updated 12/18/03

 

VOLUNTARY EARLY RETIREMENT

Latest 2004 -2005 VER Guidelines can be found Here

 

Table of Contents

July 11, 2003 Letter - APWU VER VER Offer Letter Early Retirement Resources
Guidelines For Processing Early Retirement Irrevocability of VER Decision Early Out Discussion
Implementation Timeline For APWU VER VER Disapproval Letter Retirement Request Status
Statement of Interest Bulletin Board Notice Supervisor VER Notice
Summary of Benefits & Leave Provision   Notice of Approval
Q & A ON BENEFITS, PAY & LEAVE Voluntary Early Out Agenda USPS VER Guidelines Changed

 

APWU Comes Roaring Back in its Latest VER Suit Response(10/21)

(VER) AND OTHER WORKFORCE RESHAPING LEGAL ISSUES web format or  download PDF file

Overview

Background

OPM Guidelines

VER Timeline/SOP (explanation of timeline)

HQ, Area, and District Roles/Duties

VER Document Review

RESHAPING THE WORKFORCE web format or  download PDF file| Excessing Questions & Answers

REPOSITIONING THE WORKFORCE web format or  download PDF file
Anthony Vegliante August 18, 2003 Letter Re: Voluntary Early Retirement

 

Use of Voluntary Early Retirement- Patrick Donahue Letter

Voluntary Early Out Packet (Thanks to Don Cheney)

Letter from Gerald S Sanchez Manager, Human Resources Pacific Area Office

 

 

Below is a web format of the VER offer letter sent to an employee in the USPS Oakland District
 

December 16, 2003

SUBJECT: Voluntary Early Retirement Offer

The Postal Service has received approval from the Office of Personnel Management under its Voluntary Early Retirement (VER) Authority to offer VER to positions covered under the National Agreement between the U. S. Postal Service and the American Postal Workers Union, AFL-CIO.

Bay-Valley District employees who submit a retirement application will be approved for a VER effective date of February 29, 2004. Some employees had previously received letters with a January 31, 2004 date, however, ALL VERs will be effective February 29, 2004.

Based on the submission of your Statement of Interest form for voluntary early retirement (VER), you have been found eligible for this VER offer. To take advantage of this offer, you must complete and return the attached Acknowledgment of Irrevocability of Voluntary Early Retirement Decision. This document must be received along with your retirement application by Personnel Services no later than 5:00 PM on January 20, 2004. If you elect to take advantage of this VER offer, your retirement effective date will be February 29, 2004.

Since the Postal Service will rely on your decision to retire in developing its complement management plans, your decision to retire will become IRREVOCABLE at 5:00 PM on January 20, 2004, the closing date of the VER window period. This means that you cannot withdraw your retirement application after 5:00 PM January 20, 2004. You may withdraw your retirement application prior to this time and date by submitting written notification by letter or fax, signed and dated, to USPS -

Personnel Services, 1675 7th Street, Room 431, Oakland, CA 94615-9442 or fax (510) 433-7529.

Once again, in order to withdraw your retirement application, your withdrawal request must be RECEIVED prior to 5:00 PM on January 20, 2004.

The attached information is provided to assist you in making your decision whether to take advantage of this offer. The annuity calculation uses age and creditable service based on your date of birth and retirement computation date. If you are covered by the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and under age 55, your annuity reflects a 2 percent reduction for each year under age 55. If you are covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) with a CSRS frozen component and under age 55, only the CSRS portion of your annuity is reduced by 2 percent for each year under age 55. There is no reduction to the FERS component of the annuity.

Please review your annuity estimate and the other information provided so you will be in a position to make an informed decision. Your personnel office will be providing additional retirement information through group retirement counseling sessions. Remember that in order to take advantage of the VER offer, your retirement application and acknowledgment must be received by Personnel Services no later than 5:00 PM on January 20, 2004.

For more information please contact Personnel Services at (510) 874-8344.


ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF IRREVOCABILITY OF VOLUNTARY EARLY RETIREMENT DECISION

I have applied for voluntary early retirement (VER) offered by the Postal Service under the Voluntary Early Retirement Authority ("VERA") granted by the Office of Personnel Management.

I understand that the Postal Service is relying on my decision to retire in developing its complement management plans.

I understand that the effective date of my retirement will be February 29, 2004.

I understand that my decision to retire will become IRREVOCABLE at 5:00 PM on January 20, 2004, the closing date of the VER window period.

I understand that this means that I may withdraw my retirement application by submitting a letter or fax, signed and dated, to USPS - Personnel Services, 1675 7th Street, Room 431, Oakland, CA 94615-9442 or fax (510) 433-7529,

which must be RECEIVED no later than 5:00 PM on January 20, 2004, in order for my withdrawal to be effective.

I understand that any letter or fax received after 5:00 PM on January 20, 2004, will not be effective to withdraw my retirement application.

 

 

Outstanding APWU VER issues (9/23/03)

 USPS VER Guidelines Changed

The USPS VER guidelines have changed and are printed in part below.  There are several new and modified form letters.  Management has decided to place additional limits on the number of employees who can retire early.

 IMPORTANT: Encourage your members to SAVE the VER Offer Letters they received in September.  This includes those who do not plan to accept this offer.  Management may renege on the maximums published in those letters.  If that should happen, proof will be needed.  Although the USPS has projected 17,500 excess people in FY 2004, it expects only 3,750 will take advantage of the VER offer.  From the mess they have created, you can see why!

 Management has failed to disclose their plan for plant consolidations to the APWU, although it was due in December 2002.  The original commitment to consolidate mail processing facilities was made in the "Comprehensive Transformation Plan" issued in October 2001.  Nationwide plant consolidation and the possibility of excessing employees over 50 miles was the rationale for an agency-wide VERA.  The goal was to minimize employee dislocation.

 **********************************************

 VER Offer Letter Template Issues

 We [USPS] recently provided new instructions that state,

 

“The offer letter (Attachment G) will be limited to the October 31, 2003 effective date.  Employees who submit an application (and do not withdraw) will retire on that date, provided that there was no maximum set or the maximum was not exceeded.  These employees will be provided this information through a VER Approval Notice (Attachment K).  At the same time, in instances where there are more applications than the published maximum, those employees will be sent a Retirement Request Status notice (Attachment L) informing them that they will be allowed to retire either January 31, 2004 or February 29, 2004.  We will set a new irrevocable date for these additional letters.”

 Some questions have been raised about the VER offer letter template since the new instructions were issued. 

