5 USC 8344 - Annuities and pay on reemployment

U.S Code last checked for updates: Feb 16, 2025

§ 8344.

Annuities and pay on reemployment

(a)

If an annuitant receiving annuity from the Fund, except—

(1)

a disability annuitant whose annuity is terminated because of his recovery or restoration of earning capacity;

(2)

an annuitant whose annuity, based on an involuntary separation (other than an automatic separation or an involuntary separation for cause on charges of misconduct or delinquency), is terminated under subsection (b) of this section;

(3)

an annuitant whose annuity is terminated under subsection (c) of this section; or

(4)

a Member receiving annuity from the Fund;

becomes employed in an appointive or elective position, his service on and after the date he is so employed is covered by this subchapter. Deductions for the Fund may not be withheld from his pay unless the individual elects to have such deductions withheld under subparagraph (A). An amount equal to the annuity allocable to the period of actual employment shall be deducted from his pay, except for lump-sum leave payment purposes under section 5551 of this title. The amounts so deducted shall be deposited in the Treasury of the United States to the credit of the Fund. If the annuitant serves on a full-time basis, except as President, for at least 1 year, or on a part-time basis for periods equivalent to at least 1 year of full-time service, in employment not excluding him from coverage under section 8331(1)(i) or (ii) of this title—

(A)

deductions for the Fund may be withheld from his pay (if the employee so elects), and his annuity on termination of employment is increased by an annuity computed under section 8339(a), (b), (d), (e), (h), (i), (n), (q), (r), and (s) as may apply based on the period of employment and the basic pay, before deduction, averaged during that employment; and

(B)

his lump-sum credit may not be reduced by annuity paid during that employment.

If the annuitant is receiving a reduced annuity as provided in section 8339(j) or section 8339(k)(2) of this title, the increase in annuity payable under subparagraph (A) of this subsection is reduced by 10 percent and the survivor annuity payable under section 8341(b) of this title is increased by 55 percent of the increase in annuity payable under such subparagraph (A), unless, at the time of claiming the increase payable under such subparagraph (A), the annuitant notifies the Office of Personnel Management in writing that he does not desire the survivor annuity to be increased. If the annuitant dies while still reemployed, the survivor annuity payable is increased as though the reemployment had otherwise terminated. If the described employment of the annuitant continues for at least 5 years, or the equivalent of 5 years in the case of part-time employment, he may elect, instead of the benefit provided by subparagraph (A) of this subsection, to deposit in the Fund (to the extent deposits or deductions have not otherwise been made) an amount computed under section 8334(c) of this title covering that employment and have his rights redetermined under this subchapter. If the annuitant dies while still reemployed and the described employment had continued for at least 5 years, or the equivalent of 5 years in the case of part-time employment, the person entitled to survivor annuity under section 8341(b) of this title may elect to deposit in the Fund and have his rights redetermined under this subchapter.

(b)

If an annuitant, other than a Member receiving an annuity from the Fund, whose annuity is based on an involuntary separation (other than an automatic separation or an involuntary separation for cause or charges on misconduct or delinquency) is reemployed in a position in which he is subject to this subchapter, payment of the annuity terminates on reemployment.

(c)

If an annuitant, other than a Member receiving an annuity from the Fund, is appointed by the President to a position in which he is subject to this subchapter, or is elected as a Member, payment of the annuity terminates on reemployment. Upon separation from such position, an individual whose annuity is so terminated is entitled to have his rights redetermined under this subchapter, except that the amount of the annuity resulting from such redetermination shall be at least equal to the amount of the terminated annuity plus any increases under section 8340 of this title occurring after the termination and before the commencement of the redetermined annuity.

(d)

If a Member receiving annuity from the Fund becomes employed in an appointive or elective position, annuity payments are discontinued during the employment and resumed on termination of the employment in the amount equal to the sum of the amount of the annuity the member was receiving immediately before the commencement of the employment and the amount of the increases which would have been made in the amount of the annuity under section 8340 of this title during the period of the employment if the annuity had been payable during that period, except that—

(1)

the retired Member or Member separated with title to immediate or deferred annuity, who serves at any time after separation as a Member in an appointive position in which he is subject to this subchapter, is entitled, if he so elects, to have his Member annuity computed or recomputed as if the service had been performed before his separation as a Member and the annuity as so computed or recomputed is effective—

(A)

the day Member annuity commences; or

(B)

the day after the date of separation from the appointive position;

whichever is later;

(2)

if the retired Member becomes employed after December 31, 1958, in an appointive position on an intermittent-service basis—

(A)

his annuity continues during the employment and is not increased as a result of service performed during that employment;

(B)

retirement deductions may not be withheld from his pay;

(C)

an amount equal to the annuity allocable to the period of actual employment shall be deducted from his pay, except for lump-sum leave payment purposes under section 5551 of this title; and

(D)

the amounts so deducted shall be deposited in the Treasury of the United States to the credit of the Fund;

(3)

if the retired Member becomes employed after December 31, 1958, in an appointive position without pay on a full-time or substantially full-time basis, his annuity continues during the employment and is not increased as a result of service performed during the employment; and

(4)

if the retired Member takes office as Member and gives notice as provided by section 8331(2) of this title, his service as Member during that period shall be credited in determining his right to and the amount of later annuity.

