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Home Assignment is called a lot of different things (furlough, stateside time, HMA) but they all mean the same thing. This is an extended period of time when you are reporting back to your sending church, connecting with your MTD partners, and receiving care from your network of people. You might take a trip to the US for other reasons, such as a wedding or family event, but these are not considered an official Home Assignment (although they can certainly be attended during a home assignment).

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You accrue 6 weeks of stateside time per year on the field. Most people take 12 weeks every 2 years, but we encourage you to talk with your supervisor to determine a good rhythm for both you and your ministry.

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You should start planning your HMA around 6 months before you get on the plane. Our HMA Checklist guides you through what to do in each month leading up to your trip.

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Home Assignment is not a long vacation. The reverse culture shock, living out of a suitcase, and trying to see everyone may leave you pretty tired. We encourage you to schedule down times, or perhaps a retreat/vacation at the end of your HMA.

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Home Assignment is considered part of your work responsibilities. You can reimburse any related expenses.

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You might be surprised how expensive things are in the US. Per Diem is a great way to access extra non-taxable funds without needing to submit a lot of receipts and forms.

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There could be tax implications. All states are different in how they handle temporary relocation. Please fill out the Home Assignment Notifcation Form to let us know where you'll be and for how long. We'll make any necessary changes on our end. 

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You do have a deductible when you use your insurance in the US and that in-network providers will be less expensive. If needed, you can apply for a hardship bonus to cover your deductible.

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We'd like to check-in with you while you are stateside. Schedule a Reliant Debrief during the first 2-4 weeks on HMA.

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Many people combine HMA with other transitions or major events, such as a sabbatical or having a baby. It's fine to extend your HMA as needed, as long as you've worked it out with your field supervisor

It goes by lots of names... Furlough, Stateside Service, Home Assignment. Whatever term you or your ministry may use for the time you spent away from your field ministry and in the United States, -and you may hear us use various terms! -  it is an incredibly important part of the life and work of the cross-cultural Goer. The purposes are :

  1. Strengthen ministry financial support with individuals and churches by visiting and casting vision to ministry partners.
  2. Promote international ministry needs.
  3. Spend time with family, and reconnect with American culture.
  4. Take intentional time for your own physical, emotional, and spiritual rejuvenation.

Our guiding principle is that workers should take approximately 6 weeks of furlough per year overseas.

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*Reliant recommends staying overseas 18-24 months during your first term before coming back. Returning within the first year may disrupt your transition and make it more difficult to acclimate to your host country.

These timeframes are meant to provide a framework for healthy rhythms. We understand every ministry and missionary's needs are different and entrust you and your ministry to come to an agreement on the frequency and duration of being in the U.S. Some determining factors may include yearly work rhythms, size of your family, educational needs for children, etc.

We recommend you start planning about six months before you plan to come stateside. Below is a workbook specifically designed to help you think and plan through various aspects. You can make a copy in Google sheets and use it to the extent that it is helpful in your situation.

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titlePlanning for Home Assignment
urlhttps://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1LOBArJ8pUqMsZMXkKeIUclU0xwXTXlkHiUSsrCJcH2A/copy#gid=371945924

Note

Please notify Reliant as soon as you begin planning for Home Assignment:

We've put together some great resources for all of your furlough questions. See the pages below.

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It is incredibly important to understand how furlough, or any time in the United States, affects your insurance coverage. If you are enrolled in the Aetna plan, your coverage will continue uninterrupted. However, while you are not subject to a deductible overseas, you will have to meet a deductible for any medical expenses incurred within the United States. Additionally, Aetna has different rates of coverage for in-network and out-of-network expenses. Please confirm with Aetna and/or your medical provider that they are in-network before receiving treatment. If you decide to use an out-of-network provider, make sure to understand the costs upfront. You can review the details of the Aetna plan here.

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titleInsurance Coverage During Furlough
Warning

Because medical treatment may be more expensive in the US than overseas, if you plan to have a major medical procedure while in the U.S., it is best practice to notify Aetna ahead of time for approval, even if pre-approval is not explicitly stated or required.

Warning

If you are not covered under the Aetna plan, but have a national plan through your country of service, you are responsible for knowing what your plan covers while you are in the US and obtaining additional insurances as necessary.

See also: Travel Assistance insurance for ACE International Travel Assistance information

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titleTax Considerations

If you qualify for the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion, you will need to report any days that you spend in the US when filing Form 2555. For a standard 3-month furlough, you may not see a noticeable impact on your taxes. However, if your furlough extends beyond three months, we strongly recommend talking to a tax professional to understand your tax obligations correctly. See also Extended Furloughs (6+ Months).

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titleState Taxes May Apply

Most states base taxation on residency in the state, and generally exempt income if it would qualify for the federal foreign earned income exclusion. When residing and working in the United States for longer than 3 months, please seek counsel from the International Program team regarding your ministry role and location, to determine if it's appropriate to withhold state taxes for a portion of your time in the US. We also advise that you consult your tax advisor regarding applicable tax laws in your home state. 

InfoAre you a part of a country that has a totalization agreement? If you are a missionary in one of the countries listed in the Furlough Request, you may need to plan a 6-month exit from the host country every 5 years to comply with the agreement, Please contact international@reliant.org if you have questions

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