OPM TO ISSUE GUIDANCE, IMPLEMENTING REGULATIONSPostal employees who retire under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) will receive credit for their unused sick leave when they retire. The new provision — which became effective Oct. 28 with the president’s signing of the fiscal year 2010 National Defense Authorization Act — will be phased in over four years.

FERS employees who retire between now and Dec. 31, 2013, will receive a 50-percent credit for their unused sick leave. FERS employees who retire on or after Jan. 1, 2014, will receive full credit for their unused sick leave. Employees covered by the Civil Service Retirement System already receive credit for sick leave when they retire.

The National Retirement Counseling Systems, an annuity calculator that provides employees with an estimate of their retirement benefits, will be programmed to show unused FERS sick leave.

Once the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) issues guidance and implementing regulations, the Postal Service then will be able to provide advice to employees who inquire about the effect these changes will have on their individual retirement situation.

source: USPS News Link