There are 6 possible scenarios involving different max combinations: 

  1. No retirements allowed – This is something that management (or the employees) does not want to see.  In this scenario, all employees who submitted SOIs will be sent Attachment I, Disapproval Notice
  1. No Maximums on allowable retirements – This is the most desirable scenario.  All SOI respondents will get Attachment G 1, with Attachment H 1.  Of that group, all who submit a retirement application will be approved.
  1. October Max Jan/Feb No Max - There is a maximum established for October.  All SOI respondents in this scenario will get Attachment G 2, with Attachment H 2.  All who submit a retirement application, up to the October max, will be approved for VER and will be sent Attachment K, VER Approval Notice.  All applicants who are excess of the October max will be approved for VER in either January or February, and will be sent Attachment L 3, Retirement Request Status.
  1. October Max Jan/Feb Max -There is a maximum established for October as well as January/February.  All SOI respondents in this scenario will get Attachment G 3, with Attachment H 2.  All who submit a retirement application, up to the October max, will be approved for VER and will be sent Attachment K, VER Approval Notice.  All applicants who are excess of the October max will be will be sent Attachment L 4, Retirement Request Status.
  1. Zero October Jan/Feb No Max In this scenario, no VERs are allowed in October, all will be allowed to retire in January/February.  All SOI respondents in this scenario will be sent Attachment L 1, Retirement Request Status.

 

  1. Zero October Jan/Feb Max In this scenario, no VERs are allowed in October.  There will be a maximum established for January/February.  All SOI respondents in this scenario will be sent Attachment L 2, Retirement Request Status.

  Communication to Category 5 Employees

 Employees who are in Category 5 (No VER offers at this time, Maintenance craft level 6, and above and 4 and 5 Maintenance Mechanic; and Motor Vehicle craft level 6 and above) need a special communication before the Disapproval Notice is sent.  HQ Labor will provide talking points to be used in stand-up talks telling these employees why they are not covered by this VER offer.  DO NOT SEND THE DISAPPROVAL NOTICE BEFORE THE STAND-UP TALK.

  Pending removal

 If an employee has been served with a decision of removal letter, that employee is not eligible for VER.

 Deposit Or Redeposit To OPM For Prior Civilian And Military Service Appointments

 Some employees currently do not meet the creditable service criteria necessary for VER eligibility.  However, with completion of deposit or redeposit to OPM for prior civilian and military service appointments, the years of service necessary to meet the minimum would be attained.

 For optional retirement applications, employees must complete the deposit or redeposit for civilian service prior to submission of the retirement application to OPM.  Post-1956 deposits for military service periods, however, may be completed after the application has been forwarded to not delay the process.

 However, for VER eligible applicants, all deposit or redeposit must be completed prior to processing the personnel action to separate the employee under VER.  If the process cannot be completed by the October 31, 2003 effective date, the employee will be granted an extension with the retirement date determined after receipt of a ‘paid in full’ statement from OPM. 


 
***NOTICE***

Voluntary Early Retirement (VER) Offer for Supervisor Distribution Operations and Associate Supervisor Distribution Operations Positions in _______ (installation name)

The Postal Service will be undergoing substantial restructuring, reshaping, and repositioning of its workforce in the coming months. The Postal Service has received approval from the Office of Personnel Management under its Voluntary Early Retirement Authority to offer VER to employees in initial level supervisory positions in field operating units. The positions covered under this VER offer are Supervisor Distribution Operations and Associate Supervisor Distribution Operations. The purpose of this VER offer is to minimize the number of employees potentially affected by involuntary reassignments in a nationwide effort to reposition supervisory staff to critical vacancies.

Eligible employees will receive a package including a 'Statement of Interest' form that must be completed to indicate their interest in the early retirement offer. The form must be completed and returned to th address provided in the package postmarked no later than November 13, 2003. Packages will be mailed beginning October 23, 2003.

The basic eligiblity requirements for the VER offer are listed below. If you meet these requirements and do not receive your package by October 30, 2003, please contact your local personnel office.

* Age and Service Requirements

-Age 50 as of February 1, 2004 with 20 years or more of service as of January 31, 20004, or
-Any age with 25 years or more of service as of January 31, 2004
*Note: Total service must include at least five years of civilian service (career or non-career)

* VER Eligible Position Requirement

-You occupy either Supervisor Distribution Operations or Associate Supervisor Distribution Operations in (installation name).

PLEASE POST ON SUPERVISORY BULLETIN BOARDS OCTOBER 17, 2003 THROUGH COB JANUARY 19, 2004

ATTACHMENT K

NAPS President Explains Supervisors and SDOs VER
September 26, 2003

C Humphrey JR

(address withheld)

West Sacramento, Ca, CA 95798

 

SUBJECT: Retirement Request Status

 

You have shown interest in the voluntary early retirement option offered by the Postal Service under the Voluntary Early Retirement Authority ("VERA") granted by the Office of Personnel Management with a retirement effective date of October 31, 2003. You occupy a position that local management has identified as needed during the holiday mailing period.

 

Some opportunities for VER will exist for employees occupying these important positions to retire on either January 31, 2004 or February 29, 2004. You will receive additional information regarding early retirement in mid-December 2003.

 

For more information please contact Sharon Mettler, Human Resources Specialist at (916) 373-8698.

 

Thomas F. McCue

Manager, Human Resources

3775 Industrial Blvd.

West Sacramento, Ca 95798-006


July 11, 2003

MANAGERS, HUMAN RESOURCES (AREAS)
MANAGERS, HUMAN RESOURCES (DISTRICTS)
MANAGERS, PERSONNEL SERVICES (DISTRICTS)

SUBJECT:  Voluntary Early Retirement (VER) Offer for APWU-Represented Employees

This memorandum provides instructions and assistance in implementing the Voluntary Early Retirement (VER) offer being extended to employees who occupy positions covered under the National Agreement between the Postal Service and the American Postal Workers Union (APWU), AFL-CIO.  The Postal Service has received approval from the Office of Personnel Management under its Voluntary Early Retirement Authority to offer VER to this specific group of employees.  The purpose of this VER offer is to minimize the number of employees potentially affected by involuntary reassignments under the appropriate national agreement articles due to the reshaping and repositioning of our bargaining unit workforce.

The attached package includes:

  • Guidelines for Processing Voluntary Early Retirement for APWU-Represented Employees (Attachment A).
  • Implementation timeline for APWU VER (Attachment B).
  • Information provided to potentially eligible employees (Attachments C, D, E, and F).
  • Letter templates to be used for corresponding with employees during the VER offer (Attachments G, H, and I).
  • Employee bulletin board notice that must be placed on all employee bulletin boards during the period July 15, 2003 through October 27, 2003 (Attachment J).

 We have also highlighted below other pertinent information concerning the VER offer and related actions underway to assist personnel offices.

