Q. You mentioned Dec 31 as a good retirement date. On the CSRS retirement application, Section B, Block 2, the date of final separation is Friday, Dec 30, 2011. Some people confuse separation date and retirement date when they fill out the application. That could cause them to lose all their excess leave if they put Dec 31, 2011, in the final separation date. Right?
A: You are making hard work out of a simple matter. You separate at the end of the workday on which you elect to retire. For most employees, this year their pay period will end at close of business on Friday. Dec. 30, 2011. They can elect to separate on either Dec. 30 or Dec. 31. In either case, they would be on the annuity roll on Jan. 1, 2012.
