FERS Retirement Credit for unused sick leave stalls:

**Skooby** · 10-07-2009, 01:33 PM

http://asmc.typepad.com/viewpoint/

FERS Retirement Credit for unused sick leave stalls: The House version of the FY 2010 Defense Authorization bill includes the authority to provide payment for uused sick leave to retiring federal workers covered under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). Currently, only workers in the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) can apply unused sick leave when they calculate their length of service to determine retirement pay. But now, after bouncing around Congress since it was introduced in late 2007, the proposal appears to have reached another roadblock. The Senate did not include it in its version of the Defense Authorization bill, and reports from the Hill indicate that conferees may not include it in the final conferenced bill. We have reported on congressional progress on this benefit for the last three years. It appears that we may still be following its progress in 2010.

**Texarkandy** · 10-07-2009, 03:19 PM

I was very interested in this issue -but having just retired (with over 1300 hrs of SL on the books) it doesn't really matter anymore.

Guess I should have taken it since I find out near the end your agency doesn't really give a whit about you or all those days you went above & beyond anyway - oh well

**Skooby** · 10-07-2009, 04:06 PM

Originally Posted by Texarkandy

I was very interested in this issue -but having just retired (with over 1300 hrs of SL on the books) it doesn't really matter anymore.

Guess I should have taken it since I find out near the end your agency doesn't really give a whit about you or all those days you went above & beyond anyway - oh well

Wow, that's too bad. I've got about 600 hours of sick leave now and i'm still not retiring for another 25-30 years(i'm 32). So i'm hoping they pass this legislation...

**Frixxxx** · 10-07-2009, 05:39 PM

Originally Posted by Skooby

Wow, that's too bad. I've got about 600 hours of sick leave now and i'm still not retiring for another 25-30 years(i'm 32). So i'm hoping they pass this legislation...

It's cyclical....they'd pass it, then retract it.....then give it back,.....then take it away...

**merlin** · 10-07-2009, 07:24 PM

Originally Posted by Texarkandy

I was very interested in this issue -but having just retired (with over 1300 hrs of SL on the books) it doesn't really matter anymore.

Guess I should have taken it since I find out near the end your agency doesn't really give a whit about you or all those days you went above & beyond anyway - oh well

That's exzctly the reason I tried to use every hour before I retired. Had 1600 hours used 1400. Lost 200.

**Scout333** · 10-07-2009, 11:48 PM

FYI, Better news!

Key Gains in Conference Report Include FERS Sick Leave Credit
The Defense Authorization conference report released today retains several important NTEU-sought provisions that will benefit federal employees and retirees, including language allowing workers under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) to get credit for unused sick leave.

NTEU led a lengthy fight to build congressional support for this provision permitting FERS employees to count sick leave toward their retirement calculation, a right employees under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) already have. It will be phased in over four years with a 50 percent credit through Dec. 31, 2013, and a 100 percent credit beginning Jan. 1, 2014.

The report also corrects an anomaly in the CSRS which penalizes federal employees who choose part-time work toward the end of their career by not calculating their pension correctly. CSRS employees will now be able to receive proper credit for their previous full-time work.

In another victory for federal employees, the conference report allows FERS employees who return to federal service to redeposit their retirement contributions and receive credit for prior years of service. It would also convert the non-foreign cost-of-living adjustment system to a locality pay system over several years.

Finally, the report repeals the authority for the National Security Personnel System (NSPS), a personnel system proposed by the previous administration that sought to undermine the collective bargaining and due process rights of Department of Defense employees. As long as NSPS was in place, there was a danger that similar regressive practices could be adopted government-wide. NTEU waged a successful legal and legislative battle against efforts to impose similar rules on employees of the Department of Homeland Security.

NTEU appreciates the hard work of many congressional supporters in ensuring that these key provisions made it into the final conference report. Among them are House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.); Reps. Ike Skelton (D-Mo.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.), Edolphus Towns (D-N.Y.) and James Moran (D-Va.); as well as Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii).

The report now goes to the House and Senate for a final vote, but Congress is expected to approve it.

**Show-me** · 10-08-2009, 01:46 AM

Pass or no pass, I plan to use mine at full value.

**James48843** · 10-08-2009, 02:05 AM

Link to full report:

http://www.rules.house.gov/111/LegTe...2647cr_txt.pdf

The sick leave provision is at section 1901.

**Elgallo** · 10-08-2009, 09:49 PM

4 years til full credit given for SL is Bravo Sugar. Just another way for them to screw those of us within a few years of retirement.

After 30 years of government service, I want full credit, and I want it now!

**Texarkandy** · 10-09-2009, 03:26 AM

Originally Posted by Elgallo

4 years til full credit given for SL is Bravo Sugar. Just another way for them to screw those of us within a few years of retirement.

After 30 years of government service, I want full credit, and I want it now!

Well, it would have been nice I s'pose -but, it's funny how with just one week retired it just doesn't matter that much now. It is what it is.

**Show-me** · 10-09-2009, 11:58 AM

The final agreement would allow federal agencies to re-employ federal retirees on a limited, part-time basis without offset of annuity; permit Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) workers to initially credit half, and later all, of their unused sick leave toward retirement; and provide for retirement equity for Federal employees in Hawaii, Alaska and the U.S. Territories. The Conference Agreement is expected to pass the House and Senate.

http://postalreporternews.com/2009/1...more-fers-flu/

I am shocked!

**Gumby** · 10-09-2009, 04:01 PM

Originally Posted by Elgallo

After 30 years of government service, I want full credit, and I want it now!

Did you voluntarily give up CSRS for FERS? The ability to keep SL and add to years of service was one of the reasons I stayed in CSRS.
2800 hrs of SL looks pretty good to me.