 Some of the key dates associated with this VER offer are:

  • July 11, 2003 – Implementation instructions provided to Area and District Human Resources.
  • July 15, 2003 – Statement of Interest (SOI) package mailed to potentially eligible employees.
  • August 5, 2003 – End of SOI period.      
  • September 27, 2003 to October 27, 2003 – VER window period.

 Employee Notification

 On July 15, 2003, employees who meet the eligibility requirements for this VER offer will be mailed a SOI package directly from a contractor.  The mailing will encompass approximately 58,000 potentially eligible APWU employees.  This package will include:

  • Generic cover letter (Attachment C) to explain the rationale for the VER offer, the basic eligibility requirements, and the purpose of the SOI.
  • SOI form (Attachment D).
  • Summary of Benefits and Leave Provisions under VER (Attachment E).
  • VER frequently asked questions (Attachment F).

 It should be reemphasized that this VER offer is only available to those employees who occupy positions covered under the National Agreement between the Postal Service and the American Postal Workers Union, AFL-CIO.  All other employees represented by the APWU under separate agreements and other bargaining unit and non-bargaining employees are not covered by this VER offer.

List of Eligible Employees

 District human resources managers and managers, Personnel Services will receive a listing of all employees within their district that meet the eligibility requirements for the VER offer based on personnel records.  Mailing addresses for each eligible employee will be included on the listing.   A district summary report will also be provided identifying those eligible by job title, occupation code, grade level, and location.  Area human resources managers will receive a copy of each district summary and detailed reports for those districts under their jurisdiction.

 Retirement, Thrift, and Reduction in Force (RTR) Processing

 Verification of an eligible employee’s age and creditable service is critical to the success of this VER offer.  Retirement, Thrift, and Reduction (RTR) records must be established for all employees who submit SOI requests to ensure that the correct retirement plans and retirement computation dates are properly reflected in the payroll and complement management systems.

 Headquarters compensation recently released additional guidance concerning RTR processing through computer-based training modules and new error reports.  In support of the APWU VER offer and RTR processing in general, compensation will be providing additional RTR training over the next two months.

 Additional Information Available on Various Web Sites

 There are a variety of web sites available concerning VER and other pertinent information that may assist personnel offices in responding to employee inquiries or can be accessed directly by employees through the internet.  Some of these sites are identified on page 4 of Attachment E under “More Information.”  In addition, Headquarters’ Labor Relations is in the process of developing a web site with a link through usps.com that should be available by the end of July.  This site will provide VER information including frequently asked questions.

 The field can also access VER information on the intranet through the Organizational Change site located at http://blue.usps.gov/hrisp/ser/org_change.htm.

 Susan M. LaChance

Manager
Selection, Evaluation, and Recognition
Attachments

return to table
 

GUIDELINES FOR PROCESSING VOLUNTARY EARLY
RETIREMENT FOR APWU-REPRESENTED EMPLOYEES

I. VOLUNTARY EARLY RETIREMENT (VER)

The Postal Service has received approval from the Office of Personnel Management under its Voluntary Early Retirement Authority to offer VER to career employees who occupy positions covered by the National Agreement between the U. S. Postal Service and the American Postal Workers Union (APWU), AFL-CIO. Eligible employees identified in Section II who elect to take advantage of this VER offer will have a retirement effective date of October 31, 2003. However based on USPS operational needs, employees in positions necessary to maintain service during the period November 1, 2003 through December 31, 2003, will be delayed and have a management determined retirement effective date of either January 31, 2004 or February 29, 2004.

II. ELIGIBILITY/ANNUITY REQUIREMENTS

A. Age and Service Requirements

To be eligible to retire under this VER offer, the employee must meet one of the following age and service requirements:

Age is at least… and Creditable Service* is at least…

  • 50 as of November 1, 2003 20 or more years as of October 31, 2003

  • Any Age 25 or more years as of October 31, 2003

*Creditable service requirement must include at least five years of creditable civilian service (career or non-career).

B. Covered Position Requirements

The employees must occupy a position that has been either identified as excess to the mission of the Postal Service, or is a potential reassignment opportunity for those employees whose positions are being excessed. As an aid, we have categorized employees who submit SOIs as follows:

Category 1 Potential excess positions in plants

Level 4, 5, 6, 7 clerks

Level 5 and below motor vehicle craft

level 5 and below of Maintenance craft (except level 4 and 5 Maintenance Mechanic)

Category 2 Potential excess positions within 50 miles of plants

Level 4, 5, 6, 7 clerks

Level 5 and below motor vehicle craft

level 5 and below of Maintenance craft (except level 4 and 5 Maintenance Mechanic)

Category 3 Other potential reassignment opportunities Employees who are not in category 1 or 2; except motor vehicle craft level 6 and above and maintenance craft level 6 and above and 4 and 5 Maintenance Mechanic

Category 4 Ineligible – employees who are in pay schedules other than P or C.

Category 5 No VER offers at this time - Maintenance craft level 6, and above and 4 and 5 Maintenance Mechanic, and Motor Vehicle craft level 6 and above.

C. Excluded Employees

The following categories of employees are excluded from this VER offer:

1. Nonbargaining

All nonbargaining employees, including those in rate schedule codes E, F, J, S, and U.

2. Bargaining Unit

All bargaining unit employees, except those career employees who occupy a position covered under the National Agreement between the U. S. Postal Service and the American Postal Workers Union, AFL-CIO.

Because of errors in personnel records, some employees in these excluded categories may receive a Statement of Interest (SOI) package in error, see Section IV. Conversely, some employees may not have been identified as eligible due to a classification error. Personnel offices must correct the erroneous employee data and make a determination whether the employee meets the eligibility requirements for this VER offer. If the employee is found eligible, the personnel office should provide a copy of the materials provided to eligible employees (see Attachments C, D, E, and F).

III. EMPLOYEE IDENTIFICATION

A. Printout

Career APWU employees covered by either CSRS or FERS (retirement plan codes 1, 5, 8 or A), who meet the eligibility criteria in Section II.A, have been identified based on current CMS data. A listing of these eligible employees will be electronically transmitted to all district HR managers and managers, Personnel Services on July 11, 2003. Area HR managers will receive a summary reports and detailed listings for each district under their jurisdiction.

B. Employee Notification

All employees identified on the printout referenced above will be mailed a SOI package on July 15, 2003, at their address of record, informing them of their eligibility for the VER offer. The package will be comprised of Attachments C, D, E and F. Approximately 58,000 APWU employees have been identified as potentially eligible for this VER offer. The return address will be the employees’ duty station. Any mail returned to the employees’ duty station must be delivered to the employees by their supervisor. The supervisor should advise the employees that they must ensure that Postal records reflect their current address.

