Q. I am currently retired from Verizon but need to get back to work. I’m trying to find a federal job in the information technology field, and I have a couple questions.
First, the applications ask if I am a former federal employee. I worked for the Postal Service for 3½ years from 1973 to 1976, and also worked for another nine months full-time permanent in 1986, so I have over four years of service. I am hoping that I can put down that I am a former federal employee, but not sure if I should.
I found a website for the Office of the Inspector General for the Postal Service indicating that Postal Service employees were not exactly considered former federal employees, but have some sort of exception when applying for federal jobs. The link it provided would not come up, so I really don’t know what I should do. Any chance you could clarify?
Second, I am blind in one eye and have obstructed blood flow in my left leg but am not in a wheelchair. Does that qualify me to apply for a job under Schedule A? I was going to submit a doctor’s note but wanted to check with someone before I did that.
A. Your time with the Postal Service would be considered federal service. Whether it would be considered creditable service would depend on a number of factors, including the nature of your appointment(s) and the position(s) you held. To see which are considered to be creditable, go to www.opm.gov/retire/pubs/handbook/C020.pdf and scroll down to Page 94.
Whether you would qualify for a Schedule A appointment would be determined by the agency to which you apply for a job. There is no requirement that an agency use that authority. It’s simply an option available to them.
