NASA Procedural Requirements

NPR 3831.1 Effective Date: October 11, 2016 Expiration Date: December 11, 2028

Subject: Phased Retirement (Revalidated with Change 1)

Responsible Office: Office of the Chief Human Capital Officer

Chapter 1. Overview and General Provisions

1.1 Overview

1.1.1 Phased retirement is a tool designed to assist management with: succession planning; maintaining essential skills and competencies for a temporary period of time; and facilitating mentoring and knowledge transfer. The law also provides eligible employees, otherwise preparing for retirement, an opportunity to continue working on a part time basis while receiving partial retirement benefits

1.1.2 Phased retirement allows management officials to authorize certain employees, who are otherwise eligible to retire, the option to work a part time schedule while withdrawing partial retirement benefits for a specified length of time.

1.1.3 The purpose of phased retirement is to provide a period of transition into full retirement, during which the employee mentors (transfers knowledge to) others and continues to provide service to the Agency. Phased retirement is a human resource management tool; it is not an employee entitlement.

1.2 General Provisions

1.2.1 Employees will have been employed full time for not less than three years ending on the effective date of phased retirement status and be eligible to retire in accordance with regulatory requirements. This includes:

a. Employees covered under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) who have at least 30 years of service and have attained at least age 55, or have at least 20 years of service and have attained at least age 60.

b. Employees covered under the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) who have at least 30 years of service and have attained at least their Minimum Retirement Age (MRA), between ages 55-57, or have at least 20 years of service and have attained at least age 60.

Note: Employees who are eligible to retire with other combinations of age and service, for example, 62 years of age with 5 or more years of service or minimum retirement age (at least 55 years of age) with 10 or more years of service, are not eligible for phased retirement.

1.2.2 Participation in phased retirement is voluntary and requires the mutual consent of the employee and an authorized management official. All employees approved for phased retirement shall execute a signed agreement before entering phased retirement status that contains an established end date of two years or less from the date phased retirement begins.

1.2.3 An employee who wishes to participate in phased retirement is responsible for presenting a proposal for work and mentoring to convince the approving official that the employee's participation in phased retirement is advantageous to the Agency.

1.2.4 Employees may withdraw their applications for phased retirement any time prior to the date that they enter phased retirement, but not thereafter.

1.2.5 An employee who accepts a position at a lower grade than their current position for the purposes of entering phased retirement is not eligible for pay or grade retention. Accepting a change to lower grade for phased retirement is considered a voluntary action. Pay setting rules for voluntary downgrades are used.

1.2.6 A phased retiree can opt to fully retire at any time during their phased retirement period.

1.2.7 A phased retiree may request an extension to the originally approved period; however, the total maximum time in phased retirement is three years. Extensions will be approved and effected, to include execution of a new agreement, before the end of the original phased retirement period.

1.2.8 Because phased retirement is intended as a transition to full retirement, a phased retiree generally does not have an option of returning to regular employment, unless selected for another Federal position through normal procedures. An approving official may approve the written request of a phased retiree to return to regular employment; however, such situations should be rare and be effected prior to the end of the phased retirement period.

1.2.9 For the purposes of Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB), Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI), and NASA Employee Benefits Association (NEBA), the phased retiree is considered to be a full time employee. For all other purposes, such as pay, leave accrual holidays, and reduction in force, the employee is a part time employee. A phased retiree is subject to the applicable performance management system and to all normal workplace rules and expectations, including rules pertaining to outside employment.

1.2.10 The Agency application template and other information and guidance about phased retirement are found on the NSSC's phased retirement Web site.

1.2.11 The Agency will use the Web Based Time and Attendance Distribution System (WebTADS) to track compliance with the work schedule limits applicable to phased retirement and time spent performing mentoring activities.

DISTRIBUTION:
NODIS

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