Q. I am a Postal Service employee under FERS. I’m 65 years and three months old. I’ll have 26 service years by Nov. 8. I work four hours a day because of a job-related injury. The other four hours are paid by the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs. Will my work status allow me to qualify for the Voluntary Early Retirement Authority this year? If so, can I apply for disability retirement instead of the regular retirement and still get the $15,000 incentive? What happens with my accumulated sick leave? Can it be credited as added service if I submit Form 2574 to human resources by Dec. 3? Or is it possible to submit my Form 2574 by Dec. 3, defer my disability retirement until January 2014 and still qualify for the special incentive?
A. No employee who has a disability such that he would be eligible for disability retirement can receive a Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment. Therefore, the rest of your questions are moot.
