The Federal Retirement Fairness Act allows temporary employees' service after 1988 to count toward retirement benefits under the Federal Employees Retirement System.
Gerald Connolly
Representative
VA-11
The Federal Retirement Fairness Act amends title 5 of the United States Code, allowing civilian service in a temporary position after December 31, 1988, to be creditable under the Federal Employees Retirement System. This change applies to current employees and Members of the United States Postal Service, and requires the Office of Personnel Management to notify eligible individuals and issue implementing regulations.
Federal Retirement Fairness Act: Temps Can Now Buy Back Time for Retirement
The "Federal Retirement Fairness Act" changes the rules for federal employees who worked in temporary positions after December 31, 1988. Basically, it lets these folks count that time towards their retirement benefits under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). Previously, only temporary service before 1989 counted. This is a big deal for anyone who put in years as a temp but couldn't get retirement credit for it.
Making it Count
The main thing this bill does is wipe out that old "before 1989" rule in section 8411(3) of title 5, United States Code. Now, any temporary service after 1988 can be creditable. Think of a postal worker who started as a temp in 1990 and worked for five years before getting a permanent position. Under the old rules, those five years wouldn't count towards their retirement. This bill changes that.
Real-World Rollout
This change applies to any current federal employee, including those at the United States Postal Service, and even Members of Congress, as soon as the bill is enacted. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is in charge of getting the word out. They'll have to notify all the agency heads and HR departments, who then have to inform eligible employees. OPM also has to write up the regulations to make this all happen, per SEC. 2 of the bill.
Who Benefits, and How?
This is a win for people who spent time in temporary federal jobs after 1988. It means their time in service will now count towards their retirement calculation, potentially boosting their benefits. It's about fairness – making sure everyone gets credit for the time they worked. If you were a temp at a federal agency any time after 1988, you'll want to check with your HR department to see how this affects you.
Potential Kinks
While the bill is straightforward, the implementation rests on OPM getting those regulations out quickly and making sure agencies and employees are properly informed. The key will be how efficiently OPM can handle the notifications and deposits for this newly eligible group of employees.