1. What is FERS Retirement Sick Leave Credit?

The FERS (Federal Employees Retirement System) sick leave credit allows federal employees to convert unused sick leave hours into additional retirement service credit when they retire. This can increase your annuity payment.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the FERS sick leave credit formula:

Where:

• \( Unused\ Sick\ Hours \) — Total accumulated sick leave hours at retirement
• \( 2087 \) — Standard work hours in one year (based on 40-hour work week)
• \( 1\% \) — The percentage applied for FERS calculations
• \( High\text{-}3\ Salary \) — Average of highest 3 consecutive years of salary

Explanation: The formula converts your unused sick hours into equivalent months of service, then calculates the annuity increase based on your high-3 salary.

3. Importance of Sick Leave Credit Calculation

Details: Calculating this credit helps federal employees understand how their unused sick leave will affect their retirement annuity, allowing for better retirement planning.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter your total unused sick leave hours and your high-3 average salary. Both values must be positive numbers for accurate calculation.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How is the 2087 hours derived?
A: 2087 represents the standard work hours in a year (40 hours/week × 52.175 weeks/year).

Q2: Does this apply to CSRS employees?
A: No, this calculation is specific to FERS employees. CSRS has different rules for sick leave credit.

Q3: Is there a cap on sick leave credit?
A: There's no cap on the number of hours that can be credited, but the actual monetary value depends on your high-3 salary.

Q4: How does this affect my annuity?
A: The credit adds to your total service time, increasing your annuity calculation by a small percentage.

Q5: When should I calculate this?
A: It's helpful to calculate periodically as you approach retirement to understand the value of your unused sick leave.