Q. Are Post Office appointments excepted service? Also, is USPS service creditable for purposes of Service Computation Date and retirement?
A. While the U.S. Postal Service is a separate entity, its employees generally receive the same benefits as other federal employees. For example, they are covered by CSRS, CSRS Offset or FERS and can participate in the Federal Employees Health Benefits and Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance programs and the Thrift Savings Plan. As a rule, your service computation date wouldn’t change if you took a job with the Postal Service, and the age and service requirements to retire would be the same as they are in other parts of the government. To confirm that this would be true in your situation, check with hiring authority at the Postal Service before signing on.
2 Comments
I worked at the USPS for over 5 years. I have a break in service of 9 years before being employed at the Department of Veterans Affairs. I was hired under a “Schedule A” Legal Authority 2 years ago & am being converted to a career-conditional appointment here at the VA. I would like to know why I wouldn’t be converted to career? Why doesn’t my postal service count towards my tenure here at the VA?
That question would be best answered by your VA personnel office.