Your payments are made through automatic payroll deduction. The FERS plan combines Social Security Benefits, a Basic Benefits Plan and a Thrift Savings Plan to give you a strong financial foundation for retirement. You pay Social Security taxes and a small contribution to the Basic Benefits Plan. Retirement eligibility is determined by your age and number of years of creditable service. There are 10 paid Federal holidays each calendar year.
Annual leave is intended for absences because of vacation or personal business.
Four hours of sick leave are accrued every biweekly pay period. Sick leave is intended for absences due to illness and trips to doctors, dentists, etc. Limited amounts of sick leave can be used to care for a family member or to arrange or attend the funeral of a family member. Other paid leave includes military, court, and administrative leave and leave for bone marrow or organ donation and for adoption of a child. The Family and Medical Leave Act entitles employees to up to 12 weeks of leave without pay during any 12-month period for events such as birth and newborn care, adoption, foster care, care for a family member with a serious health condition, or care of your own serious health condition.