Changes

No other types of earned leave are factored into the annuity calculation.  Unused annual leave hours are "cashed out" (paid to the employee, at his/her rate of pay at retirement).<ref>For OPM rules on annual leave at separation from Federal service see https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/leave-administration/fact-sheets/lump-sum-payments-for-annual-leave/</ref>  Where applicable, earned but unused credit hours are also cashed out upon retirement at the same rate as annual leave.<ref>For OPM rules on credit hours at separation from Federal service see https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/work-schedules/fact-sheets/credit-hours-under-a-flexible-work-schedule/ then click on topic titled "What Happens to Earned Credit Hours if an Employee Leaves Federal Employment or Transfers to Another Federal Department or Agency?"</ref>  Other types of unused leave (such as compensatory time off for travel outside normal duty hours, and time off awards given in lieu of cash) are not paid and are thus lost if not used before retirement.<ref>For OPM rules on travel compensatory leave see https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/pay-administration/fact-sheets/compensatory-time-off-for-travel-questions-answers-to-fact-sheet/ then click on topic titled "Q27. What happens to an employee's unused compensatory time off for travel upon separation from Federal service?"</ref><ref>For OPM rules on time off awards see https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/performance-management/performance-management-cycle/rewarding/time-off-awards/</ref>

No other types of earned leave are factored into the annuity calculation.  Unused annual leave hours are "cashed out" (paid to the employee, at his/her rate of pay at retirement).<ref>For OPM rules on annual leave at separation from Federal service see https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/leave-administration/fact-sheets/lump-sum-payments-for-annual-leave/</ref>  Where applicable, earned but unused credit hours are also cashed out upon retirement at the same rate as annual leave.<ref>For OPM rules on credit hours at separation from Federal service see https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/work-schedules/fact-sheets/credit-hours-under-a-flexible-work-schedule/ then click on topic titled "What Happens to Earned Credit Hours if an Employee Leaves Federal Employment or Transfers to Another Federal Department or Agency?"</ref>  Other types of unused leave (such as compensatory time off for travel outside normal duty hours, and time off awards given in lieu of cash) are not paid and are thus lost if not used before retirement.<ref>For OPM rules on travel compensatory leave see https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/pay-administration/fact-sheets/compensatory-time-off-for-travel-questions-answers-to-fact-sheet/ then click on topic titled "Q27. What happens to an employee's unused compensatory time off for travel upon separation from Federal service?"</ref><ref>For OPM rules on time off awards see https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/performance-management/performance-management-cycle/rewarding/time-off-awards/</ref>

Generally, an employee has the right to determine his/her "date of final separation" (i.e. the last day on the payroll; it does not have to be the final working day in a pay period<ref>However, an employee leaving service during a pay period will not earn annual leave or sick leave for that period.</ref>), but an employee cannot be on leave on that date<ref>A common trick is for an employee to take substantial leave -- generally sick leave in excess of what is needed to obtain additional time toward the annuity -- until the final day, then come into the office on that day for out processing.</ref>; the following day is the employee's retirement date.  The annuity does not begin until '''''one full calendar month''''' has passed since the employee's retirement.  Thus, an employee retiring on June 30 will have his/her annuity begin on August 1 (as the employee will be retired beginning July 1 and for the entire month of July), but an employee retiring on July 1 will not have his/her annuity begin until September 1 (as the employee will be retired beginning July 2 but not for the entire month of July, only in the following month -- August -- will the employee be retired for an entire month).  Thus, it is common for employees to retire on the last day of the month, and more common for the date to be December 31 (as employees commonly use little or no annual leave in the final year, which added to their carryover balance from the prior year -- 240 hours for most employees -- provides a large lump-sum in January of the following year).

Generally, an employee has the right to determine his/her "date of final separation" (i.e. the last day on the payroll; it does not have to be the final working day in a pay period<ref>However, an employee leaving service during a pay period will not earn annual leave or sick leave for that period.</ref>), but an employee cannot be on leave on that date<ref>A common trick is for an employee to take substantial leave -- generally sick leave in excess of what is needed to obtain additional time toward the annuity, or compensatory or awarded leave which is not paid out at separation -- until the final day, then come into the office on that day for out processing.</ref>; the following day is the employee's retirement date.  The annuity does not begin until '''''one full calendar month''''' has passed since the employee's retirement.  Thus, an employee retiring on June 30 will have his/her annuity begin on August 1 (as the employee will be retired beginning July 1 and for the entire month of July), but an employee retiring on July 1 will not have his/her annuity begin until September 1 (as the employee will be retired beginning July 2 but not for the entire month of July, only in the following month -- August -- will the employee be retired for an entire month).  Thus, it is common for employees to retire on the last day of the month, and more common for the date to be December 31 (as employees commonly use little or no annual leave in the final year, which added to their carryover balance from the prior year -- 240 hours for most employees -- provides a large lump-sum in January of the following year).

Married employees must agree to provide spouses (or former spouses, in some cases), a survivor annuity (which pays a lower portion of salary to the surviving spouse or former spouse), unless the current or former spouse affirmatively consents in writing to forego the annuity.<ref>The only exception is if the current or former spouse cannot be located.</ref>  Survivor annuities are also available for other persons, whether or not related by blood or marriage, but the person must provide proof of insurability.

Married employees must agree to provide spouses (or former spouses, in some cases), a survivor annuity (which pays a lower portion of salary to the surviving spouse or former spouse), unless the current or former spouse affirmatively consents in writing to forego the annuity.<ref>The only exception is if the current or former spouse cannot be located.</ref>  Survivor annuities are also available for other persons, whether or not related by blood or marriage, but the person must provide proof of insurability.