C. Employee Bulletin Board Notice

Attachment J is an employee bulletin board notice that must be posted on all employee bulletin boards during the period July 15, 2003 through October 27, 2003, end of the VER window period.

IV. VERIFYING ELIGIBILITY THROUGH THE RTR SYSTEM

Personnel offices are responsible for ensuring that employees meet the age and service requirements for this VER offer as specified in Section II.A of these guidelines. Although our ultimate goal is to have all employee records in RTR as soon as possible, ONLY THOSE EMPLOYEES WHO SUBMIT A SOI FORM must have their retirement plan codes and retirement computation dates in CMS verified IMMEDIATELY through the RTR System.

During the SOI period, July 15, 2003 through August 5, 2003, SER will electronically forward, on a weekly basis or more often as the volume dictates, the listings outlined above to each manager, Personnel Services with copies to Area and district HR managers. The listings will specify the five categories referred to in II. B.. Those employees identified in category 1 and full time regulars in category 2 must be given priority for RTR processing. For employees in categories 4 and 5, RTR processing is not required at this time.

Errors in RCD must be corrected immediately in CMS and a determination made as to whether the employee still meets the creditable service requirement for this VER offer. Errors in retirement plan code must be reported to HQ as outlined in SOP19, Correcting Retirement Plan Code Errors (NOA 008 and NOA 803). Employees must be advised of any corrections made to their personnel records.

Personnel offices are reminded that employees legally attain a given age on the day before their birthday. (See Compensation Letter 92-020) Under this VER offer, employees must meet the eligibility requirements on or before October 31, 2003, therefore based on the ‘birthday rule’, employees whose 50TH birthday falls on November 1, 2003, would be eligible for this VER offer.

V. PROCESSING VER REQUESTS

A. Headquarters

Eligible employees interested in taking advantage of the VER offer, must submit their SOI forms to Headquarters’ Selection, Evaluation, and Recognition (SER) no later than close of business August 5, 2003. SER will verify that the employees occupy positions covered by the VER offer and group these employees into the five categories identified in II. B. above

B. District Offices

After verification through RTR that an employee meets the eligibility requirements, personnel offices must coordinate with operations to determine if the employee’s position is excess to the mission of the Postal Service or can be used as a reassignment opportunity for those employees who are excessed to the mission of the Postal Service.

The only restrictions to offering VER for employees in categories 1 and 2 are:

A date restriction

o If operations sets a maximum for the number of VERs that it will allow for October 31, 2003

A distance restriction for jobs that are being used as potential reassignment opportunities

o If an interested employee occupies a position that can be used as a potential reassignment opportunity, but a reassignment cannot be made because of the 50 mile moratorium on excessing

Human Resources must meet with Operations to determine if maximums will be established for the October 31, 2003 VER effective date. Area Human Resources must provide HQ Selection Evaluation Recognition with the results of this analysis by COB September 15, 2003 on a form that will by provided to the Area Organizational Change Coordinators via email.

The offer letter (Attachment G) will be limited to the October 31, 2003 effective date. Employees who submit an application (and do not withdraw) will retire on that date, provided that there was no maximum set or the maximum was not exceeded. These employees will be provided this information through a VER Approval Notice (Attachment K). At the same time, in instances where there are more applications than the published maximum, those employees will be sent a Retirement Request Status notice (Attachment L) informing them that they will be allowed to retire either January 31, 2004 or February 29, 2004. We will set a new irrevocable date for these additional letters.

C. Responding to Employee SOI Requests

Personnel offices must advise employees, in writing, concerning the status of their SOI requests.

VER Eligible Employees

Once the number of allowable VERs by installation and position has been determined by Operations, and RTRs have been completed; a VER offer package should be prepared and mailed to eligible employees no later than Saturday, September 27, 2003. The VER offer package includes:

VER Offer Letter (Attachment G)

Acknowledgement of Irrevocability of Voluntary Early Retirement Decision (attachment H)

Annuity Estimate (based on the October 31, VER effective date

RTR Service History Worksheet

Certain sections of the VER offer letter must be completed prior to mailing.

Ineligible Employees

Employees who do not meet the eligibility requirements in Section IIA or who have been identified as Category 4 and 5 employees, see Section V.A, must be notified using Attachment I, VER Disapproval Letter. The appropriate box indicating the reason for their ineligibility must be annotated prior to mailing.

D. Group Retirement Counseling Sessions

Because of the potential interest in the VER offer, personnel offices must conduct a series of group retirement counseling sessions during the VER window period. Eligible employees who are provided a VER offer/approval letter, regardless of the retirement effective date, should be notified of scheduled sessions at the time they are given their offer letter. Employees should be encouraged to review the information provided in their SOI package prior to attending the counseling sessions and to bring their annuity estimates and RTR service history worksheets with them when attending the sessions. These sessions should be structured along the lines of that provided in EL-502, CSRS Retirement Guide, and include information for FERS employees, including the reduction and postponement options for MRA+10, FERS annuity supplement, etc.

During these sessions, it should be emphasized that Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) employees who retire under this VER offer will have their annuities reduced by two percent (2%) for each year (or one-sixth of one percent for each full month) they are under the age of 55. This reduction also applies to the frozen CSRS component for those employees who transferred to the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). There is no reduction to the FERS portion of the annuity for those who transferred, or to a FERS annuity without a frozen CSRS component, regardless of the employee’s age.

At a minimum, personnel offices should cover the eligibility requirements for the VER offer, creditable service including civilian and military service, reduction for early retirement, Social Security benefits including the impact of the Windfall Elimination and Public Pension Offset provisions, and the impact of Social Security benefits on CSRS Offset employees, health and life insurance, thrift savings plan, and the process for submitting retirement applications under the VER.

E. Processing Personnel Actions

1. Nature of Action (NOA) Code

Personnel offices must use NOA 303 – Retirement –Special Option, when processing personnel actions for employees who elect to take advantage of this VER offer. Retirements for all excluded employees, see Section II.C, must be processed using normal procedures.

2. Form 50 Remarks

The remarks to be included on the Form 50 when processing a NOA 303 under this VER offer will be provided under separate cover.


return to table
 

IMPLEMENTATION TIMELINE FOR APWU VER

Date Event
Thursday, June 26, 2003

Identify employees

Contract for mailing

Prepare communications package

Develop instructional information for field

Tuesday, July 8, 2003 Statement of Interest (SOI) package to contractor for printing and mailing
Friday, July 11, 2003 Implementation package to Area and field HR (electronic format)
Tuesday, July 15, 2003 SOI package mailed to eligible employees
Tuesday, July 15, 2003

To

August 26, 2003

Area works on specific site complement plans.

