Federal Workers Can Use Accumulated Sick Leave Toward Retirement

Senate Approves Federal Retirement Changes

October 23, 2009

NextGov.com - Legislation that includes several key retirement provisions for federal employees is heading to the president's desk. The Senate on Thursday approved the final version of the fiscal 2010 Defense Authorization bill (H.R. 2647), which includes a provision that would allow employees in the Federal Employees Retirement System to credit their unused, accumulated sick leave toward retirement.

The bill also would allow CSRS workers to shift to part-time status at the end of their careers without reducing their final annuities, and would enable FERS employees who decide to return to civil service from the private sector the ability to recoup their full retirement annuity without losing credit for previous years of federal service.

The legislation also repeals the Defense Department's controversial National Security Personnel System, moving the more than 100,000 employees under the system back to the General Schedule by Jan. 1, 2012.