spécial sans traitement (French)
Licencia especial sin sueldo (Spanish)
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Regulations and Rules
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