Assesses impact, reshaping and staffing needs.

Prioritizes positions and number of employees eligible for VER for October 31, 2003 retirement date and identifies subsequent retirement dates.

Tuesday, August 5, 2003 End of SOI period.
Wednesday, August 6, 2003

To

Tuesday, August 19, 2003

HQs Collects/Analyzes/Sorts SOI data.

HQs forwards SOI data to district HR with summary copies to Area HR weekly (more often if necessary).

Wednesday, August 6, 2003

To

Wednesday, September 24, 2003

OPF validation/RTR data entry period

Issuance of disapproval letters, where appropriate

Monday, September 15, 2003 Result Operational review due to HQ SER in the AllowableVERs.XLS spreadsheet
Saturday, September 27. 2003 VER offer packages mailed to interested employees
Saturday, September 27, 2003

To

Monday, October 27, 2003

VER Window Period
Friday, October 31, 2003 Earliest VER effective date
n
VER offer packages will be mailed to employees who have shown interest and who are in category 1
VER offer packages will be mailed to FTR employees who have shown interest and who are in category 2
PTF or PTR employees in category 2 will be mailed an offer package if they can be replaced by the reassignment of another career employee

return to table


Statement of Interest for Voluntary Early Retirement

from Early Out Packet

If you occupy a position covered by the National Agreement between the U. S. Postal Service and the American Postal Workers Union, AFL-CIO, meet the eligibility requirements below and wish to indicate your interest in considering voluntary early retirement (VER), you should complete and return this form no later than the close of business August 5, 2003, in the enclosed self-addressed envelope to:

VER Statement of Interest

Selection Evaluation Recognition

475 L’Enfant Plaza, Room 9671

Washington DC 20260-4250

 I understand this statement of interest:

     ·           Is not a commitment to file for VER.

·         Is not an application for VER.

·         Will result in my personnel office validating my age and service for VER eligibility. 

·        Will generate a VER offer letter if I meet the eligibility requirements.  This offer will include an annuity estimate, a service history report, the Acknowledgement of Irrevocability form, and an application for VER.

 I believe I meet the following eligibility requirements for VER:

  • I am or will be age 50 or older as of November 1, 2003 with at least 20 years of creditable service as of October 31, 2003.  Note: Total service must include at least five years of creditable civilian career and non-career service.  Military service is also creditable once the five-year requirement has been met.

or

  • I have or will have at least 25 years of creditable service as of October 31, 2003.  Note: Total service must include at least five years creditable civilian career and non-career service.  Military service is also creditable once the five-year requirement has been met.

I am interested in VER and would like my eligibility to be validated.  I understand that this VER opportunity does not include any incentive payments (“buyout”).

Employee SSN:  _________________________

Employee Name:  ________________________

Signature:  _________________________

Date:  ___________________

return to table


VER DISAPPROVAL LETTER

 (DATE)

 Employee Name and

Address

 SUBJECT:  Disapproval of Voluntary Early Retirement (VER) Request

You have submitted a Statement of Interest form for the current VER offer.  A review of your personnel records has revealed that you do not meet the eligibility requirements for this VER offer.  The disapproval of your VER request was made based on the following reason(s):

     You do not meet the age and service requirements.  To be eligible, you must be age 50 or older as of November 1, 2003 with at least 20 years of creditable service as of October 31, 2003, or you have at least 25 years of creditable service as of October 31, 2003.  Note: at least 5 of your creditable service years must be creditable civilian service (career and/or non-career).

       You do not occupy a position that is excess to the mission of the Postal Service or is a potential opportunity for those employees whose positions are being excessed. 

 

 Manager, Human Resources
 
return to table

* * * NOTICE * * *

Voluntary Early Retirement (VER) Offer for Positions Represented by the American Postal Workers Union, AFL-CIO

The Postal Service will be undergoing substantial restructuring, reshaping, and repositioning of its bargaining unit workforce in the coming months.

To minimize the number of employees potentially affected by involuntary reassignments under the appropriate national agreement articles, the Postal Service has received approval from the Office of Personnel Management under its Voluntary Early Retirement (VER) Authority to offer VER to positions covered under the National Agreement between the U. S. Postal Service and the American Postal Workers Union, AFL-CIO. 

 Eligible employees will receive a package including a ‘Statement of Interest’ form that must be completed to indicate their interest in the early retirement offer.  The form must be completed and returned to the address provided in the package no later than the close of business August 5, 2003.  Packages will be mailed beginning July 15, 2003.

 The basic eligibility requirements for the VER offer are listed below.  If you meet these requirements and do not receive your package by July 25, 2003, please contact your local personnel office.

 ·        Age and Service Requirements

 

■    Age 50 as of November 1, 2003 with 20 years or more of service* as of October 31, 2003, or

■    Any age with 25 years or more of service* as of October 31, 2003

*Note: Total service must include at least five years of civilian     service (career or non-career)

 

·        VER Eligible Position Requirement

 

■   You occupy a position covered under the National Agreement between the U. S. Postal Service and the American Postal Workers Union, AFL-CIO

 

PLEASE POST ON ALL EMPLOYEE BULLETIN BOARDS JULY 15, 2003

THROUGH COB OCTOBER 27, 2003
return to table

ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF IRREVOCABILITY OF
VOLUNTARY EARLY RETIREMENT DECISION

I have applied for voluntary early retirement (VER) offered by the Postal Service under the Voluntary Early Retirement Authority (“VERA”) granted by the Office of Personnel Management. 

I understand that the Postal Service is relying on my decision to retire in developing its complement management plans. 

I understand that the effective date of my retirement will be (enter October 31, 2003, January 31, 2004, or February 29, 2004, depending on operational needs).

 I understand that my decision to retire will become IRREVOCABLE at 5:00 PM on October 27, 2003, the closing date of the VER window period. 

I understand that this means that I may withdraw my retirement application by submitting a letter or fax, signed and dated, to (enter name, mailing address/location, fax number), which must be RECEIVED no later than 5:00 PM on October 27, 2003, in order for my withdrawal to be effective. 

I understand that any letter or fax received after 5:00 PM on October 27, 2003, will not be effective to withdraw my retirement application. 

Date:  ____________, 200____                            ________________________________ 

Signature

 

Name: __________________________

return to table

Notice of Approval

TO:  Employee

 SUBJECT:  Notice of Approval of Employee Voluntary Early Retirement Request

 You have applied for the voluntary early retirement option offered by the Postal Service under the Voluntary Early Retirement Authority (“VERA”) granted by the Office of Personnel Management with a retirement effective date of (enter effective date of retirement).

