Q. I am on my last three years before my retirement under FERS. I am planning to take five months of leave without pay on each of these three years. Will my LWOP affect my high-3 average? In other words, is my high-3 based on my income as if I had not taken LWOP for five months each of those years?
A. If — and I repeat if — your management is willing to let you take five months of LWOP in each of three years, that time would be creditable in determining your length of service and in your annuity computation. Just remember that while you can plan all you want, you have no entitlement to take LWOP. Whether you will be permitted to do so is entirely up to your management.
