Voluntary separation incentive payments
Authority to offer payments
Amount and administration of payments
A voluntary separation incentive payment made under this section—
shall be paid in a lump sum after the employee’s separation;
shall be equal to the lesser of—
an amount equal to the amount the employee would be entitled to receive under section 5595(c) of title 5, if the employee were entitled to payment under such section (without adjustment for any previous payment made); or
an amount determined by the head of the office involved, not to exceed $25,000;
may be made only in the case of an employee who voluntarily separates (whether by retirement or resignation) under this section;
shall not be a basis for payment, and shall not be included in the computation, of any other type of Government benefit;
shall not be taken into account in determining the amount of any severance pay to which the employee may be entitled under section 5595 of title 5 based on any other separation; and
shall be paid from appropriations or funds available for the payment of the basic pay of the employee.
Plan
Plan required for making payments
Contents of plan
A plan described in this paragraph with respect to an office is a plan containing the following information:
The specific positions and functions to be reduced or eliminated.
A description of which categories of employees will be offered incentives.
The time period during which incentives may be paid.
The number and amounts of voluntary separation incentive payments to be offered.
A description of how the office will operate without the eliminated positions and functions.
Applicable committee
Repealed. Pub. L. 112–74, div. G, title I, § 1401(a)(1), Dec. 23, 2011, 125 Stat. 1134
Eligible employee defined
In general
In this section, an “eligible employee” is an employee (as defined in section 2105,1
is serving under an appointment without time limitation; and
has been currently employed for a continuous period of at least 3 years.
Exclusions
An “eligible employee” does not include any of the following:
A reemployed annuitant under subchapter III of chapter 83 or 84 of title 5 or another retirement system for employees of the Government.
An employee having a disability on the basis of which such employee is or would be eligible for disability retirement under subchapter III of chapter 83 or 84 of title 5 or another retirement system for employees of the Government.
An employee who is in receipt of a decision notice of involuntary separation for misconduct or unacceptable performance.
An employee who has previously received any voluntary separation incentive payment from the Federal Government under this section or any other authority.
An employee covered by statutory reemployment rights who is on transfer employment with another organization.
Any employee who—
during the 36-month period preceding the date of separation of that employee, performed service for which a student loan repayment benefit was or is to be paid under section 5379 of title 5 or any other authority;
during the 24-month period preceding the date of separation of that employee, performed service for which a recruitment or relocation bonus was or is to be paid under section 5753 of such title or any other authority; or
during the 12-month period preceding the date of separation of that employee, performed service for which a retention bonus was or is to be paid under section 5754 of such title or any other authority.
Repayment for individuals returning to Government employment
In general
Waiver for individuals possessing unique abilities
If the employment is with an Executive agency (as defined by section 105 of title 5, but excluding the Government Accountability Office), the Director of the Office of Personnel Management may, at the request of the head of the agency, waive the repayment required under this subsection if the individual involved possesses unique abilities and is the only qualified applicant available for the position.
If the employment is with an entity in the legislative branch, the head of the entity or the appointing official may waive the repayment required under this subsection if the individual involved possesses unique abilities and is the only qualified applicant available for the position.
If the employment is with the judicial branch, the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts may waive the repayment required under this subsection if the individual involved possesses unique abilities and is the only qualified applicant available for the position.