(e)

This section does not apply to an individual appointed to serve as a Governor of the Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service.

(f)

Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, if an annuitant receiving annuity from the Fund, except a Member receiving annuity from the Fund, becomes employed as a justice or judge of the United States, as defined by section 451 of title 28, annuity payments are discontinued during such employment and are resumed in the same amount upon resignation or retirement from regular active service as such a justice or judge.

(g)

A former employee or a former Member who becomes employed as a justice or judge of the United States, as defined by section 451 of title 28, may, at any time prior to resignation or retirement from regular active service as such a justice or judge, apply for and be paid, in accordance with section 8342(a) of this title, the amount (if any) by which the lump-sum credit exceeds the total annuity paid, notwithstanding the time limitation contained in such section for filing an application for payment.

(h)

(1)

Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, subsections (a), (b), (c), and (d) of this section shall not apply to any annuitant receiving an annuity from the Fund while such annuitant is employed, during any period described in section 5532(f)(2) of this title (as in effect before the repeal of that section by section 651(a) of Public Law 106–65) or any portion thereof, under the administrative authority of the Administrator, Federal Aviation Administration, or the Secretary of Defense to perform duties in the operation of the air traffic control system or to train other individuals to perform such duties: Provided, however, That the amount such an annuitant may receive in pay, excluding premium pay, in any pay period when aggregated with the annuity payable during that same period shall not exceed the rate payable for level V of the Executive Schedule.

(2)

Paragraph (1) of this subsection shall apply only in the case of any annuitant receiving an annuity from the Fund who, before December 31, 1987, applied for retirement or separated from the service while being entitled to an annuity under this chapter.

(i)

(1)

The Director of the Office of Personnel Management may, at the request of the head of an Executive agency—

(A)

waive the application of the preceding provisions of this section on a case-by-case basis for employees in positions for which there is exceptional difficulty in recruiting or retaining a qualified employee; or

(B)

grant authority to the head of such agency to waive the application of the preceding provisions of this section, on a case-by-case basis, for an employee serving on a temporary basis, but only if, and for so long as, the authority is necessary due to an emergency involving a direct threat to life or property or other unusual circumstances.

(2)

The Office shall prescribe regulations for the exercise of any authority under this subsection, including criteria for any exercise of authority and procedures for terminating a delegation of authority under paragraph (1)(B).

(j)

(1)

If warranted by circumstances described in subsection (i)(1)(A) or (B) (as applicable), the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts shall, with respect to an employee in the judicial branch, have the same waiver authority as would be available to the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, or a duly authorized agency head, under subsection (i) with respect to an employee of an Executive agency.

(2)

Authority under this subsection may not be exercised with respect to a justice or judge of the United States, as defined in section 451 of title 28.

(k)

(1)

If warranted by circumstances described in subsection (i)(1)(A) or (B) (as applicable), an official or committee designated in paragraph (2) shall, with respect to the employees specified in the applicable subparagraph of such paragraph, have the same waiver authority as would be available to the Director of the Office of Personnel Management, or a duly authorized agency head, under subsection (i) with respect to an employee of an Executive agency.

(2)

Authority under this subsection may be exercised—

(A)

with respect to an employee of an agency in the legislative branch, by the head of such agency;

(B)

with respect to an employee of the House of Representatives, by the Committee on House Oversight of the House of Representatives; and

(C)

with respect to an employee of the Senate, by the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate.

(3)

Any exercise of authority under this subsection shall be in conformance with such written policies and procedures as the agency head, the Committee on House Oversight of the House of Representatives, or the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate (as applicable) shall prescribe, consistent with the provisions of this subsection.

(4)

For the purpose of this subsection, “agency in the legislative branch”, “employee of the House of Representatives”, “employee of the Senate”, and “congressional employee” each has the meaning given to it in section 5531 of this title.

(l)

(1)

For purposes of this subsection—

(A)

the term “head of an agency” means—

(i)

the head of an Executive agency, other than the Department of Defense or the Government Accountability Office;

(ii)

the head of the United States Postal Service;

(iii)

the Director of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, with respect to employees of the judicial branch; and

(iv)

any employing authority described under subsection (k)(2), other than the Government Accountability Office; and

(B)

the term “limited time appointee” means an annuitant appointed under a temporary appointment limited to 1 year or less.