 Your request has been approved.  Your decision became IRREVOCABLE at 5 PM on (enter closing date of window).

 You should contact (contact person name and phone number) to finalize your retirement application.

  (Enter name and signature of the HR Manager)

 

TO: Employee

SUBJECT: Retirement Request Status

You have applied for the voluntary early retirement option offered by the Postal Service under the Voluntary Early Retirement Authority ("VERA") granted by the Office of Personnel Management with a retirement effective date of October 31, 2003.

The maximum number of allowable VERs for the October 31, 2003 effective date has been reached. Employees with the earliest retirement computation date have preference. You will be allowed to retire on either January 31, 2004 or February 29, 2004. You will receive another VER offer letter which includes a new annuity estimate and new irrevocability date in mid-December 2003.

For more information please contact (contact person name and phone number).

(Enter name and signature of the HR Manager)

 

return to table
Vegliante

August 18, 2003

VICE PRESIDENTS, AREA OPERATIONS
MANAGER, CAPITAL METRO OPERATIONS

SUBJECT Voluntary Early Retirement


Over the past weeks you have been receiving and reviewing the Statement of Interest information from employees represented by the APWU. This is further clarification as to the specific eligibility of APWU employees for voluntary early retirement (VER).

VER will be available to level 4, 5, 6, or 7 clerk craft employees. It will also be available to employees at levels 5 and below in the maintenance and motor vehicle crafts. However, it is not appropriate to open for VER application, those technical positions which are needed by the organization and, if vacated, would be filled by outside hires. That action would be inconsistent with OPM's requirements for granting early retirement.

In addition, currently there is a moratorium on involuntarily reassigning APWU employees beyond 50 miles. If your only recourse to fill a position is through an involuntary reassignment beyond 50 miles or a new hire, then a VER cannot be allowed.

(signed)
Anthony J Vegliante
Vice President Labor Relations

**links added by postalreporter

return to table

 


 

 

The first letter is posted at http://www.usps.com/vera/memo070803.htm

 

This second version of the memo was found on  postalreporter Early Out Forum

See  also retirement questions and answers

 


PATRICK R. DONAHOE
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER

VICE PRESIDENTS, AREA OPERATIONS
MANAGER, CAPITAL METRO OPERATIONS

SUBJECT: Use of Voluntary Early Retirement

The U.S. Postal Service has received approval from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
to offer voluntary early retirement (VER) to employees in positions covered under the National
Agreement between the U.S. Postal Service and the American Postal Workers Union, AFL-CIO.
This authority is subject to the limitations of the retirement statutes and OPM's regulations. The
Voluntary Early Retirement Authority is one tool available to help support our work force reshaping
and repositioning strategies.

Given the declining volumes, assessing the work force complement needs, and identifying the
appropriate mix of skills becomes ever more critical.  Many of you have voiced interest in having
VER available as an option to help reshape the complement and meet your repositioning needs. 

Operations and Human Resources play critical roles in properly implementing VER.  Operations
must focus on the complement and be prepared to identify in very specific terms those positions
that are excess to their needs.  They should also develop plans to address how the work force
complement should be reshaped to ensure that the proper skills are available in each operation.
Human Resources must focus on validating employee retirement eligibility data, i.e., verifying
service history through the Retirement, Thrift, and Reduction-in-Force System.  This will result in a
significant workload for field Human Resources personnel.  Additionally, field Human Resources
will need to provide group retirement counseling sessions, and ultimately process retirement
applications. Within the next week Employee Resource Management will be issuing guidance
and a timeline to the Area Human Resources Managers for implementing VER. 

The first step in the VER process is to determine employees' interest.  This solicitation will begin
by mid-July.  Once interest is identified, work force complements and operational needs will
become critical in determining how many employees will be allowed to retire under VER. During a
specific time period, eligible employees will be offered the opportunity to retire under VER. It is
anticipated that the effective date of retirement applications filed under this offer will be based on
operational needs, but no sooner than October 31. 

To address our future complement challenges, we have also petitioned OPM for authority to make
similar VER offers to members of the National Postal Mail Handlers Union, as well as to individ-
uals who are in initial-level supervisory positions.  However, we are still awaiting a response from
OPM on these requests.  I will keep you advised of the status of these requests.

 
 Patrick Donahoe

475 L'ENFANT PLAZA SW
WASHINGTON DC 20260-0080
www.usps.com
 


PATRICK R. DONAHOE
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
AND SENOIR [sic] VICE PRESIDENT

 

July 8, 2003


VICE PRESIDENTS, AREA OPERATIONS

SUBJECT: Use of Voluntary Early Retirement

The U.S. Postal Service has received approval from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to offer voluntary early retirement (VER) to employees in positions covered under the National Agreement between the U.S. Postal Service and the American Postal Workers Union, AFL-CIO. This authority is subject to the limitations of the retirement statutes and OPM's regulations. The Voluntary Early Retirement Authority is one tool available to help support our workforce reshaping and repositioning strategies.

Given the declining volumes, assessing the workforce complement needs, and identifying the appropriate mix of skills becomes ever more critical. Many of you have voiced interest in having VER available as an option to help reshape the complement and meet your repositioning needs.

Operations and Human Resources play critical roles in properly implementing VER. Operations must focus on the complement and be prepared to identify in very specific terms those positions that are excess to their needs. They should also develop plans to address how the workforce complement should be reshaped to insure that the proper skills are available in each operation. Human Resources must focus on validating employee retirement eligibility data; i.e., verifying service history through the Retirement, Thrift, and Reduction-in-Force System. This will result in a significant workload for field Human Resources personnel. Additionally, field Human Resources will need to provide group retirement counseling sessions, and ultimately process retirement applications. Within the next week Employee Resource Management will be issuing guidance and a timeline to the Area Human Resources Manager(s) for implementing VER.

The first step in the VER process is to determine employee interest. This solicitation will begin by mid-July. Once interest is identified, workforce complements and operational needs will become critical in determining how many employees will be allowed to retire under VER. During a specific time period, eligible employees will be offered the opportunity to retire under VER. It is anticipated that the effective date of retirement applications filed under this offer will be based on operational needs, but no sooner than October 31, 2003.

We are relying on your functional leaders to provide information about how individual functional departments will be affected. Each vice president has been asked to name an organizational change coordinator who will be responsible for helping to communicate plans and to respond to individual questions. We will also be using a Web site on our Intranet, http://blue.usps.gov, titled “Organization Changes,” to provide you with basic facts about what is happening, as well as provide links to other sites with relevant information.

