Q: I plan to retire in December 2011. I will have 42 years in the Civil Service Retirement System with the U.S. Postal Service max annuity is 80 percent, but I will have 18 months of sick leave on the books. How will I be compensated for the sick time?
A: At 41 years and 11 months of actual service, you will have reached the maximum annuity of 80 percent. The Office of Personnel Management will offer you the choice of receiving a refund of the additional month’s retirement contributions or using them to buy a little additional annuity. Like your unused sick leave, it won’t be subject to the 80 percent limit but will be added to your earned annuity.