(2)

The head of an agency may waive the application of subsection (a) or (b) with respect to any annuitant who is employed in such agency as a limited time appointee, if the head of the agency determines that the employment of the annuitant is necessary to—

(A)

fulfill functions critical to the mission of the agency, or any component of that agency;

(B)

assist in the implementation or oversight of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111–5) or the Troubled Asset Relief Program under title I of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (12 U.S.C. 5211 et seq.);

(C)

assist in the development, management, or oversight of agency procurement actions;

(D)

assist the Inspector General for that agency in the performance of the mission of that Inspector General;

(E)

promote appropriate training or mentoring programs of employees;

(F)

assist in the recruitment or retention of employees; or

(G)

respond to an emergency involving a direct threat to life of property or other unusual circumstances.

(3)

The head of an agency may not waive the application of subsection (a) or (b) with respect to an annuitant—

(A)

for more than 520 hours of service performed by that annuitant during the period ending 6 months following the individual’s annuity commencing date;

(B)

for more than 1040 hours of service performed by that annuitant during any 12-month period; or

(C)

for more than a total of 3120 hours of service performed by that annuitant.

(4)

(A)

The total number of annuitants to whom a waiver by the head of an agency under this subsection or section 8468(i) applies may not exceed 2.5 percent of the total number of full-time employees of that agency.

(B)

If the total number of annuitants to whom a waiver by the head of an agency under this subsection or section 8468(i) applies exceeds 1 percent of the total number of full-time employees of that agency, the head of that agency shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform of the House of Representatives, and the Office of Personnel Management—

(i)

a report with an explanation that justifies the need for the waivers in excess of that percentage; and

(ii)

not later than 180 days after submitting the report under clause (i), a succession plan.

(5)

(A)

The Director of the Office of Personnel Management may promulgate regulations providing for the administration of this subsection.

(B)

Any regulations promulgated under subparagraph (A) may—

(i)

provide standards for the maintenance and form of necessary records of employment under this subsection;

(ii)

to the extent not otherwise expressly prohibited by law, require employing agencies to provide records of such employment to the Office of Personnel Management or other employing agencies as necessary to ensure compliance with paragraph (3);

(iii)

authorize other administratively convenient periods substantially equivalent to 12 months, such as 26 pay periods, to be used in determining compliance with paragraph (3)(B);

(iv)

include such other administrative requirements as the Director of the Office of Personnel Management may find appropriate to provide for the effective operation of, or to ensure compliance with, this subsection; and

(v)

encourage the training and mentoring of employees by any limited time appointee employed under this subsection.

(6)

(A)

Any hours of training or mentoring of employees by any limited time appointee employed under this subsection shall not be included in the hours of service performed for purposes of paragraph (3), but those hours of training or mentoring may not exceed 520 hours.

(B)

If the primary service performed by any limited time appointee employed under this subsection is training or mentoring of employees, the hours of that service shall be included in the hours of service performed for purposes of paragraph (3).

(7)

The authority of the head of an agency under this subsection to waive the application of subsection (a) or (b) shall terminate on December 31, 2024.

(m)

(1)

For the purpose of subsections (i) through (l), “Executive agency” shall not include the Government Accountability Office.

(2)

An employee as to whom a waiver under subsection (i), (j), (k), or (l) is in effect shall not be considered an employee for purposes of this chapter or chapter 84 of this title.

(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 581; Pub. L. 90–83, § 1(83), Sept. 11, 1967, 81 Stat. 217; Pub. L. 91–375, § 6(c)(20), Aug. 12, 1970, 84 Stat. 776; Pub. L. 91–658, § 4, Jan. 8, 1971, 84 Stat. 1962; Pub. L. 92–297, § 7(5), May 16, 1972, 86 Stat. 145; Pub. L. 94–397, § 1(a)–(c), Sept. 3, 1976, 90 Stat. 1202, 1203; Pub. L. 95–454, title IX, § 906(a)(14), Oct. 13, 1978, 92 Stat. 1226; Pub. L. 95–598, title III, § 338(d), Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2681; Pub. L. 96–179, § 4, Jan. 2, 1980, 93 Stat. 1299; Pub. L. 96–504, § 1, Dec. 5, 1980, 94 Stat. 2741; Pub. L. 97–141, § 5(a), Dec. 29, 1981, 95 Stat. 1719; Pub. L. 97–276, § 151(g), Oct. 2, 1982, 96 Stat. 1202; Pub. L. 97–346, § 3(j)(2), Oct. 15, 1982, 96 Stat. 1649; Pub. L. 98–353, title I, § 112, July 10, 1984, 98 Stat. 343; Pub. L. 98–396, title I, Aug. 22, 1984, 98 Stat. 1403; Pub. L. 98–525, title XV, § 1537(e), Oct. 19, 1984, 98 Stat. 2636;

cite as: 5 USC 8344