1. What is the CSRS Sick Leave Credit?

The CSRS (Civil Service Retirement System) allows unused sick leave to be converted into additional retirement credit. This credit can increase your total service time and potentially your annuity.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the CSRS sick leave formula:

Where:

• \( Sick\ Hours \) — Total unused sick leave hours at retirement
• \( 2087 \) — Standard work hours in a year (based on 40-hour weeks)
• \( Annuity \) — Your annuity factor (decimal)

Explanation: The equation converts your sick hours into years of service (by dividing by 2087) and then multiplies by your annuity factor to determine the credit.

3. Importance of Sick Leave Calculation

Details: Accurate sick leave credit calculation is important for federal employees under CSRS as it can significantly impact retirement benefits and annuity calculations.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter your total unused sick leave hours and your annuity factor (as a decimal). All values must be valid (hours > 0, annuity between 0-1).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How is the 2087 hours derived?
A: 2087 represents the standard work hours in a year (40 hours/week × 52.175 weeks/year).

Q2: Does FERS use the same calculation?
A: No, FERS (Federal Employees Retirement System) has different rules for sick leave credit.

Q3: What's the maximum sick leave credit?
A: There's no statutory limit, but OPM caps creditable sick leave at the amount you'd earn in a full career.

Q4: How does this affect my annuity?
A: The credit increases your total service time, which can increase your high-3 average salary and final annuity.

Q5: Is sick leave credit taxable?
A: Yes, the additional annuity resulting from sick leave credit is taxable income.