To address our future complement challenges, we have also petitioned OPM for authority to make similar VER offers to members of the National Postal Mail Handlers Union, as well as to individuals who are in initial-level supervisory positions. However, we are still awaiting a response from OPM on these requests. I will keep you advised of the status of these requests.

 
  Patrick Donahoe  
 

cc: Ms. M....

      Mr. R..

 
return to table

From postalreporter "Bring On the Early Out" forum post # 3752 (7/2/03)

First - I said a long time ago that probably nothing would happen until after the Commission's report. Mgmt. knows whatever they decide might/could be overridden as fast as the Commission's report is on the table.

July 1, 2003
Memorandum for Manager, Human Resources (Districts) co

Subject: VERA for APWU

We were advised today by HQ that approx. 58,000 APWU employees (in the Clerk, Motor Vehicle Operator, and Maintenance Crafts) will be provided a "Request for Interest" form and other materials regarding early-outs under VERA. This will occur sometime around July 10th or 11th, 2003.

All completed "Request for interest" forms will go to Headquarters. Clerk Craft employees will be given first consideration for the VERA. A determination as to who gets offered a VERA will be made by Headquarters (with input from the Areas and PCs) - based on location, operational needs, excessing needs and overall needs of the service.

In the near future, a package will be sent to you (Managers, Human Resources, Districts) outlining the process to be followed, including necessary timelines, in order to effect early-outs for the initial group of employees exercising a VERA option - by the first target date of Oct 31, 2003.

As more information becomes available, we will have a telecon to discuss issues and concerns - either next week or after you receive the package from Headquarters.

Obviously, one very important concern is the ongoing effort to verify or update RTR records. Headquarters will be assisting us in getting people trainer to identify and correct possible errors.

Finally, of note the USPS is requesting early-out VERA authority from OPM for eligible Mail Handlers and EAS employees. A decision is expected in approximately four (4) weeks.

Any question please call me or Gary Connely.

Gerald S Sanchez
Manager, Human Resources
Pacific Area Office

return to table


Summary can be found at http://www.usps.com/vera/summary.htm

SUMMARY OF BENEFITS AND LEAVE PROVISIONS UNDER Voluntary Early OUT

RETIREMENT

Eligibility:

You must be an employee in a competitive area where it is apparent that you occupy a position that is either excess to the mission of the Postal Service or is a potential placement opportunity for those employees whose positions are being excessed.

For employees covered by the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and for employees covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), the minimum age and service requirements are:

For both CSRS and FERS employees, at least five years of service must be creditable civilian service.

CSRS employees must have been employed under CSRS for at least one year out of the last two years.

Annuity Commencement Date:

Age-based Annuity Reduction:

HEALTH INSURANCE

To be eligible to carry health insurance coverage into retirement, you must meet two criteria:

 Your insurance plan does not change and retirement is not an opportunity to elect a new plan.

Your premium payment will increase to the level paid by all other federal annuitants (and federal employees) rather than receiving the more favorable Postal Service employer health benefits contribution.  This means the same health plan may be approximately twice as expensive for an annuitant as it is for a postal employee.

As an annuitant, you would pay for health coverage through monthly withholding from your annuity, instead of paying through biweekly withholding from your paycheck (12 payments annually instead of 26 payments annually).  Of course, each payment is higher when you pay on a monthly basis.

Tax regulations do not permit you to receive the tax break you receive as an employee under the pretax payment of health insurance premiums provided by the Postal Service.

If you are ineligible to continue existing health insurance coverage into retirements, two options are offered:

LIFE INSURANCE

To be eligible to carry life insurance coverage into retirement, you must meet the following criteria:

THRIFT SAVINGS PLAN

Following retirement, you are not eligible to make additional contributions to or borrow money from your Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) account.  You may continue to reallocate money among the TSP funds.

If you retire, you will receive extensive information regarding your TSP withdrawal options and whether you may leave your money in TSP.  Withdrawal of funds may take at least two months following separation and after the receipt of properly completed forms by TSP.

There are no differences in TSP provisions for retirement under VER versus separation or optional retirement.  You will have the same withdrawal choices and tax consequences as any other separated or retired employee of the same separation or retirement date and age.

If you retire before the year that you reach age 55, then any amount that you withdraw from your TSP account before you reach age 59 ½ is subject to an early withdrawal penalty tax of ten percent.  However, this penalty tax does not apply to amounts received under certain withdrawal options, such as an annuity or rollover to an Individual Retirement Arrangements.

All employees eligible for VER are fully vested in their TSP contributions and the earnings on those contributions.

If you have an outstanding TSP loan, this would delay a TSP withdrawal because you cannot withdraw funds from your TSP account until you have repaid your loan in full or until your loan has been declared a taxable distribution.

FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNTS

If you are a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) participant, your participation ends as of the day after your retirement.  This means that from this date on:

You do not owe any more FSA contributions.  (Of course, you still are required to make up any contributions you missed before your participation ended.

You may request payment only for the expenses of eligible services or items received up to and including your retirement date.  Any services or items received after that date are not eligible for payment.

Your deadline for submitting claims does not change – it is September 30 of the year following your year of FSA participation.

The Postal Service FSA is not available to you as an annuitant.  (Under Internal Revenue Service (IRS) tax rules, all employers may only make FSAs available to employees, not retirees).

SICK LEAVE

For CSRS employees, the years of service used to compute the annuity are a combination of creditable federal and postal service + unused sick leave hours converted to creditable service.  Sick leave is used in the annuity computation, but cannot be used to meet the service credit eligibility requirements for VER.

For FERS employees with a frozen CSRS component in the annuity, you receive credit in the CSRS portion of your annuity only for sick leave you had when you transferred to FERS (or what you have when you retire, if it is less).  Sick leave earned since you transferred to FERS is not creditable for retirement purposes.

For FERS employees without a CSRS component, sick leave is not creditable for retirement purposes.

ANNUAL LEAVE

If you are a nonbargaining unit employee, you may be eligible for a lump sum payment for your earned and unused annual leave up to your annual leave carryover limit plus any annual leave earned and unused in the current year, as well as any unused donated leave.  Note:  Annual leave in excess of the carryover limit cannot be carried forward in the next leave year.

return to table

VOLUNTARY EARLY RETIREMENT
(VER) AND OTHER WORKFORCE RESHAPING LEGAL ISSUES
conversion)

JULY 30-31, 2003

contents from file Champi_Ver

OVERVIEW

LEGAL ISSUES RELATING TO VER

Legal Authorities Governing VER

Other Office of Personnel Management (OPM) VER Resources

OPM Approval of VER Offer

Scope of VER Offer

Criteria for Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS)/Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) VER Eligibility

 

LEGAL ISSUES RELATING TO OTHER WORKFORCE RESHAPING TOPICS

Avoidance of Reduction in Force (RIF) Actions for Veteran’s Preference Eligible Bargaining Unit Employees

LEGAL AUTHORITIES GOVERNING VER

Statutes

CSRS – Title 5 of the United States Code, Section 8336(d)(2)

FERS – Title 5 of the United States Code, Section 8414(b)(1)(B)

Regulations

CSRS – Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Section 831.114

FERS – Title 5 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Section 842.213

OTHER OPM VER RESOURCES

Voluntary Early Retirement Authorities: Agency Guide to Implementing Early Retirement Programs (www.opm.gov/employ/vera/vera01.htm)

Note: The current issue of this publication is dated August 2000 and does not include recent revisions in the VER statutes and regulations.

