Q: I am a FERS employee planning to retire on Dec. 31, 2011 — the last day of the leave year and also the last day of the final pay period for 2011. I planned on doing this per the Nov. 15, 2010 column referencing “Advantages to retiring in 2010 and 2011” … i.e. I plan on maxing out my annual leave at 448 hours. While filling out the SF 3107 I came across Sect B, block 2 — “Date of final separation” — which was defined by the BEST counselor as “the date you put on the SF 3107 is your last day of work with the agency — NOT your retirement date.” If I follow this advice I would put Dec. 30 2011 in Sect B block 2 as that would be my last work day. Is this advice correct? Shouldn’t I put Dec. 31, 2011, in there in order to earn the last eight hours of annual leave to get me to 448?
A: Your date of final separation would be the close of business on Dec. 31. You retirement would commence on Jan. 1.
