The rate at which an employee accrues annual leave depends upon an employee's creditable service. Creditable service includes, but is not limited to, the time that an employee has worked for the District government. In certain instances, employees may also receive credit for federal government service. Prior federal government service is only creditable if that service counts toward his or her Civil Service Retirement System plan. Additionally, military service may be creditable under certain circumstances. This instruction outlines the federal and military service that may be credited to District government employees for leave accrual purposes.

Federal Government CSRS Participants (non-retirees)

The Comprehensive Merit Personnel Act (CMPA) provides specific District employees with leave accrual entitlements for prior civilian federal service. Employees who previously worked with the federal government, and who have not retired under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), are eligible to receive credit towards their annual leave accrual rate if their federal service was creditable under CSRS. Except for federal service under CSRS, no other civilian federal service is creditable to District government employees, including service under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS).

Federal Government CSRS Retirees

Federal government CSRS-retirees hired by an agency of the District government shall earn annual leave as follows:

An employee who is a military retiree is entitled to credit for active military service only if his or her retirement was based on a disability resulting from injury or disease as a direct result of armed conflict or caused by an instrumentality of war and incurred in line of duty during a “period of war,” as defined by 38 U.S.C § 1101. No other military service is creditable service for annual leave with the District government.

To obtain credit for qualifying federal or military service, an employee must complete a Statement of Prior Federal, Military and District Service Form (DCSF 144) and attach any supporting documentation, such as personnel action forms, that confirm service dates. A Human Resources Specialist will verify creditable service by doing the following:

1. Reviewing the Statement of Prior Federal, Military, and District Service Form and any supporting documentation provided; and
2. Obtaining a copy of any necessary records to include a copy of the Official Personnel File (OPF) form from the federal government agency.

Authorities

1. Statutory Authority: D.C. Official Code § 1-612.03;
2. Regulatory Authority: Chapter 12 of the D.C. personnel regulations, Hours of Work, Legal Holidays and Leave.

For additional information concerning this bulletin, please contact the D.C. Department of Human Resources, Policy and Compliance Administration, by calling (202) 442-9700 or by sending an e-mail to dchr.policy@dc.gov.