CSRS and FERS Handbook for Personnel and Payroll Offices, Chapter 43 (www.opm.gov/asd/htm/hod.htm)

Note: The current issue of this publication is dated April 1998 and does not include recent revisions in the VER statutes and regulations.

OPM APPROVAL OF VER OFFER conversion)

An agency must obtain approval from OPM prior to offering CSRS/FERS VER.

OPM may only grant approval for an agency to offer CSRS/FERS VER if OPM has determined, based on information provided by the agency, that the one of the following exists:

the agency (or a component) is undergoing substantial delayering, substantial reorganization, substantial RIFs, substantial transfer of function, or other substantial workforce restructuring or shaping; OR

a significant percentage of employees serving in the agency (or component) are likely to be separated or subject to an immediate reduction in the rate of basic pay (without regard to the statutes providing for grade/pay retention under specified circumstances); OR employees have been identified as being in positions which are becoming surplus or excess to the agency’s future ability to carry out its mission effectively.

OPM generally grants an agency approval to offer and process VERs for a specified time.

SCOPE OF VER OFFER conversion)

Within the parameters of OPM’s VER approval, an agency may further define the scope of the VER offer on the basis of:

1 or more organizational units; OR

1 or more occupational series or levels; OR

1 or more geographic locations; OR

specific periods; OR

skills, knowledge, or other factors related to a position; OR

any appropriate combination of the above factors.

Within the parameters of OPM’s VER approval, an agency may choose to not only offer VER to those employees in positions which are directly impacted by the relevant organizational event, but also to employees in non-impacted positions which reasonably may provide "landing spots" for employees in impacted positions.

Within the OPM-approved VER period, an agency may limit CSRS or FERS VER offers by establishing window periods based on:

opening and closing dates that are announced to employees at the time of the VER offer; AND/OR

the acceptance of a specified number of VER applications, provided that at the time of the VER offer, the agency notified employees that it retained the right to limit the number of VERs on that basis.

Under this authority, an agency may establish an opening and closing date for receipt of VER applications, but also provide that of the VER applications received by the closing date, the agency will only approve a specified number.

Under this authority, an agency may establish an opening and closing date for receipt of VER applications, but also provide that if a specified number of VER applications are received prior to the closing date, the VER offer will terminate.

Under this authority, an agency may provide that a submitted VER application cannot be withdrawn after the established closing date for receipt of VER applications.

Under this authority, an agency may set the date by or on which employees whose VER applications have been approved must separate. If the agency has not set such a separation date, employees must separate by the end of the OPM-approved VER period.

When management’s downsizing or reshaping needs change, the agency subsequently may, within the OPM-approved VER period:

revise (by shortening or lengthening) a previously-established closing date, which must be announced to the same group of employees included in the original announcement; OR

revise (by increase or decrease) a previously-established number of VER applications it will accept, which must be announced to the same group of employees included in the original announcement; OR

establish a new window period through new opening and closing dates or a new instance of a specified number of VER applications which will be accepted, which may be announced to a different group of employees as long as they are covered by OPM’s VER approval.

CRITERIA FOR CSRS/FERS VER ELIGIBILITY conversion)

The employee must be serving in a position covered by the VER offer.

The employee must have completed at least 20 years of creditable service and be at least 50 years of age OR must have completed at least 25 years of creditable service and be any age.

Of the 20 or 25 years of creditable service, at least 5 of those years must be creditable civilian service (career or noncareer). Military service may be used to meet the balance of either creditable service requirement.

Accumulated sick leave and accumulated annual leave may not be used to meet the 20- or 25-year creditable service requirement.

Note: The annuities of CSRS and CSRS Offset employees will be reduced by 2% for each year (or 1/6 of 1% for each full month) they are under the age of 55. This reduction is permanent – the annuity will not be recomputed at the unreduced rate when the employee reaches the age of 55.

Note: For FERS employees with frozen CSRS components, the portion of their annuities based on benefits they accrued and retained under CSRS frozen service is subject to the reduction referred to above for CSRS/CSRS Offset employees.

The employee must have been employed continuously by the agency for which OPM has granted VER approval for at least the 31-day period ending on the date on which the agency requested VER approval from OPM.

The employee must be serving under an appointment that is not time limited.

The employee must not have been notified that he/she is to be involuntarily separated for misconduct or unacceptable performance.

CSRS employees must be covered by CSRS for at least 1 year within the 2-year period immediately preceding the separation on which the annuity is based, although the 1 year of service does not have to be continuous.

AVOIDANCE OF RIF ACTIONS FOR VETERAN’S PREFERENCE ELIGIBLE BARGAINING UNIT EMPLOYEESconversion)

When a personnel action qualifying as a RIF action is taken against a veteran’s preference eligible Postal Service employee, that employee is entitled to application of the federal RIF statutes and OPM’s RIF regulations.

RIF actions occur when:

an agency releases a competing employee from his/her competitive level by:

furlough for more than 30 days; OR

separation; OR

demotion; OR

reassignment requiring displacement,

AND

the release was required because of:

lack of work; OR

shortage of funds; OR

insufficient personnel ceiling; OR

reorganization; OR

the exercise of reemployment rights or restoration rights; OR

reclassification of an employee’s position due to erosion of duties when such action will take effect after an agency has formally announced a RIF in the employee’s competitive area and when the RIF will take effect within 180 days.

For the purposes of RIF, a "demotion" means the change of an employee to a lower grade or to a position with a lower rate of pay.

In order to avoid creating a RIF action requiring application of the RIF statutes and regulations for a veteran’s preference eligible bargaining unit employee, the employee must not be "demoted" during the course of workforce reshaping.

Assignment of excess bargaining unit employees must be in accordance with the applicable provisions of the appropriate collective bargaining agreement and memoranda of understanding.

Merit System Protection Board and Federal Circuit cases deciding when a "demotion" for RIF purposes has taken place

return to table


return to Postal Reporter