We understand that certain situations may require a home assignment for longer than 6 months. We can extend a home assignment as a temporary work assignment for up to 12 months.

Here are things to consider for a home assignment of 6 months or more :

1. Residence - If you plan to rent a house or apartment during your stay, you should notify Reliant of your US address and may be responsible for certain state taxes. (See the section below for more information on taxes)
2. Job Description - If you are staying in the US to perform work/ministry duties other than typical home assignment activities, please send in an updated job description.
3. Sabbatical - If you are taking a sabbatical, please fill out the Sabbatical Request Form.
4. Salary/Expenses - We recommend updating your Support Goal Worksheet or submitting a Hardship Bonus to reflect any difference in financial needs during a longer stay in the US.
5. Insurance - Your Aetna coverage will continue while you are on an extended home assignment, but with significant differences.
   
   1. Deductible - When in the United States, there is a deductible applied to your plan. Please familiarize yourself with the details of the Aetna plan.
   2. In-network vs. Out-of-network - When in the United States, Aetna distinguishes between expenses incurred within the Aetna network and expenses incurred out of their network. Out-of-network expenses have a completely separate deductible and are covered at a lesser rate. Please check with your healthcare provider to determine if they are within the Aetna network before receiving treatment.
   3. Long-term Stays - If you are in the United States for a full calendar year, without a clear plan to return overseas, Reliant may ask you to switch to the U.S. insurance plan. A goer may move of their own choice at the end of the first calendar year in the US. 

I need additional time in the US for fund-raising, recruiting or other ministry needs. 

Trips to the US which are taken for ministry purposes are reimbursable.  The purpose of furlough (according to policies) is visiting supporters, raising funds, expanding vision for the ministry among partners and donors and recruiting.  With supervisor approval these activities can be pursued in trips to the US that are additional to a worker's normal furlough. Typically these sorts of trips are necessary for team leaders and field leadership.  First term workers should not seek a trip of this nature unless requested by their local leadership. 

Travel forms are required, as with all travel away from your resident location. 

Typically these trips do not include family members, so additional documentation for International and the Reimbursements team may be needed if you are seeking reimbursement for associate spouses or children.  In other words, their travel is not reimbursable unless their presence fulfills a specific ministry function. 

My furlough is combined with a wedding or another personal or family event. 

It’s also normal among our international workers that they line up family and personal ministry events (like weddings) with ministry fund-raising, recruiting, or partnership trips.  We bless that, as multiple experiences of jet-lag is not productive for the person or ministry.  As with any sort of leave, the details need to be approved by your local supervisor. 

In order for the trip to be considered a Ministry Expense (reimbursable) the guideline is that either

• a) the majority of time is spent on business purposes or
• b) the date was set to meet ministry objectives and personal time was added later.

My trip to the US is for a family or personal event

We affirm that importance of being present with family for key events.  We also affirm that sometimes we just want to be at home.  After completing the first term of international service, an international worker may seek their supervisor's approval to use PTO for personal time in the US.  All travel and jet-lag needs to be included in PTO in these cases.  Personal is personal, so it's not reimbursable, sorry.  A hardship bonus would only be provided for an emergency among immediate family members (like critical illness, funeral, and the like). 

...