Q. I am a civil service employee under CSRS. What is the maximum number of leave hours I can cash in at the time of retirement: 448? More? If the answer is more than 448, can you explain how you came to a different number of hours? Note: I am not a bargaining unit employee. My maximum yearly carryover is 240.
A. For most employees, the maximum number of annual leave hours for which they can be paid a lump sum at retirement is the amount carried over from the previous year (a maximum of 240 hours) plus the amount of leave earned in the next year (usually 208), plus any additional hours for which payment is required by law, such as restored annual leave that exceeds the annual limit and that can be carried from one year to another or unused compensatory time off.
